Mom Sues Over Rejection of Yearbook Photo
California Poppy
By ERIC TUCKER
AP
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (Nov. 12) - The mother of a high school senior
who posed in chain mail and held a medieval sword for his yearbook
picture sued after the school rejected the photo because of its
"zero-tolerance" policy against weapons.
Ye Olde Controversy
AP Patrick Agin poses in garb he wears as a member of a society that
researches and recreates medieval history. His school rejected the
photo as his yearbook picture because of its "zero-tolerance" policy
against weapons.
Patrick Agin, 17, belongs to the Society for Creative Anachronism, an
international organization that researches and recreates medieval
history. He submitted the photo in September for the Portsmouth High
School yearbook.
But the school's principal refused to allow the portrait as Agin's
official yearbook photo because he said it violated a policy against
weapons and violence in schools, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by
the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.
The lawsuit seeks an order that would prevent the yearbook from being
published without Agin's senior portrait.
Agin's mother, Heidi Farrington, said she and her son believe the
decision defies common sense.
According to the lawsuit, principal Robert Littlefield told Farrington
she could pay to put the photo in the advertising section of the book,
but he would not allow it as Agin's senior portrait.
"That in and of itself demonstrates to us that there's absolutely no
legitimate rationale for banning Patrick's photo," said Steven Brown,
executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU.
Littlefield said he thought there would be less editorial scrutiny
given to paid advertising space, and that an ad would not be viewed as
receiving the school's endorsement.
The complaint says there is nothing in the weapons policy that would
apply to the picture Agin submitted. It also says the weapons policy is
arbitrarily enforced, noting theatrical plays at the school have
included prop weapons and that the mascot - a patriot - is depicted on
school grounds and publications as carrying a weapon.
California Poppy
This link includes a picture of the young man in his costume. I am
somewhat in sympathy with the principal since it is not appropriate for
his primary picture, but would be quite appropriate in the activities
section of the yearbook.
George Z. Bush
My personal opinion is that these people all have too much time on their hands
and not enough of importance to fill them with. Kids have an excuse but adults?
Jeez!
George Z.
Rumpelstiltskin
Heartily seconded. Did I mention that when I was in High
School, a kid was suspended once for wearing a rope in
place of a belt?
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom: it is the
argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves" -- Wm. Pitt the Younger