"Be like me -- drug free" Shelbyville girl says in prize poster

Indy Star ^

[Stew Padasso]

Shelbyville -- She's all smiles -- and drug free, too.

With that, Ashley Allen didn't have to think long to find the theme of her drawing for Shelby County Prosecutor R. Kent Apsley's antidrug poster contest.

"I was thinking about what I was going to do while Mr. (Eric) Sutton was explaining the instructions. I thought of it right away: I kind of, like, drew me. I wanted to draw a person like me.

[Stew Padasso]

"The prize money comes from seized illegal drug profits."

Nothing like teaching the kids how they too can profit from the drug war.

[The Red Zone]

Yeah, and from moneys that could in principle have been returned to those from whom they were stolen (a lot of drug habits are fueled by stealing).

[BossLady]

Small, small world alert.....

Incredibly, I know this teacher and he has his own agenda...so to speak....

[Stew Padasso]

ping

[Lancey Howard]

Shelbyville? Isn't that the town that borders Springfield?

[motzman]

"I thought: 'I'm drug free. I'll draw me.' "

Prove it.

[concerned about politics]

"The prize money comes from seized illegal drug profits."

Why not? At least it's being used for a great cause. Like the tobacco money was suppose to go for smoking programs, the illegal money can go to stopping drugs.
What a great idea. It leaves the tax payers out of it.

[Stew Padasso]

"It leaves the tax payers out of it."

Next stop! Fantasy Land!

[Miss Marple]

Eric has no agenda but teaching art. I am his aunt.

[Stew Padasso]

"Why not? At least it's being used for a great cause."

Like I have been saying, the drug war is a great thing for all parties involved. All that cash to buy more toys, jobs and free drugs for the corrupt.

[BossLady]

Im glad!

[kayak]

The way I read the article, Mr. Sutton has no part in this contest except to inform his students of it. The contest is the brainchild of the County Prosecutor, not the art teacher. There is no way that a teacher would have access to seized drug money to give out as prizes.

[BossLady]

Nothing was said about drug money in my post....but thanks for the extra info.

[Miss Marple]

You are quite correct. Art teachers receive all kinds of contest information, and he does his best to inform the kids of those contests, because the awards are often a big help to the families, as well as letting the kids know their creativity is appreciated by adults.

I am very proud of my nephew. He has established an art fair at his school in the spring which has become a big deal...classical music, refreshments, all the kids' art on display, and everyone dresses up. He is trying to elevate culture in the community, and I am quite proud of him.

[Yeti]

The prize money comes from seized illegal drug profits

That really *is* sick!

"Good girl! Here's your share of the loot."

[Miss Marple]

I doubt that the girl or the teacher knew of the source of the money until they read the article. Usually these contests are announced with no explanation of funding.

[concerned about politics]

"Good girl! Here's your share of the loot."

She is a good girl. The money is being used for the anti-drug message. What's wrong with that? This is a good thing for kids to support. Reward the good behavior. Let the crimminal pay for it. The tobacco company had to pay for anti-smoking, and they're considered legal.

[Yeti]

She is a good girl.

I'm sure she is, she sounds like one.

It's just that, if you feel that the WoD is really wrong, then you have this spectre of rewarding children with ill-gotten gains. Tainted money. Bad Karma.

[MrLeRoy]

I don't see this as an effective message. Why exactly would other kids want to be like her?

[jmc813]

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