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Honor student arrested for creative writing
Filed under: Teens, Health & Safety: Babies, Media, Day Care & Education
An Illinois teenager was arrested on his way to school for a school creative writing assignment deemed so disturbing, it merited police involvement. The boy was charged with two misdemeanor counts, his personal computer was confiscated, and his recent contract with the marines was torn up as a result of his English writing assignment.
Allen Lee, an 18-year-old honor student, submitted a free-thought essay punctuated with ponderings of violence and filled with expletives and condemnation of American foreign policy. Ironically, the essay was part of an exercise in "free thought" - where students were encouraged to write whatever came to their heads, with no corrections and no pre-meditated composition. The problem is, Lee's essay was eerily similar to the rants of the Virgina Tech murderer, with ruminations on killing people with a pistol and having sex with the dead bodies.
Emi Steiner, the author of the editorial piece in the Washington Post blog, opines that the "easiest way to create the very instability we hope to protect against is by allowing our fears to justify the forfeiture of our reason and our civil liberties." While in theory I agree, I can't help but think of how I would feel if this were a classmate at Nolan's high school. I believe I'd want some kind of Intervention. Yes, free speech is critical in our society. But so are pre-cautions in a crazy, violent world.
What do you think? Should Allen Lee have been arrested for a student assignment that encouraged raw, uncensored thought? And is this a dangerous precedent or a smart move to protect other students?
Allen Lee, an 18-year-old honor student, submitted a free-thought essay punctuated with ponderings of violence and filled with expletives and condemnation of American foreign policy. Ironically, the essay was part of an exercise in "free thought" - where students were encouraged to write whatever came to their heads, with no corrections and no pre-meditated composition. The problem is, Lee's essay was eerily similar to the rants of the Virgina Tech murderer, with ruminations on killing people with a pistol and having sex with the dead bodies.
Emi Steiner, the author of the editorial piece in the Washington Post blog, opines that the "easiest way to create the very instability we hope to protect against is by allowing our fears to justify the forfeiture of our reason and our civil liberties." While in theory I agree, I can't help but think of how I would feel if this were a classmate at Nolan's high school. I believe I'd want some kind of Intervention. Yes, free speech is critical in our society. But so are pre-cautions in a crazy, violent world.
What do you think? Should Allen Lee have been arrested for a student assignment that encouraged raw, uncensored thought? And is this a dangerous precedent or a smart move to protect other students?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-01-2007 @ 8:58AM
A said...Arrested? no. Investigated? Most definitely.
His opinion is his opinion. Shame on the teacher and the school for asking his opinion and then not liking what he had to say.
His choice of words used to express his opinion, well, that's what comes with education, widom and age.
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5-01-2007 @ 9:31AM
Amanda said...I agree with 'A'. I don't know exactly what the kid wrote but, maybe, he just has an imagination! Hell there are tons of people I pass by every day who say they hate the president!! geeze. If everyone who wrote violent and gory stories then maybe we should arrest Stephen King too!!
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5-01-2007 @ 9:56AM
rachel said...I agree with the previous commenters. While this boys writing clearly warranted some investigation, I believe that it should have been handled psychiatricaly not criminally.
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5-01-2007 @ 10:18AM
Sadie said...As far as a psychological evaluation, he'd already passed the psych tests for entry into the military. He's quoted in another article asking why he was dubbed fit to serve in the military, but not fit to go to school.
I really think they should have looked at the whole situation. This guy doesn't seem to fit the classic school shooter profile - not a loner, etc.
The teacher told them to write whatever, don't edit it. Maybe he'd just watched a gory movie or even the news and that is what was in his head. Hell, I'm a 27y/o mom of five - I'm not going to go start a shooting rampage - but I can tell you I have had some pretty dark thoughts and "fantasy plans" after reading certain books.
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5-01-2007 @ 11:04AM
jen said...For a writing assignment like this to occur so soon after the shootings, I'm surprised more people didn't write on topics of blood and violence. At the same time, many of the classes that students are required to take are often just not challenging. A bored student might choose an off the wall topic (like sex, suicide or bombings) as a chance to just explore a topic. They might not feel strongly about it either way, but with everyone so on edge it is easy to construe his thoughts as coming from a psychologically damaged person. He should not have been arrested. Counseled? Sure.
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5-01-2007 @ 11:24AM
Tamyu said...I`m sure other students DID write things similar to this. However, Lee is of Asian descent - just like the Virginia Tech shooter. I imagine that had more than a little to do with it.
I commented more in depth on this the first time there was a post on the subject. And my feelings have not changed. Arresting him is total idiocy - I remember being praised for similar style writings. In fact, that`s what the teacher WANTED. The world certainly has changed when a student can be arrested for rambling on (not even THAT violently, if you compare it to the other stuff out there) for an assignment that *asks* you to do just that.
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5-01-2007 @ 12:56PM
Miss said...Aren't we becoming fascist! Hollywood would not EXIST were it not for minds such as this young man's. Violence (and violent writing) has been around since the world began, and it will continue. This teen will surely grow up to do successful things with his writing - in spite of some jealous, bitter teacher.
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5-01-2007 @ 1:44PM
Christine said...This is silly. Isnt that just what the Marine's train them to think like anyway... I remember my ex coming back from combat training..
I hope they apologize and make it up to him.
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5-01-2007 @ 6:54PM
ivymae said...As a Creative Writing student at a university, we have talked about the fine line between creativity and intent quite a bit lately. Many of us teach in local schools, or have been in workshops where a piece of writing has disturbed us. I see nothing wrong with bringing a concern to an authority, but there needs to be a protocol for how it is handled. It sounds like the young man above was not given the chance to defend his work, which is very disappointing.
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