Chicago US Thought Police Arresting HS Student Writers

[baudmax]

Chicago US Thought Police Arresting HS Student Writers

Saturday, April 28, 2007
THREAT LEVEL Prediction Comes True: Student Arrested for Creative Writing Essay -- Updated
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/200..._level_pr.html

Teacher_of_the_year Chicago high school student Allen Lee, 18, was arrested and charged with "disorderly conduct" for writing an essay in creative writing class that his teacher found disturbing. He's also been barred from classes at Cary-Grove High School, where he's reportedly been a straight-A student. The Chicago Tribune reports that the teacher had "encouraged students to express their emotions through writing."

Cary Police Chief Ron Delelio said the charge was appropriate even though the essay was not published or posted for public viewing.

Disorderly conduct, which carries a penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, is filed for pranks such as pulling a fire alarm or dialing 911. But it can also apply when someone's writings can disturb an individual, Delelio said.

"The teacher was alarmed and disturbed by the content," he said.

Let's hope the unnamed English teacher doesn't discover the public library, or the Chicago cops will be looking to arrest nearly every important author in the last century for disturbing the peace.

It's noteworthy that this action wasn't a knee-jerk response. It followed a round-table discussion by school district officials, who not only concluded that Lee's essay was so disturbing as to demand action, but evidently eschewed moderate responses like contacting his parents or referring him to the school counselor in favor of having him arrested and charged with a crime for his words.

THREAT LEVEL predicted this inane response to Virginia Tech early on. I fear this is only the beginning.

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Update: The Tribune has published Lee's paper, as reconstructed from memory. (Spoiler: School makes him stabby). The Northwest Herald reports that the assignment was a "free writing" exercise with the following guidelines.

* Write nonstop for a set period of time.
* Do not make corrections as you write.
* Keep writing, even if you have to write something like, "I don't know what to write."
* Write whatever comes into your mind.
* Do not judge or censor what you are writing.
* If your free writing is neat and coherent, you probably haven't loosened up enough.

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Safety_rollover Updated again: In addition to busting student writers, the alert Cary-Grove High School offers an anonymous online tip form to report behavior to the CGHS "Safety Committee." The website reads, "We want to hear what you have to say. Please take a minute to fill out the anonymous form below."

But check this out this hidden form field in the source code:

<input name="env_report" type="hidden" id="env_report" value="REMOTE_ADDR">


The Safety Committee appreciates your anonymous tip, and looks forward to reviewing your IP address.

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Update: Rich, a high school teacher, writes:

If this example illustrates the new criteria for what I should report to the principal only a few students are ever going to make it through high school without an arrest.

Especially if they're male.

I could provide high school writings that make this stuff look like Dr. Seuss.

(Photo: Wesley Fryer)
Posted by Kevin Poulsen 1:21:00 PM in Virginia Tech shootings

Reputation Comments on this post:

scary...

[radiometer]

The essay under discussion:

Blood sex and Booze. Drugs Drugs Drugs are fun. Stab, Stab, Stab, S…t…a…b…, poke. "So I had this dream last night where I went into a building, pulled out two P90s and started shooting everyone…, then had sex with the dead bodies. Well, not really, but it would be funny if I did." Umm, yeah, what to wright about…… I'm leaving to join the Marines and I really don't give a (obscenity) about my academics, so why does the only class that's complete Bull Shit, happen to be the only required class…enough said. The model citizen would stay around to vote in new board member to change the 4 years of English policy, but no one really stays around to vote for that kind of local crap, so whoever gets there name on the Ballet with a pretty face gets to do what the (obscenity) ever they want with local ordinance. A person is smart, but people are dumb selfish animals. We can't make rules for ourselves so we vote others to do it for us, but we can't even do that right, I meen seriously, Bush for President? And our other option was John Kerry who claimed to parktake in Vietnam Special Forces missions that haven't been declassified….(obscenity) Bull Shit. So Power Flower Super Mario. Pudge, hook, rot, dismember "Fresh Meat." Mostly new/young teachers are laid back, and cooperative with students as feedback and input into the curriculum and atmosphere. My current English teacher is a control freak intent on setting a gap between herself and her students like a 63 year old white male fortune 500 company CEO, and a illegal immigrant. If CG was a private catholic school, I could understand, but wtf is her problem. And baking brownies and rice crispies does not make up for it, way to try and justify yourself as a good teacher while underhandedly looking for complements on your cooking. No quarrel on you qualifications as a writer, but as a teacher, don't be surprised on inspiring the first cg shooting.

