Boy suspended for sketch; parents consider lawyer

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Dianna M. Náñez

The Arizona Republic

FLORENCE - The parents of an eighth-grade boy who was suspended by school administrators for drawing a stick figure pointing a gun said they are contacting a lawyer to help them fight the school's treatment of their son.

The stick-figure sketches were drawn on index cards and depicted a cartoon of a stick figure pointing a gun at another stick figure.

The figure has a bubble above his head that reads: "eek."

In one of the cards, the school resource officer is identified by nickname, but no gun is pointed at him.

Stephanie Vardakas, 32, and John Vardakas, 37, said they feel that long before the three-day suspension was imposed last Friday, their son, Joshua, 14, was being targeted by the assistant principal and school resource officer of Walker Butte K-8 school.

"They have been bullying my son and other kids. This was the final straw," John Vardakas said.

Stephanie Vardakas recalled an incident in which the assistant principal did not like the style of her son's hair and forcibly took him to a school sink to wash out gel.

She said she is fed up with fearing for her son and plans to ensure that her son's rights are protected.

"He's scared to go to school," she said. "I don't know if this is to get back at me because I complain if they treat him bad.

"But I want him to feel safe. And I want his freedom of expression protected. He draws all the time. He's an artist. It was only a doodle-drawing; suspension was just ridiculous."

Larry Cline, a Florence Unified School District spokesman, said that any allegations that school officials have mistreated Joshua are unfounded.

He said that if the Vardakases fear for their son's safety, he invites them to meet with school officials.

Cline said that school officials do not think Joshua meant for any physical harm to come to anyone, but that the school had to discipline him for the safety of other students and faculty.

They also sought to teach Joshua to behave appropriately, he said.

Cline said that the student's teacher asked Joshua several times to put the cards away during an Aug. 23 class, but that he did not comply.

The suspension was for insubordination and for the drawing of a gun pointed at a person, Cline said.

"We elected to err on the side of caution instead of having to explain something that is far worse later," Cline said.

"This is much easier than for us to have to come back later and explain a knifing or a shooting.

"It is our hope this young man learns from this and comes back to school."

http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/a...sketch0831.html

[slbois 0]

A couple of years ago my then 8 year old daughter drew some Halloween pictures and gave them out to kids in her class. I had no idea that she had done this. Well....apparently one of the pictures was of a werewolf that had the words "I will eat you for Halloween" written.

To make a long story short the sheriff's office was called, I was called at work saying that my daughter was writing threatening letters to kids in her class. The sheriff's office was called in to investigate. My daughters then teacher pushed very hard to have her expelled. The school kept copies of the photos in my daughters file.

I believe in protecting other students amidst of all the violence that has occured in schools recently...but come on! Where do we draw the line???

[Nagishkaw 510]

Good Lord !

[Scott & Lai 12]

These zero-tolerance policies are way overboard and defy logic

[Clarky and Tarah 0]

I don't see how suspending him from school will teach him anything, but I do think he should have to see a counselor, just incase. Better safe than sorry.

[almaty 19]

These zero-tolerance policies are way overboard and defy logic

amen

[Jasman0717 9]

Say what

[Fandango 1,439]

14 in the beginning of the 8th grade?

[MissStacey 1]

Those parents should call Charlton Heston.

Don't all stick figures have the right to bear arms?

[natty bumppo 297]

Those parents should call Charlton Heston.

Don't all stick figures have the right to bear arms?

Wonder what would happen if this teacher saw my old notebooks from grade school ... the ones with the drawings of Snoopy flying his doghouse fighting the Red Baron ... drat ... I'd probably be still in jail and would never get to watch schroeder play the piano.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Those parents should call Charlton Heston.

Don't all stick figures have the right to bear arms?

Wonder what would happen if this teacher saw my old notebooks from grade school ... the ones with the drawings of Snoopy flying his doghouse fighting the Red Baron ... drat ... I'd probably be still in jail and would never get to watch schroeder play the piano.

No kidding

[Kajikit 65]

How ridiculous can you get! Hasn't every kid that ever lived drawn at least one set of 'flip card' cartoons? I know we did, and we wouldn't have hurt a fly! These school policies nowadays are just insane. All the kid is going to 'learn from this' is that the school is run by total morons.