8 year old suspended for drawing Jesus.

On December 2nd a boy in Taunton was suspended and "psychologically evaluated" after drawing a picture of Jesus. The teacher told the students to draw something that reminded them of Christmas and this is what he drew.

Violation of freedom of religion? Discuss please!

http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1903566059/Taunton-second-grader-suspended-over-drawing-of-Jesus

 

Jesus
*Sarcasm*

That's a bit harsh, Jesus is related to christmas, i don't see how he did anything wrong. Also he's 8. Sometimes the 'School Policies' Are so stupid.

 

More of a general discussion topic, but I feel that a psychological evaluation if paid for by the school would be ok, but since the parents had to pay this was a total attack on the poor student, he obviously just drew something he saw in his "trip".

 

Yea, especially the fact that hes special needs. I think they seriously over-reacted. One of those teachers needs a slap.

 

That sick twisted youngster.

 

Well this has everything to do with Christmas, but if he had drawn Santa Clause and his Reindeer, he would not have gotten suspended.

 

I know right?!

The sad thing is the school supports it...

 

Not really if it reminds him of Christmas.

OT: That is pretty ridiculous. Those teachers fail hard at life.

 

Im pretty sure he was kidding =| . But yeah agreed. Government schooling fails.

 

He's clearly a danger to society.

A psych evaluation doesn't go far enough if you ask me, he needs to be put into care for his own protection and the protection of everyone around him.

This is a very disturbed child.

You have to wonder what the parents have been teaching him. Are they guilty of violent religious brainwashing? Yes, yes they are.

 

Those teachers are sooo mean. :[ poor kid

 

I'm sure if he drew the pagan Great Mother and the sun god Isis, the two deities originally associated with the winter solstice (A.K.A. Christmas), he probably would've gotten a swift expulsion.

 

Huh? who are they? haha

 

What a load of bullshit. If that were my kid, the school would be getting sued.

 

Exactly what I thought. I hope the dad isn't a pussy.

 

Before the church dictated that December 25 was the birth of Christ, it was originally the Winter Solstice (in the Julian Calendar, before they made the switch to the Gregorian Calendar). The Winter Solstice was a pagan holiday, as they recognized that it signified a beginning of growth in the length of sunshine, and therefore better crop yields. They praised the sun god Iris and the Great Mother in celebration. Both holidays are celebrated the same way.

Nobody knows that the 25th was the birth of christ, but the church needed a day to celebrate so they chose the winter solstice. When they changed to the gregorian calendar, Christmas remained on the 25th, but the solstice was moved to the 21st.

Easter was also originally a pagan holiday, in tribute to the goddess Eostre.

In conclusion, if we were ever asked to draw something pertaining to Christmas, I'd draw the Great Mother or Isis

 

Well, considering America has a Consitution that includes a Freedom of Speech/Expression (1st Amendment), this could easily be reversed....

Considering this to be just symbolic speech, I'd say it's not necessarily unconstitutional on any grounds.

Well, this doesn't really violate obscenity laws. In addition... The boy is a second grader...

Geez.

 

We'll he's only a second grader so its not like he ment any harm from it. He hears Christmas and thinks Jesus Christ no big deal. First Amendment will allow him to get the suspension reversed so the school just overeacted to nothing.

 

I think the issue is awareness. I doubt the family is aware of the Amendment and all of it's implied powers and they probably would not have initiative to escalate the issue to a court decision.

 

How stupid. Isn't Jesus related to Christmas? Or have they never heard of Christianity?