And the author's explanation:

Authors Note: This production of writing is done in the most accurate manner I can depict of the original writing. Grammar and spelling mistakes are included at the best accuracy possible. The first phrase in questions is in fact a Green Day song. The second reference to drugs is in relation to the schools history of drug problems. I am personally clean of all controlled substances. The statement in quotes is done so as a non personal statement as I would have done in reference to a character for a story. The reference to the gun P90 is from a video game, combined with a reference to necrophilia as a comment regarding a seriously messed up situation. A situation such as the rape of villagers during a raid by U.S. troops in Vietnam. I really do not care too much about by continuing academia as in relation to grades. I do however believe on continuing my personal education, and I am actually still working for my classes. My views on the graduation requirements explain themselves. The reference to Mario and Pudge( a DOTA character) are completely random as is this essay. The reference to a person being smart and people being dumb is based on a quote from "Men in Black." I generally do believe the public opinion is best. The rest of the essay is rather self explanatory, the main statement in question I have already released a comment online about. I request that all information I have released is read together, and nothing given separately or as an excerpt as the administration has seen fit to do.

On an additional note, I have completed the MEPS (Military Entry Processing Station) examinations, and yes a psychiatric evaluation is included in the process. If I'm qualified to defend the country, I believe I'm qualified to attend school.

Reputation Comments on this post:

good research!

[Heretic.Ape.]

High schools have become increasingly authoritarian. The high school I attended now looks like a prison, fenced in, students with id badges, etc. I'm glad I was in school before the big crackdown (and before Bush's obsene no child left behind program that creates many problems but fails to accomplish anything by way of improving education). I find the overall approach that the US takes toward its problems very disturbing. Rather than trying to resolve issues (school violence, terrorism, addiction and health concerns) they attempt to dominate the venue in which it occurs (school lockdown, war and the patriot act, war on drugs). I'd hate to think of what trouble I would have gotten into in high school if it were today. I tended to speak my mind in my writing, writing (suprise) about drugs and other matters. Luckily my teachers only pointed out where my logic was flawed and where I hadn't thought a matterthrough thoroughly enough, rather than turning me over to the cops. Continuing a dialogue fosters greater thought and responsibility. Cutting off dialogue because it is "bad" only further alienates and fosters anger, and stunts growth in understanding.

[baudmax]

Originally Posted by heretic.ape.

High schools have become increasingly authoritarian. The high school I attended now looks like a prison, fenced in, students with id badges, etc. I'm glad I was in school before the big crackdown (and before Bush's obsene no child left behind program that creates many problems but fails to accomplish anything by way of improving education). I find the overall approach that the US takes toward its problems very disturbing. Rather than trying to resolve issues (school violence, terrorism, addiction and health concerns) they attempt to dominate the venue in which it occurs (school lockdown, war and the patriot act, war on drugs). I'd hate to think of what trouble I would have gotten into in high school if it were today. I tended to speak my mind in my writing, writing (suprise) about drugs and other matters. Luckily my teachers only pointed out where my logic was flawed and where I hadn't thought a matterthrough thoroughly enough, rather than turning me over to the cops. Continuing a dialogue fosters greater thought and responsibility. Cutting off dialogue because it is "bad" only further alienates and fosters anger, and stunts growth in understanding.

What better way to program them to be obedient, fearful little followers, technocrats, and snitches? And people wonder why the US citizenry as a whole lacks the moral backbone and sense of integrity to end the policies of genocide and torture as routinely practiced by the corrupt US leadership.

What a bunch of whipped dogs, by and large.

Peace and Divinity
Love is the Law

Baudeaux Machs

[fnord]

anyone else smell a lawsuit?wheres the aclu on this?

[AntiAimer]

Sounds like something Smurf did when he was in HS. He would have LOL if they tryed to pull the samething on him. Man he loved them essays, because like in thank you for smoking, there asking a question....how can you be wrong? He would make that one funny essay the teacher just had to read to the class. But what this idiot said, is like saying BOMB on a airplane nowadays....

