Secret Service questions student on drawings

[steve-o]

Secret Service questions student on drawings

PROSSER, Washington (AP) -- Secret Service agents questioned a high school student about anti-war drawings he did for an art class, one of which depicted President Bush's head on a stick.

Another pencil-and-ink drawing portrayed Bush as a devil launching a missile, with a caption reading "End the war -- on terrorism."

The 15-year-old boy's art teacher at Prosser High School turned the drawings over to school administrators, who notified police, who called the Secret Service.

"We involve the police anytime we have a concern," Prosser Superintendent Ray Tolcacher told the Tri-City Herald newspaper.

Secret Service agents interviewed the boy last Friday. The student, who was not arrested, has not been identified.

The school district disciplined him, but district officials refused to say what the punishment was. Tolcacher said the boy was not suspended.

The artwork was apparently part of an assignment to keep a notebook of drawings, according to Kevin Cravens, a friend of the boy's family.

The drawing that drew the most notice showed a man in what appeared to be Middle Eastern-style clothing, holding a rifle. He was also holding a stick with an oversize head of the president on it.

The student said the head was enlarged because it was intended to be an effigy, Cravens said. The caption called for an end to the war in Iraq.

A message left by The Associated Press with an after-hours duty officer with the Secret Service in Washington, D.C., was not immediately returned on Monday.

"If this 15-year-old kid in Prosser is perceived as a threat to the president, then we are living in '1984'," Cravens said.

Tolcacher insisted it was not a freedom of speech issue, but a concern over the depiction of violence.

"From what I saw, [school officials] were right to be concerned," Prosser Police Chief Win Taylor said.

[KiloWatts]

Originally posted by steve-o
[B]
"If this 15-year-old kid in Prosser is perceived as a threat to the president, then we are living in '1984'," Cravens said.

The book?

[johnny861]

Originally posted by KiloWatts
The book?

The Van Halen Album?

[steve-o]

Originally posted by KiloWatts
The book?

yes.

You know how organized those 15 year olds are. Always trying to assasinate high ranking officials.

[steve-o]

Originally posted by -m-3000
You know how organized those 15 year olds are. Always trying to assasinate high ranking officials.

damn terrorists.

fucked up

[Dionysos]

This whole thread reeks of a lack of common sense.

Originally posted by Dionysos
This whole thread reeks of a lack of common sense.

Our commentary or the story itself?

[MattM]

When I was in school, it didn't matter what got us out of class, a secret service agent, or a fire drill; as long as we got out of class somehow.

[Jay.]

You think that is inane. They arest you in my high school if you draw any gang related material. That or they suspend you for 2 days and report you for truancy.

[kit'n]

Originally posted by Phypha
You think that is inane. They arest you in my high school if you draw any gang related material. That or they suspend you for 2 days and report you for truancy.

well, i can sorta see that (depending on the neighborhood). that could be kids really actually involved in gangs (maybe not... but theres prolly a reason why the rule was instituted)... but a 15 year old kid being connected with mid-east terrorists???? psssht!

esp when most of it was just anti-war stuff.

[Jay.]

Originally posted by kit'n
well, i can sorta see that (depending on the neighborhood). that could be kids really actually involved in gangs (maybe not... but theres prolly a reason why the rule was instituted)... but a 15 year old kid being connected with mid-east terrorists???? psssht!

esp when most of it was just anti-war stuff.

[alexican]

good lord
i think some people are a little too uptight these days

Art teach: Okay class, i want you all to draw whatever you want...as long as its sunshine, lollipos, rainbows, and kitties.

Originally posted by Phypha
You think that is inane. They arest you in my high school if you draw any gang related material. That or they suspend you for 2 days and report you for truancy.

Where is the material being drawn?

Tagging a wall is an illegal act.

Big difference between posting a sign marking territory and drawing in art class.