Students at Boyet Junior High School were told to draw a political cartoon as part of an assignment for history class, but when the drawings went on display at Slidell Junior High, the images didn’t sit well with at least one parent and controversy soon erupted.
Malicious is the word being used to describe the drawings of President Barack Obama that were on display. One drawing showed the President with a bullet in the side of his head, and according to Nola.com:
“At least five images were posted, including a drawing of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck standing next to a tree with a sign that read, ‘Obama Season,’ underneath a likeness of the president. Also in the depiction was an image of what appeared to be presidential candidate Mitt Romney smiling.”
James Davis, President of the local NAACP chapter,and the disturbed parent met with the superintendent and school board about the issue and said they are waiting for the school to take action before they proceed further. But he finds it odd that no members of the school administration expressed concern for the drawings that were on display.
“You’re supposed to be a professional, and you are a teacher. We’re putting our kids in your hands for six or seven hours per day. Not only black kids, but white kids, too, are going to look up at that wall. That doesn’t say too much about the people we put there to take care of our kids. It really is (scary) to see that. …
“This just puts hate right into the children. Why would they draw that if it weren’t coming from someone else? … It was there for a few days, and no one brought it up.”
School officials have launched an investigation that includes interviewing parents, students, teachers, and administrators to figure out the basis of the situation, and according to superintendent Trey Folse, “The St. Tammany Parish public school system takes matters such as this very seriously” and “the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken as soon as all of the facts are in and legal requirements have been met.”
What do you think the correct course of action is for the students and school faculty involved in the controversy?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
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