Is this taking things a bit too far?

Question

School suspends boy for sketching gun
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070822/ap_on_re_us/brf_gun_sketch_suspension;_ylt=AjYC3BaHDe61l3PU4Ivz3vVvzwcF
MESA, Ariz. - School officials suspended a 13-year-old boy for sketching what looked like a gun, saying the action posed a threat to his classmates.
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The boy's parents said the drawing was a harmless doodle and school officials overreacted.

"The school made him feel like he committed a crime. They are doing more damage than good," said the boy's mother, Paula Mosteller.

The drawing did not show blood, bullets, injuries or target any human, the parents said. And the East Valley Tribune reported that the boy said he didn't intend for the picture to be a threat.

Answer 1

Dang. What is with these people? When I was a kid we took our guns to school hanging in the back window. We even had fights and the worst we got was a bust on the butt. Don't they understand that repression of natural emotions in puberty is what leads to the out of control violence in schools? Boys need to have vents for the aggression that comes with the production of testosterone.

I am glad I live in a rural area where teachers are not allowed to try and turn all of the males into ******.

Answer 2

It is indeed taking things too far,but you have to realize as I'm sure you do,that this is about much more than stopping violence. The schools have mostly enacted their "zero tolerance" policies on violence,which while having good goals also has some very bad,and intended consequences. Because many on the far left are using this opportunity to also spread their agenda. This case for example is not about actual violence,this is about demonizing weapons themselves. The far left in America loves an opportunity like this,they aren't using it to go against violence,they're using it as the greatest anti 2nd Amendment tool they have had in years. There are kids who have been kicked out of schools for playing games during recess that involved pretending they had guns,for bringing a toy gun to school even if by accident,but what does that have to do with actual violence? Kids have even been suspended or forced into counselors offices for talking about hunting,it is a situation that is now completely out of hand.

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Answer 3

This is a perfect example of the zero tolerance in schools going too far. Maybe the teacher could have spoken to the child in private and asked him why he was drawing a gun and informing him of the problems between guns and schools. I hope the teacher, the principal and the school superintendent all wind in court behind this one. This child definately deserves well meant apologies and even compensation of one form or another. I hope the parents do not drop the issue and sue, even if just to make a point. Another good show of someone put in a position of power who takes it to total excess!!! How would all of us feel if that child would have been ours?

Answer 4

I can understand their concern for security, especially in this day and age where every child's tv idol carries a pistol in his belt, but that's ridiculous.

I drew swords all the time while I was in school, does that mean I was gonna stab someone? I don't think so.

The parents should absolutely fight that. The way to do it might be a little ridiculous, but here's what I suggest.

Walk the principal in to a kindergarten class drawing turkey's with tracings of their hands. Upon seeing the drawns hands, the principal should immediately believe that the kindergarteners are all going to slap their teacher, and suspend them all. The outraged parents will have the school shut down and teach the guy a lesson. I mean -- DUH!

Maybe that guy should try to shut down cnn for showing iraq on tv. Perhaps CNN wants to attack us soldiers?


People like that are stupid. I hate stupid people.

Answer 5

This is a case of extremism by the school. It is my belief that if the parents can work it out, the child should be home-schooled and removed from idiots. If enough parents refused to allow their children to continue in schools where common sense is missing and from schools that continue to teach politically-correct, unsubstantiated subjects as fact and incorrect history then the schools would be forced to reevaluate their current trends.

Parents can band together under the laws of all US states.

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

Just because it is called "home-schooling" does not mean you HAVE to do it in YOUR home. You could join with other parents and teach your children together.

Answer 6

Yeah, I would say that is pretty damn extreme. Be a damn shame if the dude was doing a project on our constitution with illustrations and when he got the "the right to bear arms"... suspended.

Another example of over-zealous, politically correct twits in control of the ship that will eventually dull us down into yes nodding robots with no individual thoughts, expressions or ideas.

I give the bird to that school principal...nazi pissant.

Answer 7

It is amazing how little common sense exists in the minds of some school officials. That is scary because those people are supposed to be responsible for the safety of so many kids. Pathetic really.

Answer 8

That is ridiculous. I've never heard of anyone being shot and killed with a sketched gun. In fact...I'm pretty sure it's impossible and anyone who perceives that as a threat is a pretty ignorant imbecile who certainly shouldn't hold a job that involves teaching children.

Answer 9

Of course. Another example of good ideas gone nuts! The Zero Tolerance idea is a good one, but abuses like this makes me wonder why my taxes are going to pay people with no common sense whatsoever, to teach the children of America.

Answer 10

You know what is even more sad than this?

If (God forbid) the kid ended up committing some sort of crime with a gun, everyone would be focusing on the fact that he drew that gun, and the school did nothing about it.

Damned if you do, and damned if you don't. . . I think everyone over reacts in these situations out of the sense of covering one's own @$$.