Mass. 2nd-grader sent home for crucifix drawing

Kevin · #1 12-15-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Oh, I thought the "himself" was as a typo or something.

He drew "himself" on the crucifix? Maybe he was drawing how Jesus died on the cross for him? Idunno. Certainly not disciplinary action-worthy. What ever happened to talking to parents about what their kids did (just in case there's an issue there) and letting the parents talk to the kids?

I'm reading that he was drawing himself on the cross, but the teacher was thinking black Jesus.

Maybe I'm reading in or misreading or not reading or something?

DrPhil · #2 12-15-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

I'm reading that he was drawing himself on the cross, but the teacher was thinking black Jesus.

Maybe I'm reading in or misreading or not reading or something?

I don't know.

If the teacher was thinking Black Jesus and thought that was disciplinary action-worthy, assuming that Jesus on the crucifix itself wasn't the issue, that is DEFINITELY a race issue.

Kevin · #3 12-15-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I don't know.

If the teacher was thinking Black Jesus and thought that was disciplinary action-worthy, assuming that Jesus on the crucifix itself wasn't the issue, that is DEFINITELY a race issue.

My interpretation was that whoever (the parents?) was complaining about racism assumed it was because the dude on the cross was black. And yeah, that'd be a no brainer.

But the teacher, who is saying nothing, more than likely had no racial motivation and was simply discriminating against the kid because of the kid's religious expression, not race... equally dumb though.

The teacher is a jackass either way.

ASTalumna06 · #4 12-15-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

The teacher is a jackass either way.

Exactly.

The teacher could have talked to the parents first. But suspending a 2nd grader with special needs for drawing a picture of, what appears to be, Jesus on the cross, is ridiculous... no matter what the assignment is.

I find it interesting that this is the same school that told a 6-year-old boy to walk home by himself a month ago..

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_n...ne20091112_tro

DrPhil · #5 12-15-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

The teacher is a jackass either way.

Yeah.

I would be thoroughly amused if the teacher says "it wasn't about religion OR race...it was a drawing depicting death...I thought it was morbid and feared the child was telling me that he was going to hang himself or someone else."

Kevin · #6 12-15-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Yeah.

I would be thoroughly amused if the teacher says "it wasn't about religion OR race...it was a drawing depicting death...I thought it was morbid and feared the child was telling me that he was going to hang himself or someone else."

You're sure you're not a lawyer?

VandalSquirrel · #7 12-15-2009, 09:02 PM

I read about this earlier and that article said it was the X over the eyes of Jesus that disturbed her. Now when I google that I only get this link http://www.thenewamerican.com/index....-jesus-drawing

FWIW it was mobile news on my phone so I never had a link.

MysticCat · #8 12-15-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I read about this earlier and that article said it was the X over the eyes of Jesus that disturbed her.

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. His father, who works as a janitor at the school, thought perhaps the kid was afraid he'd get in trouble if he said he'd drawn Jesus.

There are just so many things wrong with this scenario, but I don't think thta the kid was responsible for any of them.