WWJD? I'm guessing not what the Taunton School System did.

 An 8 year old boy from Taunton, MA was sent home from school Monday after handing in a drawing of Jesus on the cross, His eyes X'd out to signify death.  The second grader thought he was drawing a holiday picture, his assignment for the day. 

They kicked him out of school for completing an assignment.  The mind, it boggles.

Do I have an opinion on this?  Doesn’t everyone who has heard the story?  It's horrible that this child was kicked out of school.  I think it’s beyond ridiculous that the school requested the boy undergo a psychological evaluation before returning to class.  Even worse, the family had to pay for the evaluation.  Maxham Elementary School screwed this situation up.  Blew it out of proportion.  Handled it incorrectly.  Effed up.

His father told WHDH the inspiration for his son’s picture might have come from the family’s recent visit to La Salette Shrine in Attleboro.  Jeez, those people and their need to find the true spirit of Christmas. /sarcasm

Look, I was in Catholic school for seven years.  We drew Jesus in every way, shape and form.  That's what kids do when shown the image of Christ.  I know what some might say to that - that was a parochial school, this boy went to a public elementary school, separation of church and state, yada yada yada... The fact remains, this is an 8 year old child who was asked to draw something that reminded him of Christmas and while Jesus on the cross is not the first image that comes to mind for most adults (that’s saved for the holiday with the rabbits and brightly colored chocolate eggs), for a child that image is incredibly powerful.  Add to that the family’s trip to La Salette Shrine and is it any wonder he drew it?  And is it so horrible that he did?  Really, Taunton School System?  Really?  An obese man in need of Lap-Band surgery in a fury red suit who has a history of breaking and entering is okay but Jesus isn't?  I was under the impression that CHRISTmas was a CHRISTian holiday.  You know, about the birth of CHRIST. 

God bless us, every one.

This is just the latest story in a long line of reports of school administrators and educators not using common sense or exhibiting good judgment when faced with a problem in our exceedingly PC world.  These knee jerk reactions are doing more harm than good.  Who are we protecting here - the children or our budgets?  Lawyers are expensive, you know.  Children, obviously, are expendable.

(Okay I'm done.  Promise.)

You messed up, Taunton School System.  Big time.  You will go down in history as the ones who kicked a small, impressionable child out of school because he did what he was told.  And that will be your cross to bear.

*Update:  There is a wrinkle in this story, of course.  Taunton school officials are fighting back.  What do you think of this latest development?

Image Credit: Taunton Gazette

Comments

[Margaret]

WTF? Around my huse, certain times of the year, you can find drawints like that. Or find my girls tying each other to in that pose to trees or fences. Of course, they do go to Catholic School. However, I don't complain when they come home with dreidels and menorahs made in art. When they tell us the story of Kwanza. Or sing the dreidel song over and over and over again. I like that they are being exposed to other beliefs. That they know there are other things out there.

The kid is 8. I know many kids who go to church AND go to public school. They don't always know about the whole seperation of church and state. It's not like he was trying to indoctrinate his class into religion, he was drawing a picture. I guess it's just easier to think inside the box and draw fat red elves and reindeer that can fly and trees with lights.

SERIOUSLY, WTF!

[Fairly Odd Mother]

I do think there is more to this story. . . perhaps this isn't the 'exact' picture and the original had more gore on it, but, really, have you seen some of the images in a church? If this kid was drawing based on his interpretation on stuff that he's seen, it could still be very, very violent and yet not mean anymore more than "I was drawing Jesus". Even if the Romans were shooting arrows in the air, or stabbing him or whatever, school officials should've taken this into account before they reacted so seriously.

As an aside: I remember reading about one parent who went to his daughter's preschool class and saw crucifixes all over one wall. He thought "WTF!?!?! We're Jewish and they're doing this in art?!?!" He was just about to say something to the teacher when his daughter ran over to the wall, pointed at the drawings and said proudly, "look Daddy! lower-case t!"

[c]

The dad immediately say "they messed up...they owe us a big cash settlement."

There is now controversy over whether it was even drawn at school.

Methinks Foxnews put the dad up to it so he could get his "big cash settlement" and they could get a new war on Xmas story.

[Tania - Chicky Chicky Baby]

C - At this point I'm inclined to agree but I'm waiting to see how this plays out. I really hope that's not where it's headed (the update on the story came right after I finished this post so I had to include both sides) because... Well, no one wants to hear this story blow up into something worse. Except maybe the Taunton school system.

[Susan]

The school may have messed up, but I distrust this Dad. He can say anything he likes and the school is limited in what they can say publicly about this child.

[Ali]

I think there's more to this story, and I doubt very much that it went down in the way the dad described.

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