October 30, 2003
WE NEED MORE INAPPROPRIATENESS:
'Patriotic' Stick Figure Drawing Troubles School (Fox News, 10/29/03)
A 14-year-old New Jersey schoolboy -- whose dad and stepdad are in the military -- was suspended for five days because he drew a "patriotic" stick figure of a U.S Marine blowing away a Taliban fighter, officials said yesterday."He's been punished for the drawing," said Tinton Falls school superintendent Leonard Kelpsh. "We felt it was highly inappropriate, and we took it very seriously."
Scott Switzer, of Colts Neck, was sent home last week from Tinton Falls Middle School after a teacher saw the image on a computer and described it to the principal.
Scott, who turned 14 Tuesday and was headed back to school Wednesday, said he was unjustly disciplined for his sketch of "a war scene."
"Truth be told, it's a Marine shooting a terrorist Taliban," he told The Post. "It's just a picture. What upsets me most is that the principal would dare say it's not normal. To me, it's patriotic."
When you hear the term school administration don't you just get a mental picture of the kids you used to give wedgies to in the school halls now grown up and running the place? Posted by Orrin Judd at October 30, 2003 7:22 PM
There's an old saying about things that sound too good to be true...though, admittedly, without the actual drawing it's impossible to be sure.
http://www.tfs.k12.nj.us/Official%20Press%20release%20from%20the%20Tinton%20Falls%20Schools%20%20%20%20October.htm
The link is a little weird, if it doesn't work try going to http://www.tfs.k12.nj.us/ and look under the "press release" link.
I'm not holding my breath for a retraction, though.
Noel Erinjeri
Posted by: Noel Erinjeri at October 30, 2003 7:56 PMAt his age, I spent most of my school hours drawing pictures of the Army Air Force dropping bombs on Nazi tanks. I must have done 500 of them in eighth grade.
No doubt if now was then, I'd still be in prison for it.
Posted by: Harry Eagar at October 30, 2003 8:08 PMThis is worse than moral equivalence, since images of Al Qaedas blowing up Americans (inside the Twin towers) were allowed but those of Just retribution were not.
Posted by: MG at October 30, 2003 8:40 PMAnd, you wonder why school vouchers are increasingly used?
Posted by: John J. Coupal at October 30, 2003 9:23 PMJohn, do you think private schools are any different?
Posted by: Harry Eagar at October 31, 2003 12:34 AMYeah, Harry
When was the last shooting at "[fill in the town name] Catholic High School"?
Posted by: John J. Coupal at October 31, 2003 6:46 AMI just got done reading Susanne Hoffe Summers "The War Against Boys," of which this seems another battle.
If you have blood pressure problems, stay away from this book.
My grade school artistry ran towards airplanes, but the German Air Force fared no better than Harry's German Army.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at October 31, 2003 7:44 AMIt was tanks for me.
Posted by: David Cohen at October 31, 2003 7:48 AMSalem Witch Trials with me as the executioner. When we discussed The Crucible in 8th Grade I would have been sent to a psychiatric hospital if the current climate prevailed.
Posted by: OJ at October 31, 2003 9:05 AMMy poor brother made the mistake of drawing the school burning down. 40 years ago. The teacher told my mom he needed a psychiatrist.
Posted by: NKR at October 31, 2003 10:12 AMIn my kids' school, they don't play Hangman, they play Cat.
Posted by: David Cohen at October 31, 2003 10:15 AMThe school claims the drawing was of a Marine stick figure killing another stick figure labeled with the name of another student, not a Taliban. That might be problematic also, but if so it's not like the kid was suspended for patriotism.
I will grant that without the drawing, it's impossible to be sure who's telling the truth, but let's not go off half-cocked, as is generally the case in stories like this.
Noel Erinjeri
Posted by: Noel Erinjeri at October 31, 2003 10:28 PMKilljoy.
Posted by: Jeff Guinn at November 1, 2003 5:09 AMYeah. Damn facts are always getting in the way of a good story. :)
Noel Erinjeri
Posted by: Noel Erinjeri at November 2, 2003 11:19 PM