5th grader is suspended for drawing WTC towers

KMOV St. Louis Website ^ | 10/5/01 | Anne Steffens, Education Reporter

[Clintons Are White Trash]

KMOV) -- A local elementary student has been suspended for three days because he drew a picture of the World Trade Center. Thursday, the fifth grader was allowed to return to class. The sketch depicts one World Trade Center tower on fire and included a paper airplane attached to the other tower. (KMOV) On Friday, September 28, the day was just beginning for North Jefferson Intermediate fifth grader Paul Volz and his teacher didn't like what she saw. "My son drew a picture at school of the Trade Centers and it had a little smoke coming out of one picture and he had a little Post-it note that he said was folded up, sitting on the thing," describes Paul Volz, the fifth grader's father. The Post-it note was made into an airplane and placed on the picture Paul Jr. drew. "I didn't see anything wrong with it at the time and I still don't," his father says. (KMOV) However, Principal Jeff Boyer did. In a discipline referral form, Boyer wrote, "Paul drew a picture of the Trade Centers being bombed. He then taped this picture to the outside of his cubicle and pointed it out to the other students and grinned. When I asked him why he did this, he just looked at me and smiled. This is totally inappropriate and Paul's behavior has to change." "If it's making light of something that other people find very serious, then that might be considered threatening, or, if it's an upsetting drawing that brings back maybe some bad memories for some other students and it disrupts the school day, then that can be considered threatening," says Ben Helt of Northwest R-1 School District. Paul Volz (KMOV) Paul was suspended for three days with no appeal. "If they thought this was something wrong, instead of doing what they did, they should have sent him to the counselor and let him talk to the counselor, see what the problem was," Paul's father says. Volz admits his son has been in trouble before, but believes a drawing should not keep his kid home from school. The Northwest R-1 School District has suspended and even expelled students before because of drawings and its student handbook addresses communications of a threatening nature. However, in a time when schools often encourage kids to draw to express their feelings, some parents find a three-day suspension a little harsh.

[SocialMeltdown]

The problem is clearly that this child was not given the proper directions to express his feeling via an appropriate forum and under appropriate observation.

Had a facilitator been brought in to help children cope with their feelings, the drawing would, more than likely, have been encouraged and praised.

This child skipped a step. He didn't get the approval of the state to share his feelings and he must therefore be punished.

[Kozak]

Oh but when the TEACHERS want to make a polical point, like having the entire class write letters to the president to ban handguns, many accompanied by drawings of bloody bodies or graves or whatever THATS fine. Especially if they can get some face time on the local or network news.


What a classic example of PC idiocy, those "teachers" need to get a job they're qualified for, they should practice the phrase " You want fries with that...."

[harv001]

It uncontrolled thought that they have a problem with. They want the kids to think in a certain way....a socialist way. Our schools are a problem we had better soon realize we are going to have to "fix". Many of these kids graduate so confused they can harldy make a decision with out help. Only those with VERY strong family ties seem to do well.

[Sloth]

Thoughtcrime.

[pubmom]

I agree with you. The drawing itself isn't so bad but the behavior following makes me wonder. I've seen some disturbed kids.

[oyez]

PITA

Oh yeah, I was like that in school. My wife says I still am.

[freesia2]

I thought they meant by this a "cube," like a milk crate, where the kids keep some of their things. My son's school had these and called them "cubbies." If they really are sticking kids in office-like cubicles, no wonder they act weird.

[PatrioticAmerican]

duckspeak?

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

So what they are saying is that they felt "threatened" by this drawing? Little snot-nosed Paul Jr. was going to hijack a plane, fly it into a non-exsistent WTC tower? Idiots. Paul Jr. sounds like a brat. Paul Jr. was suspended for being a snot-nosed brat. In my day, we stood in the hall or had to sit in the corner, or even at a desk in the principal's office. As it stands, Paul Jr. got a three day vacation, er----suspension, and becomes a victim because Daddy is out there saying "it isn't fair."

The school handled this one well---not. If they think snot-nosed, bratty Paul Jr. is going to change his behavior because of this, they are sadly mistaken. I guess the next stop for him will be sensitivity training.Idiots.Idiots.Idiots.

[DouglasKC]

Maybe the kid drew it on purpose to tweak someone, maybe not. But what the heck do we expect? The picture that he drew only represented what was shown 10 billion times on TV and another 10 billion times in newspapers and magazines.

[Focault's Pendulum]

This was the drawing

[Let's Roll]

Disturbed kids?? This is just more feminization of America through the schools. Boys - as opposed to girly boys - have drawn pictures of war, weapons etc. since there were tools to draw with. Get a grip. So much for 911 putting an end to the pc idiocy in this country.

[Elenya]

Had a facilitator been brought in to help children cope with their feelings, the drawing would, more than likely, have been encouraged and praised.

Agreed!

GandtheD

[angry beaver norbert]

First they want to scrap the 2nd amendment, now the first. Yet they let any atheist gay crackhead burn American flags like they were junk mail. It is high time to weed these commie bas##@**&@#s out of our society if we hope to keep any decent society. @@#*&^)))%!!@!! I hope they sue the livin' crap out of 'em! Kids in various places have been suspended for drawing guns, one was even tossed after pointing a CHICKEN FINGER!!!More of the pattern!@@#&^^%#!

[smith288]

I am suprised i wasnt a problem child in school. I went to public and I am so Anti-stupid its a wonder they didnt consider me a PITA. That was before i was "in the know". Now i know how retarded public is. I knew someone who was basically raped by some football players but apparently wasnt worth kicking the players off... better to have a 4-6 football record. But if i drew a gun, cya on the side of the road picking up trash with druggies.

[pubmom]

Sometimes cubicles are used to keep disruptive students from disturbing other classmates. I think the kid being whacked out came before the cubicle.

He sounds like one of the "little darlings" I've had the pleasure of meeting during my school involvement. The teacher should have handled this though. That said,he knew he was pushing the limit, and wanted to see how far he could go. Dad sounds like he may be a piece of work too, he'd better get a handle on this kid or he's headed for trouble.

[KillerWabbit]

Then I wonder if they'd suspend me for this:

[ThreeOfSeven]

It's ridiculous to punish a kid for this kind of drawing. They mentioned on the radio here in NY that many schoolchildren were spontaneously recreating the disaster in play form, doing things like piling up blocks and crashing toy planes into them, and that it was therapeutic. Children try to understand the world and assert mastery and control through play, drawing, and other creative activities.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"These morons need to get a grip and quit punishing kids for thinking. "

Had a girl drew the picture, she would have been rushed off in an ambulance to see a grief counselor.

The War Against Boys

[pubmom]

Oh I agree, the drawing isn't the problem. I just wonder if he was proud of his drawing, or if there is something wrong with him. I have seen some nasty, disturbed kids, that's all.