Student Sues Wisconsin School After Getting a Zero for Religious Drawing

Fox News ^ | 4/1/08

[NRA1995]

A Tomah High School student has filed a federal lawsuit alleging his art teacher censored his drawing because it featured a cross and a biblical reference. According to the lawsuit, the student's art teacher asked his class in February to draw landscapes. The student, a senior identified in the lawsuit by the initials A.P., added a cross and the words "John 3:16 A sign of love" in his drawing.

His teacher, Julie Millin, asked him to remove the reference to the Bible, saying students were making remarks about it. He refused, and she gave him a zero on the project.

Millin showed the student a policy for the class that prohibited any violence, blood, sexual connotations or religious beliefs in artwork. The lawsuit claims Millin told the boy he had signed away his constitutional rights when he signed the policy at the beginning of the semester.

[NRA1995]

Gotta love religious tolerance in schools!

[neodad]

Millin showed the student a policy for the class that prohibited any violence, blood, sexual connotations or religious beliefs in artwork

What's left to draw? A bowl of fruit?

[fzx12345]

In our system, state-operated schools may not be enclaves of totalitarianism. School officials do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students in school as well as out of school are "persons" under our Constitution. They are possessed of fundamental rights which the State must respect, just as they themselves must respect their obligations to the State. In our system, students may not be regarded as closed-circuit recipients of only that which the State chooses to communicate. They may not be confined to the expression of those sentiments that are officially approved. In the absence of a specific showing of constitutionally valid reasons to regulate their speech, students are entitled to freedom of expression of their views. Tinker V. Des Moines, 393 U.S. 503.

[Puppage]

[NRA1995]

Any principal telling a child of mine that he signed away his constitutional rights would have to watch his back around me.

[NRA1995]

I e-mailed the teacher in question, no f-bombs or threats, and my e-mail was rejected by their “postmaster.”

[normy]

religious beliefs in artwork

Michaelangelo would be kicked out of class as would many other great artists.

[originalbuckeye]

So, let's see here, demonic heads-check, Grim Reaper with a scythe-check, a being with a horned head and protruding tongue-check, Medusa-check, but nooooooo, not a cross with scripture. The schools are showing their hand and it's definitely not good for our culture.

[Mister Da]

“The lawsuit claims Millin told the boy he had signed away his constitutional rights when he signed the policy ...”

If this boy was a minor when he signed, wouldn't that make his signature illegal or irrelevant?

[dead]

This tough-guy art teacher is all balls when dealing with a Christian student.

If Mohammed in the back of the class drew ritually beheaded Jews burning in hell, Mr. Fembo would have given him an "A" and begged not to be killed.

[dead]

Make that Mrs. Fembo.

[Sgt_Schultze]

So a Wisconsin student with the talent to produce this, wouldn't be allowed to display it in school.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Copy of the drawing in question.

[TheRobb7]

“If this boy was a minor when he signed, wouldn’t that make his signature illegal or irrelevant?”

If the case is pursued on those grounds, the kid will win this case.

[wintertime]

Millin showed the student a policy for the class that prohibited any violence, blood, sexual connotations or religious beliefs in artwork
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

But demons are OK???

[wintertime]

Bingo!

[Tigercap]

I emailed her and the principal both yesterday. Only name-calling I did was truth: called her the worst kind of fascist.

[Tigercap]

Here is the school website. Has emails and phone numbers. This really disgusts me.

http://www.tomah.k12.wi.us/schools/ths/default.htm

Tomah High School
901 Lincoln Avenue
Tomah, Wisconsin 54660
Phone: 608-374-7358
Fax: 608-374-7290

Principal- Marlon Mee 374-7351

Asst. Prin.- Cale Jackson 374-7352

Asst. Prin.- Dan Reinert 374-7353

[thulldud]

A student with the talent to produce that would be beaten down in public school. Can't embarrass the underachieving slackers, you know.

[Landru]

>Millin showed the student a policy for the class that prohibited any violence, blood, sexual connotations or religious beliefs in artwork
"What's left to draw? A bowl of fruit?"

HA!!
Nope.

...too homophobic.