Originally Posted By Mr X <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/27/student.essay.arrest.ap/index.html" target="_blank">http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US /04/27/student.essay.arrest.ap/index.html</a> Um...so it's illegal to write about dreams now? If this is in fact a crime, then Oliver Stone should DEFINITELY be in jail for his "Natural Born Killers" script. For the record, the kid wrote "it would be funny if I dreamt it" not "it would be funny if I did it".
Originally Posted By Mr X The part about "don't be surprised on inspiring the first CG shooting" though, yeah that might be illegal there. It does sound like a threat.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka I almost posted this story. I thought an interesting part of it was that they were told not to edit or limit themselves while writing.
Originally Posted By friendofdd That is a tough one. I believe there should be definite parameters at the high school level, especially with studies showing boys that age seem to be seriously lacking in maturity. However, the instructions removed parameters and left it wide open. So, I think it is acceptable, but I also think we need to be very vigilent in protecting our children while at school. See how wishy-washy I am?
Originally Posted By Mr X lol...wishy-washy is pretty much the way to go in this case... I have some thoughts. At first post, I was completely on the kids side but when I re-read the comment to the teacher it did seem like a threat. Which, I believe, is illegal. On the one hand, you have to watch out for potential copycats. On the other hand, this stuff is fresh on kids' minds anyway and it's not surprising someone would write something like this when asked to do a creative writing excersise. I suppose the best course of action would be to ban creative writing.
Originally Posted By DlandDug That a seemingly intelligent student (straight A!) would write an essay of this nature in the immediate aftermath of the Virginia Tech killings is the height of provocation. If this is an example of this young man's "creativity," I agree that he needs professional help. I would not arrest and fine him though, at least until sheer stupidity is criminalized.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo This story is unbelievable. He stuck to the brief and is now being punished for it???? I admit, some of the thoughts are distrubing, but so too are Wes Craven's, John Carpenter's, Quinten Tarrentino's, Frank Miller's, Neil Gaiman's and so on. Am I the only one that believes that video games, creative writing, movies etc. are a great release to stop people acting out these scenarios? Is it not better to get these things out in the open to monitor it?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thomas Harris anyone? I watched Footloose last night, and it reminded me of the dangers of close mindedness. The key to stemming antisocial behaviour is to understand it. Look at Prohibition, did it really solve the issues? No, it drove them underground making it harder to do anything.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder I'm with Dug on this one. If this kid is so smart, he should be smart enough to realize writing something like this so soon after the Virginia Tech massacre would bring all sorts of scrutiny. Use a little common sense. To hide behind "well, they told us not to censor ourselves" is more than a little disingenuous. And good, bad or indifferent, it didn't help matters he's Asian.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Even with the instructions not to censor oneself, perhaps school action would be warranted - mandatory counseling or keeping an eye on this kid, or something like that. I don't think the State has any business imposing fines or putting someone in jail for 30 days, though, for writing something for a writing class.
Originally Posted By Disneyman55 On one hand, dumb move kid. On the other hand, sheesh, talk about over-reacting. Put him in counseling, make him go to anger management classes, suspend him from scholl, make him clean up trash on the side of the highway, but send him to jail? "Gee, I guess we put fear in all kids to not write such things in thier creative writing class" Hellooooo, get a clue. Chances are good this kind of over-reaction will have major negative effects on this kids life. But boy we taught the whole world a lesson......we won't tolerate writing about this stuff. What a waste of our tax money.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Before people start screaming for the ACLU - where was the outrage from a few weeks ago that 'the system' had failed and there were all these signs no one reacted on - when everyone was looking for someone to blame ? You can't have it both ways......if no one reacts and this kid goes on a spree - then it will be the teachers fault for not identifying a potential concern... FYI - this is not far from where I live - the same day a kid was arrested in the High School the next suburb over for having bomb making materials in his school locker and the kid had been making ' mocking statements' also -- where do you draw the line between what is OK and what is threatening ? You can't make that call AFTER something happens. I admit it is a fine line....
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo In fact it is very fine. I do not condemn the teacher for raising the concerns, nor do I necessarily condone this kids' thoughts. But the way in which the administration handled it was very poor. Would not councilling and monitoring been the best approach? Is Tarrentino the next McVeigh? Where does one really draw the line? Personally I would rather have the kid express his thoughts in words rather than action, and mental health/risk assessments be made instead. But then again, I choose to remain in a country where guns are illegal (but also a rising problem). I remember my mom saying when we moved to the UK in the 80's it felt like California circa 1955. Now in the late oughts, it feels like the early 80's. I really worry that the human rights and liberties that were fought for in the 50's - 80's are largely being eroded by paranoia as bad news is more readily accessable via 24 hour news channels, the internet, and other media.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 It is a fine line, vbdad. But I think the school taking action is warranted. The state throwing someone in jail for 30 days for a writing assignment is not, IMO. That's where I'd draw the line. (Not to mention that throwing someone in jail in itself tends if anything to make him more anti-social.)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Is this not in fact a breech of the Bill of Rights and his Freedom of Speech? Leave all the rapists, drug addicts, vandals and other young miscreants alone and throw an honours student in jail? What sort of precident does this start in terms of youth justice? His life chances have been ruined, or severly hindered at the least for self expression. Where is the line between danger to society and the next Thomas Harris? And they say America is the land of the Free?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Let's not go down the 'honors student' off ramp -- one of the most notorious killers in US history - Ted Bundy was a clean cut honors student.....high school and college. They are not above suspicion...or should not be. It makes for sensational headlines for this kid, but has one has nothing to do with the other with regards to his grades.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Students were told to "write whatever comes to your mind. Do not judge or censor what you are writing," according to a copy of the assignment.<< If that's what the students were indeed told to do, how in the world can they punish him for it in this way? At that point, the killings at VT were top of mind for everyone. You had psychologists on every channel, 24/7, trying to "get inside the mind of the killer" offering their own theories and explanations. If this kid does what the assignment asked -- don't judge or censor -- maybe that's all he's is trying to do.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 So are you suggesting we treat honors students differently ? Doesn't sound like you.....yet that is how it comes across. look at the history of the kinds of crimes we just experienced at VT -- Columbine etc. they are not drug dealers / rapists or vandals -- they are the kid next door - that's what makes it scary. The most common theme after something happens is that no one ever suspected " so and so " because they live in a suburban home and parents are pillars of the community - yada yada
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <At that point, the killings at VT were top of mind for everyone. You had psychologists on every channel, 24/7, trying to "get inside the mind of the killer" offering their own theories and explanations. If this kid does what the assignment asked -- don't judge or censor -- maybe that's all he's is trying to do.< maybe - let's hope so....but then one has to question what the teacher was thinking immediately after the VT episode ?
