Mass. 2nd-grader sent home for crucifix drawing

[DaemonSeid]

Let's try this one on for size

see this here:
Chester Johnson said his son made the drawing on Dec. 2 after his second-grade teacher asked children to sketch something that reminded them of the holiday. The assignment came just days after the family had visited the holiday lights display at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, where Johnson said his son seemed taken with the religious statues he saw there.
"When he seen the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross, that's what he drew," Johnson said. "He liked that. That drew his eye."

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

The stick figure looked more like Michael Jackson.

If I had the authority to send you to the corner, I would have over this one.

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Slightly off topic, but does anybody else catch the irony that separation of church and state is such a fundamental part of the law of this country, yet Christ Mass (yes that was intentional) is a federal holiday.

I was thinking about that Monday. People want religion shoved away into a box but let everybody find out they have to work on Christmas...

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Let's try this one on for size

So if this isn't "the drawing in question" then what is it? Because IDK if anyone else noticed, but the name at the top of the crucifix isn't Jesus, it's Jalen. And it isn't at the top of the page like it's just a name on the assignment, it's a nameplate on the cross.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

So if this isn't "the drawing in question" then what is it? Because IDK if anyone else noticed, but the name at the top of the crucifix isn't Jesus, it's Jalen. And it isn't at the top of the page like it's just a name on the assignment, it's a nameplate on the cross.

I noticed that, too, but the conversation went so far left-field, I decided not to bring it up.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

So if this isn't "the drawing in question" then what is it? Because IDK if anyone else noticed, but the name at the top of the crucifix isn't Jesus, it's Jalen. And it isn't at the top of the page like it's just a name on the assignment, it's a nameplate on the cross.

I know a LOT of Raptors/Knicks/Suns fans who would gladly put Jalen Rose up there, to be perfectly honest. Maybe the kid is just pissed about Toronto narrowly missing the playoffs in 05?

[PeppyGPhiB]

If the teacher didn't like the response, she shouldn't have asked the question! What's she doing asking kids to draw something that reminds them of the holiday season, anyway? I thought that wasn't allowed? <rolls eyes>

I guess he was supposed to draw a picture of the Festivus Pole.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The way NPR is reporting it is that he drew the crucifix (with Xs for eyes), and when the teacher pressed him about it and about who he had drawn (I would have thought that would be obvious, but hey), he said he had drawn himself.

My thought exactly. If I asked someone to draw something that reminded them of Christmas, and they drew a picture of a man on a cross, I probably wouldn't ask, "Hey, who's that?" The teacher was drawing attention to something that wasn't that big of a deal in the first place.

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

If the teacher didn't like the response, she shouldn't have asked the question! What's she doing asking kids to draw something that reminds them of the holiday season, anyway? I thought that wasn't allowed? <rolls eyes>

Why is this not allowed?? I don't understand why people are getting all bent out of shape about minor things. Remember the days when you could have holiday parties in school? And tell people "Merry Christmas!" ... yea, that's not allowed anymore.

But that's a different argument for a different thread.

I guess he was supposed to draw a picture of the Festivus Pole.

Would have been my first choice!

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

If the teacher didn't like the response, she shouldn't have asked the question! What's she doing asking kids to draw something that reminds them of the holiday season, anyway? I thought that wasn't allowed? <rolls eyes>

I guess he was supposed to draw a picture of the Festivus Pole.

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Why is this not allowed?? I don't understand why people are getting all bent out of shape about minor things. Remember the days when you could have holiday parties in school? And tell people "Merry Christmas!" ... yea, that's not allowed anymore.

But that's a different argument for a different thread.

Notice my "<rolls eyes>"? Yes, it's ridiculous that on one hand there isn't supposed to be religion in school nowadays (so we hear - "winter break," "happy holidays," etc.), and yet a teacher gives an assignment like this and gets huffy when a student draws a picture of Christ, the person for whom CHRISTmas is named. I guess I'd be more offended by drawings of things like Santa Claus or presents than I would Christ, because those things aren't REALLY what the Christmas holiday was about. If she didn't want any photos of anything Christmas related, she should have just asked the kids to draw a picture of winter.

[AGDee]

I'm still not hearing any "reason" for the kid to be sent home. Is that like a suspension? I would think there would have to be a rule broken for that, but they aren't saying what rule he broke. I don't get it.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Slightly off topic, but does anybody else catch the irony that separation of church and state is such a fundamental part of the law of this country, yet Christ Mass (yes that was intentional) is a federal holiday.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Notice my "<rolls eyes>"? Yes, it's ridiculous that on one hand there isn't supposed to be religion in school nowadays (so we hear - "winter break," "happy holidays," etc.), and yet a teacher gives an assignment like this and gets huffy when a student draws a picture of Christ, the person for whom CHRISTmas is named. I guess I'd be more offended by drawings of things like Santa Claus or presents than I would Christ, because those things aren't REALLY what the Christmas holiday was about. If she didn't want any photos of anything Christmas related, she should have just asked the kids to draw a picture of winter.

Ah, I see. I took your eye-rolling to mean something else

[LaneSig]

SLOW DOWN!

The story that is posted in the OP and the story in the link are saying 2 different things. The school is saying that the boy was never suspended and the picture is not the one he drew.

Also, for the record: Teachers cannot suspend students, only administrators. But, as the district says, the student was never suspended.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Slightly off topic, but does anybody else catch the irony that separation of church and state is such a fundamental part of the law of this country, yet Christ Mass (yes that was intentional) is a federal holiday.

Actually, it's kind of the opposite of "ironic" - it's pragmatic.

[DaemonSeid]

...interesting...they updated the story...



I just wonder... does Taunton only smell bad on the outside?

[LaneSig]

Is this the original story?

http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x...awing-of-Jesus

The one where the school principal refers the reporter to speak to the superintendent's office, because that is required by the staff at the school? Where the district says that they can't speak about what happened to reporters because, oh I don't know, there are strict privacy laws that don't allow districts to speak about students to the public?

But, of course, the parent couldn't be stirring up issues and making a mountain out of a molehill. Only teachers and school officials do that.

[DaemonSeid]

Not from the link but that is one variation I read.