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December 24, 2006
Moonbat Versus Moonbat at Portsmouth High School
Patrick Agin of Portsmouth, Rhode Island is evidently enough of a geek to want to use this as his yearbook picture:
The school wouldn't let him, not because it's asinine, but because it violates the school's zero-tolerance weapons policy. Apparently a picture of a sword constitutes a weapon. This may seem to conflict with the fact that the school's mascot is a Revolutionary War soldier carrying a rifle. But according to the principal, Robert Littlefield:
That's an entirely different issue. I don't think anybody could reasonably construe a cartoon depiction of a soldier from 250 years ago as a threat to our educational environment.
A picture of a dorkazoid posing with his play sword, on the other hand...
But wait, we haven't gotten to the absurd part yet. The ACLU is suing the school to force it to let the kid pose with his sword, on the grounds that it's a free speech violation not to let him present himself any way he pleases, despite the fact that it is the school, not the kid, that is producing the yearbook. High school exhibitionists take note: if the ACLU wins this one, you can pose nude for your yearbook.
Only the ACLU could manage to go up against "zero tolerance" educrats and still be in the wrong.
Hat tips: Ace of Spades, Knowledge is Power, on a tip from V the K.
Posted by Van Helsing at December 24, 2006 10:56 AM
Comments
It gets better. The school said they would print the picture in the yearbook if the kid or his parents took out an ad in the yearbook with the picture.
So, the school's policy isn't so much "zero tolerance" as "tolerance for cash."
Posted by: V the K at December 24, 2006 12:40 PM
I would so love to be able to have gear like that.
Geeks of the world, unite against moonbattery! You have nothing to lose but your street-cred!
Posted by: Archonix at December 24, 2006 2:35 PM
Um, has anyone at all stopped to realize that he is decked out in full CRUSADE costume?
Which side would the ACLU take then? huh?
Posted by: Doug at December 24, 2006 3:10 PM
Are those his real eyebrows, or is a 'possum parked on his forehead?
Posted by: steveH at December 24, 2006 8:20 PM
Um, has anyone at all stopped to realize that he is decked out in full CRUSADE costume?
The hauberk of mail is certainly reminescent of the Crusader Era, though the big-assed hand-and-a-half sword is more Rennaisance (they didn't make swords like that until the blast furnace was developed, by which time mail had been supplanted by plate). Like most SCA nerds (I'm assuming that is what he is), he's mixing stuff. The coif (hood) has dagging, which IINM, was a Viking cultural 'decoration'.....with gear no Viking ever used. Its an abomination from the simple standpoint that it appears to be a mish-mash.
Colour me strange, I think he shouldn't be in that getup simply because its historically inaccurate from so many standpoints. In Civil War Reenacting, we would call that 'Farby'.
Posted by: Brooklyn Red Leg at December 24, 2006 11:37 PM
He could be a fantasy cosplayer sort of nerd. When it comes to fantasy, era is less important than what looks like it might work in that particular world.
Posted by: Archonix at December 25, 2006 4:45 AM
If that kid -- or anyone else in the school, for that matter -- can actually wield that sword and hurt someone with it, then the principle has a case.
But find me one -- just one -- teenage boy -- strong and skilled enough to hurt someone with that sword -- someone who isn't tied to a chair, that is -- and I'll give you a quarter.
Posted by: class-factotum at December 25, 2006 9:17 AM
Why doesn't the ACLU sue to let some of the HS chicks pose NUDE in the yearbook....sheesh.. since "on the grounds that it's a free speech violation not to let him present himself any way he pleases..." does ANYTHING go?
Posted by: Pauly at December 25, 2006 4:20 PM
