Kid suspended for drawing a gun

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Out of curiosity, I checked, and the image that GC posted is the actual drawing.

Corroboration

It's weird. I got it from Fox "News" and yet there's another drawing with the smiley faces all over it. Two different pictures. (???)
:shrug:

Edit to add: I should have put a link to my source when I posted the pic. I forgot.

[Gemini Cricket]

CP ~ Not sure where you're getting the idea that I or anyone would think that drawing an arrow with blood is wrong or that I'm not validating your pain. I'm confused.

The act was seen as inappropriate, the officials saw it as a threat. There it is.

This kid can bounce back from something like this. It's not a scar for life unless he and his parents treat it that way.

I don't find this an issue of censorship, either. It's about appropriateness.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I still don't know where you stand, GC, on the hypothetical question posed.

If a kid had a clean record with no prior indication of behavior issues, authority issues, depression, etc., would a single drawing of a gun be enough, in your opinion, to justify suspension without any attempt to address it with either teacher talking to the kid to a visit the school counselor first?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I still don't know where you stand, GC, on the hypothetical question posed.

If a kid had a clean record with no prior indication of behavior issues, authority issues, depression, etc., would a single drawing of a gun be enough, in your opinion, to justify suspension without any attempt to address it with either teacher talking to the kid to a visit the school counselor first?

It depends on where the drawing was. If it's on homework to turn in to a teacher as this kid did, yes. On a test, yes. If it was his own journal or at home or in an art class, no.

I have an issue with the school doing it without having something in the student handbook about it. They should have been more clear on it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

It depends on where the drawing was. If it's on homework to turn in to a teacher as this kid did, yes. On a test, yes. If it was his own journal or at home or in an art class, no.

See, this is where I part completely with you. For all of the reasons CP listed above. A drawing of a gun in isolation, with no other behavioral indicators of a problem, should not be enough to warrant suspension. If the teacher talks to him and he gets defiant about it, absolutely. If a teacher or counselor has warned him not to do it again and he does it again, suspend his ass. If a counselor talks to him and learns that he's dealing with some issues at home...no, scratch that, that should prompt more counseling, NOT punishment.

Going straight to punitive measures for a simple act of expression, even somewhat inappropriate expression, with zero attempt at resolving it with communication is a recipe for disaster. It's telling ALL students, not just this one, that they will not be listened to, that they need to be afraid that what they might say or express will get them in trouble. That, to me, is the kind of thing that leads to Columbine.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

It's telling ALL students, not just this one, that they will not be listened to, that they need to be afraid that what they might say or express will get them in trouble. That, to me, is the kind of thing that leads to Columbine.

I hear you. The Columbine shooters were bullied and were not backed up by the school officials. Then they snapped and committed horrendous crimes. I think the people that were not letting them express themselves were their classmates. There was a lot of bullying going on, from what I remember. (I'm not justifying what they did. They were wackos.)
There were warning signs with Columbine and those signs were ignored. I'd rather a school be diligent about these warning signs than ignore them.

[AllyOops!]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Haw haw! I just found the infamous gun picture:


Hmmm. It barely even looks like a gun!

I haven't had the time to read the posts on this Thread! I'll definitely go back when I have more then just a free moment...

I will take the time to say this and only this:

I'm a gun owner. I own an actual .38 that has the ability to inflict damage and kill. The reason I own one? I've mentioned before that my Dad is a deputy. Almost all of my family works in law-enforcement. My Dad insists I own one. Almost everybody in my family does. I'm NO fan of guns, but I know how to operate and fire one. I PRAY TO ALMIGHTY GOD that I never am put in the position of having to defend myself & my family and use one. Honestly? They scare the daylights out of me. I respect them for what they are and leave it at that. However, I consider myself a very responsible gun owner. I don't bust out a Glock at the holidays whilst looped up on eggnog, hold it sideways gangsta-style and show off for the neighbors while singing the threat "Rat-a-tat said the polak with the gat."

Last time that I checked, it was completely legal for me to own my firearm. Nobody is threatened by me. Granted, I don't bring it out and wave it at people and engage in reckless behavior, but still. So, are we saying that while I own an actual gun and that's legal, if I drew a picture of it on my desk calendar at work I'd be in some hot water?

Example: Am I going to get suspended at my favorite Board because you guys know now that I'm a gun owner? And sometimes, I post that I'm really in a bad mood & pissed-off and I follow my post with this guy --> and seeing that post, while knowing I've posted about prior gun ownership, is going to make people freaked by me?? See, now this type of radical paranoia has seeped into my high-strung brain. While part of my post is meant to be facetious, I'm still rattled. Damn, where's the Exedrin.

What I'm saying is, I can see & respect the difference of opinion. Everybody has a right to theirs. However, I really feel sorry for that child & the fact that he'll probably be tortured and saddled with a new reputation when he returns to school. We all know how kind some kids can be. It was handled extremely poorly. This is why I usually avoid hot topics like this because my head literally begins to spin in 50 million directions. A high-strung person like me needs to talk about lighter subjects.

Secondly, are we sure that it's not a picture of a high-rise building tilted on it's side, complete with walk-way and rooftop A/C, and some sort of dangling charm blowing in the wind above said walk-way? Isn't art supposed to be different for everybody? I see a side-ways building. If I were that kid, I'd claim that just to end all of this nonsense.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

There were warning signs with Columbine and those signs were ignored. I'd rather a school be diligent about these warning signs than ignore them.

You're getting locked into "Columbine" as the only example. There are plenty of others where bullying wasn't the issue. The only real constant between any of them was that the perpetrators were in desperate need of help and didn't get it for one reason or another.

Blindly suspending students for expression is not diligence. It's simply the other end of the spectrum from completely ignoring it. It's, "We're incapable of treating you as an individual, so we're just going to hope the problem just goes away." Bad bad news.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by AllyOops!

Secondly, are we sure that it's not a picture of a high-rise building tilted on it's side, complete with walk-way and rooftop A/C, and some sort of dangling charm blowing in the wind above said walk-way? Isn't art supposed to be different for everybody? I see a side-ways building. If I were that kid, I'd claim that just to end all of this nonsense.

On closer look, the dangling charm intrigues me. It looks like a stick figure of a person, as if the charm is the equivalent of old west notches on the gun. My searching skills don't come up with anything on the subject, but I am curious if gangbangers adorn their guns in such a manner. Anybody?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

You're getting locked into "Columbine" as the only example. There are plenty of others where bullying wasn't the issue. The only real constant between any of them was that the perpetrators were in desperate need of help and didn't get it for one reason or another.

Blindly suspending students for expression is not diligence. It's simply the other end of the spectrum from completely ignoring it. It's, "We're incapable of treating you as an individual, so we're just going to hope the problem just goes away." Bad bad news.

I use Columbine as an example because it was one of the worst events dealing with students and guns. It was and is a huge deal. People are still debating about the incident.

I think this has little to do with expression and the censorship thereof. It was inappropriate and the kid was rapped for it. It's not a blind suspension, it was seen as a threat. They dealt with it.

I come from a law enforcement family as well. Things like this are very black and white for me. Maybe it shouldn't be but it is.

I found Ally's post interesting because my dad (police sargeant for 30 years or so) does not want me to get a gun. He has many, but doesn't think and of his kids should have them. Ralphie's father insisted upon us having them.