If I hadn't read this myself, I'd never have believed it. This is utter nonsense. . .

Third-Grader Suspended for Drawing Soldier Saturday, March 24, 2001 WEST MONROE, Louisiana — A Louisiana third-grader has earned an in-school suspension for drawing an armed soldier.

The principal at Lenwill Elementary School in West Monroe says the picture of a soldier holding a canteen and a knife was upsetting to other students.

The boy also drew a fort listing stocked inventory that included guns, knives and first aid kits.

The principal says the school "can't tolerate anything that has to do with guns or knives."

But the eight-year-old honor student's father says the drawing was a tribute to a relative in the Army. Raleigh Walker says he had to explain to the boy that being in the Army and owning guns "is not bad."

An official with the school district says the drawing "is a violent arrangement" and says in light of recent school violence the punishment "is not that bad."

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-- Anonymous, March 25, 2001

Answers

That is totally ridiculous... granted the school shooting garbage has gotten way out of hand, keeping young boys from playing, or drawing, soldiers is too extreme. Where's the ACLU on this one?

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2001

I really think the adults just don't know where to draw the line.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2001

There was a post on TB2k about 2 2nd graders out east somewhere that had terriorism charges against them for making a paper gun and playing cops and robbers on the playground.

Told DH that I was so glad that our kids are all through school or I would be yanking them out in a heartbeat with this kind of BS.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2001

When I was a youngin, there weren't many toys available, a war was going on. Guess what my brother and I played? We made guns out of boards, nails and rubber bands and dug horrendous fox holes out in the back 40. When my brother reached the old age of 12 and I was 6 I inherited his cap pistol. I still remember the day and the thrill. Taking cowboys and indians from kids is SURELY unAmerican! Taz

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2001

Heck ya! Rubber band guns, cap pistols (I had a holster, even!). . .all part of my childhood, too.

A couple of years ago, I made my grandkids each an "Imagination Station" for Christmas. . .your basic "Let's Pretend" box, full of all sorts of costumes and props. Took me a while to do this for 4 kids, but had the best time doing it. Had hats, stuff from Halloween clearance sales, stuff I'd found at Goodwill, etc. Everyone had a 'cowboy' outfit of some sort, and I thought I'd give everyone a cap pistol, too. Had a heckuva time trying to find those in town, though. Had to go to a WalMart in a neighboring small town to find one that even stocked cap guns. I had to wonder if it was because it's not "PC" to let kids have cap guns anymore. Dorks!

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2001