Student disciplined and questioned by Secret Service for drawing!

[dr.strangelove]

This really pisses me off. While I am adamantly opposed to resorting to violence in face of an adverse political agenda, I don’t see how a drawing protesting the bush regime's Iraq policy can result in school discipline.

I thought school's were the place to voice disagreement and pursue education of multiple viewpoints.

From the AP.
PROSSER, Washington (AP) -- Secret Service agents questioned a high school student about anti-war drawings he did for an art class, one of which depicted President Bush's head on a stick.

Another pencil-and-ink drawing portrayed Bush as a devil launching a missile, with a caption reading "End the war -- on terrorism."

The 15-year-old boy's art teacher at Prosser High School turned the drawings over to school administrators, who notified police, who called the Secret Service.

"We involve the police anytime we have a concern," Prosser Superintendent Ray Tolcacher told the Tri-City Herald newspaper.

Secret Service agents interviewed the boy last Friday. The student, who was not arrested, has not been identified.

The school district disciplined him, but district officials refused to say what the punishment was. Tolcacher said the boy was not suspended.

The artwork was apparently part of an assignment to keep a notebook of drawings, according to Kevin Cravens, a friend of the boy's family.

The drawing that drew the most notice showed a man in what appeared to be Middle Eastern-style clothing, holding a rifle. He was also holding a stick with an oversize head of the president on it.

The student said the head was enlarged because it was intended to be an effigy, Cravens said. The caption called for an end to the war in Iraq.

A message left by The Associated Press with an after-hours duty officer with the Secret Service in Washington, D.C., was not immediately returned on Monday.

"If this 15-year-old kid in Prosser is perceived as a threat to the president, then we are living in '1984'," Cravens said.

Tolcacher insisted it was not a freedom of speech issue, but a concern over the depiction of violence.

"From what I saw, were right to be concerned," Prosser Police Chief Win Taylor said.

[bluestateguy]

1. I see a lawsuit

and don't ask for money, settle for the school administrators having to attend "constitutional rights sensitivity training".

[dr.strangelove]

2. Sign dubya up for that class

Dick and Rice should join him.

[sniffa]

3. weLL Look at the drawing

caLL the secret service!

[sniffa]

9. bush = poo

[liarliartieonfire]

4. Asscrofts Patriot Act

finding terrorist cells in the USA.

What a joke
Can we have a download of this kids picture.
I'll buy a copy from the kid to support his attorney fees.

It may make a great protest sign for the next March Against Bush.

[Ishoutandscream]

5. Who's next? Political cartoonists?

Jeez, don't these folks have better things to do?

[dr.strangelove]

6. Send him to Cuba

I had not seen the drawing. After seeing it, I take back my shock. That kid is more of a threat to Bush than Bin Laden ever was. He might throw a piece of pooh at dubya. Bush should order Ashcroft or Dick to lock this kid up down in Cuba.

[Ruby Romaine]

7. here's a link

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/West/04/27/artwork.investigated.ap/

[SheilaT]

8. If this were my kid

(I still have one in h.s.) I'd tell the secret service to go fuck themselves. Grade the artwork on its intrinsic merits. And the recite the first amendment to them.

How dare they!

[Endangered Specie]

10. Be careful, schoolchildren, the SS (literally) is watching you!

[Moderator]

11. mjf3

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