School suspends boy for sketching gun

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 8/22/07 | not provided (AP)

[redstates4ever]

Chandler school officials have suspended a 13-year-old boy for sketching a picture that resembled a gun, saying it posed a threat to classmates.

But parents of the Payne Junior High School student said the drawing was a harmless doodle of a fake laser, and school officials overreacted.

"I just can't believe that there wasn't another way to resolve this," said Paula Mosteller, the boy's mother. "He's so upset. The school made him feel like he committed a crime. They are doing more damage than good."

The Mostellers said the drawing did not show blood, bullets, injuries, or target any human. They said it was just a drawing that resembled a gun.

But Payne Junior High administrators thought the sketch was enough of a threat and gave the boy a five-day suspension, later reduced to three days.

[redstates4ever]

School suspends boy for sketching a gun *ping*

[rightinthemiddle]

I throw up my hands.

[redstates4ever]

I wonder what the odds are those administrators have always voted only Democrat?

Gee, I wonder... /sarc

[Toadman]

Ridiculous

[Dilbert San Diego]

What would the penalty be if he drew pictures of a male celebrating the diversity of same sex relations? Would there even be a penalty?

[scan58]

You gotta be kidding me. Good for this boy’s parents for standing up for him. “...a sketch of a fake laser...” I wonder if he pointed it at someone and said, “zap”.

[DCBryan1]

Is this school French?

[redstates4ever]

But you know he was “thinking” about a gun, and right there is enough....

[AppyPappy]

Also posted here

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884733/posts

[Natchez Hawk]

“resembled a gun”

Now let’s hold on folks, maybe this kid was a real crappy artist.

That, of course, was a joke.

[GRRRRR]

I hope he doesn’t draw a mushroom anytime soon!

[bcsco]

Uh, oh. Can suspensions be retroactive? I don't think I had a schoolbook I didn't doodle in, drawing guns, cowboys & Indians (I'm almost 64). Does this mean someone can get my school records are retroactively nullify my diploma?

Oh, the horror.

[TexasCajun]

One can only imagine the praise if the drawing would have been of two men engaged in butt-sex.

[rightinthemiddle]

This is scary...I almost posted the same thing!

[Jaysun]

I throw up my hands.

You shouldn't have eaten them in the first place.

[xcamel]

east valley trib:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884733/posts
(msm spin)

[JamesP81]

Fer the love of God...

[TexasCajun]

[mc5cents]

This was in Arizona? Didn’t that used to be considered “The Wild West”? Looks like the PC monster lives. What BS.