Student suspended for drawings of guns

msdeb · April 30th, 2008, 12:35 AM

this is a story about a student at my daughters school. she's known him since 1st grade, they are now in 9th grade. he's had a crush on her since 7th grade. i know this boy, he's a sweetie pie. this is the same school that had a student shoot 15 people, killing 2.

Student Suspended for Drawings of Guns - FOX6 San Diego

A Santana High School student has been suspended after a teacher found pictures he drew of guns in his backpack.
15-year old Ryan Reynolds was suspended after his ninth grade teacher found a sketch of an AK-47.
Reynolds told FOX6 he drew the picture after his father, who is a gun enthusiast, took him to a gun show. He says, "There's no harm or threat behind this picture."
Another drawing done by Reynolds, showed a stick figure labeled "me" shooting another stick figure labeled "you."
"The pictures weren't directed at anyone in or near the school," says Ryan's father, Jason St. Mars, "They were just drawings. They could have been cops or robbers, or my son shooting at a terrorist."
A third drawing depicted a person shooting in tandem at another person.
Ryan's father, says there is nothing in the student handbook saying students are not allowed to draw pictures of guns.
He says he was outraged by the school's action. "It was disturbing because I don't feel like my son should be suspended for expressing himself. We have freedom of speech in this country."
"Our schools are extremely concerned that we maintain a safe environment at all times," says Superintendent of Grossmont High School District, Robert Collins. "A safe environment for students and a safe environment for teachers. That's paramount."
Collins says when a student is suspended it should be a wake up call to parents.
"I know that everybody looks upon disciplinary actions by a school district as being punitive in nature but my experience has been that it's an event that can be extremely beneficial to the youngster and their family," said Collins.
Ryan's parent say they believe the suspension is in retaliation to them calling the school in a prior incident to complain about the teacher.
In March of 2001, a 15-year old student at Santana High School shot and killed two students and injured 13 others.

McJag · April 30th, 2008, 01:19 AM

Oh for Petes ske. This makes me so tired. Where did common sense go??

kasippu · April 30th, 2008, 07:13 AM

omg my son -6- draws them a lot. Only because he can not have a toy gun and makes them with lego

McJag · April 30th, 2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasippu

omg my son -6- draws them a lot. Only because he can not have a toy gun and makes them with lego

You are doing the opposite of what you want! Little boys love guns like little girls love dolls. If you won't let them have any they become MORE interested in them! They will even carve out of soap! Get him some toy guns-just make sure they are brightly colored. I am thinking of adopting you.

DoveFeatheredRaven · April 30th, 2008, 07:30 AM

Yeah, this is a knee-jerk reaction but this is also a school that has had a shooting in the not-too-distant past. From what I understand, that is really traumatizing to the faculty and staff, as well as the community. The students from 2001 are long gone, so that isn't an issue.

Quote:

Another drawing done by Reynolds, showed a stick figure labeled "me" shooting another stick figure labeled "you."

This is the only part of it I find even remotely bothersome and all that warrants is perhaps some counseling or something just to see where his head is AND to cover their asses. This isn't some little kid who doesn't know what he is drawing. A 15 year old is very aware of the reaction a drawing like this can have. I taught ninth grade for nine years and 15 year old boys KNOW this is threatening on some level.

I am wondering if this is the whole story. If there haven't been other incidents with this kid.

sputnik · April 30th, 2008, 08:01 AM

god, if the people in this school are so retarded, they almost deserve to get shot.

buttmunch · April 30th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Idiotic. I had something weird happen along these lines a few years ago. My older heathen was in kindergarten and when I picked him up one day I was met by the class teacher, the art teacher and the principal. They brandished a cutout of a gun he had made in art class and VERY STERNLY told me they did not allow 'this sort of thing'. Apparently they gave him a real bullocking and he hated art after that. Fuckheads.

McJag · April 30th, 2008, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buttmunch

Idiotic. I had something weird happen along these lines a few years ago. My older heathen was in kindergarten and when I picked him up one day I was met by the class teacher, the art teacher and the principal. They brandished a cutout of a gun he had made in art class and VERY STERNLY told me they did not allow 'this sort of thing'. Apparently they gave him a real bullocking and he hated art after that. Fuckheads.

You should have turned him loose on them with water guns!

MrsDark · April 30th, 2008, 09:46 AM

Oh shit, I better warn my son and his friends. They love to draw entire pics of guys solo or in groups shooting at each other, sometimes tanks and sometimes laser guns or fighting with lightsabers, swords, etc. other weapons and taunting one another in the cartoon word bubbles (i.e. "haha! You're dead!" "me <---, kicking your butt!" "owned!")

I actually have a picture he drew of his three favorite lightsabers on the fridge because I thought it was extremely good artistically. Very intricate and detailed. Especially for an (at the time) 8 year old.

But hey, I don't want him to get suspended from school....so I better make him cut that shit out right now!

msdeb · May 7th, 2008, 07:28 PM

---- get this, my daughter came home from school today and told me that they were interviewing the boy that did the drawings for the school paper. She said he came up to her and said 'does your mom go on 'Gossip Rocks?' she told him that i did. well apparently his dad saw the post here, and they want to put it in the school paper! WE'RE FAMOUS!

Grimmlok · May 7th, 2008, 07:44 PM

ROFLMAO!

Gossip Rocks stands behind the young man 100%. While we can appreciate the school's relatively recent traumatic occurence, we believe some common sense is called for in this situation.

For the love of god, the only way I kept myself awake in class was by drawing all sorts of things... ninjas, soldiers, war scenes, spaceships.. it was a creative outlet, not a warning sign of future mass murder.

Aella · May 7th, 2008, 09:53 PM

Oh, for fuck's sake! The world is getting more ridiculous by the minute.

sputnik · May 8th, 2008, 11:05 AM

^^

and the school paper can quote aella on that.

crumpet · May 8th, 2008, 11:11 AM

And people at the school are 'traumatized' by the drawings of the guns? I remember when being 'traumatized' actually meant something serious. People get 'traumatized' over anything these days and it's almost trendy and expected.

Grimmlok · May 8th, 2008, 12:52 PM

I'm traumatized you're pointing out the obvious. How dare you. My poor delicate sensibilities.

I may have to sue a bitch.