Also the prison comment^, his HS had what looked like guard towers...nough said.

[Police Officer]

So he wrote something that was disturbing to teachers, school officials, and police, and he was refered to a counselor? He was then expelled and arrested. I would suggest that forming an opinion before reading the essay is premature. Do you think that whatever he wrote would have to be some sick, sick, scary shit that made people fear for their life?

[baudmax]

Originally Posted by Police Officer

So he wrote something that was disturbing to teachers, school officials, and police, and he was refered to a counselor? He was then expelled and arrested. I would suggest that forming an opinion before reading the essay is premature. Do you think that whatever he wrote would have to be some sick, sick, scary shit that made people fear for their life?

The point is this was a required exercise in writing class, and if you look at the instructions the students were given, they were told to just write anything that comes to mind, and to not censor what they write in any way. Besides the fact, the assignment was to be merely reviewed by the teacher, not dispersed publicly. Please also note the comment by the english teacher at the end who commented that he's seen plenty of writing over the years that makes what was written in this case equivalent to "Dr. Suess". So, Police Officer, do you support and advocate that people should be arrested for what they WRITE? And just how long do you think before this spreads to what the authorities might consider "politically dangerous writings"? What ever happened to sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never harm me? The US is turning into a nation of pussies where people claim they are now damaged/threatened by mere words on paper, while their goverment decimates whole nations without provocation or justification.

It is ironic that those of the authoritarian mindset attempt to justify more controls be imposed on us all (more Nazi pre-emptive law, punishing us for that which we might do, not any actual crime that has been committed), be they restrictions on freedom of speech and the right to bear arms, while they never go near the real, recurring reason which underlies 99% of these school violence episodes, which is the institutionalization of bullying.

I also do believe that most police officers (if not all?) are required to take an oath of office, which also includes a pledge to uphold and defend the US Constitution. Last I heard, there was this thing called the 1st amendment , and absent a direct threat of violence made against a real person (or a reckless threat to public safety, such as falsely crying fire in a theater), such officers violated their oath, as well as the rights of that student, and ought to be on the end of a fat personal civil suit.

Peace and Divinity
Love is the Law

Baudeaux Machs

[Broshious]

Originally Posted by baudmax

The point is this was a required exercise in writing class, and if you look at the instructions the students were given, they were told to just write anything that comes to mind, and to not censor what they write in any way. Besides the fact, the assignment was to be merely reviewed by the teacher, not dispersed publicly. Please also note the comment by the english teacher at the end who commented that he's seen plenty of writing over the years that makes what was written in this case equivalent to "Dr. Suess". So, Police Officer, do you support and advocate that people should be arrested for what they WRITE? And just how long do you think before this spreads to what the authorities might consider "politically dangerous writings"? What ever happened to sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never harm me? The US is turning into a nation of pussies where people claim they are now damaged/threatened by mere words on paper, while their goverment decimates whole nations without provocation or justification.

It is ironic that those of the authoritarian mindset attempt to justify more controls be imposed on us all (more Nazi pre-emptive law, punishing us for that which we might do, not any actual crime that has been committed), be they restrictions on freedom of speech and the right to bear arms, while they never go near the real, recurring reason which underlies 99% of these school violence episodes, which is the institutionalization of bullying.

I also do believe that most police officers (if not all?) are required to take an oath of office, which also includes a pledge to uphold and defend the US Constitution. Last I heard, there was this thing called the 1st amendment , and absent a direct threat of violence made against a real person (or a reckless threat to public safety, such as falsely crying fire in a theater), such officers violated their oath, as well as the rights of that student, and ought to be on the end of a fat personal civil suit.

Peace and Divinity
Love is the Law

Baudeaux Machs

I agree, but I think more focus should be placed on the ridiculous law that they used in the first place.

Disorderly conduct, which carries a penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, is filed for pranks such as pulling a fire alarm or dialing 911. But it can also apply when someone's writings can disturb an individual, Delelio said.

While I can see a reasoning behind arresting someone for thinking they're gonna blow someone up or what not this law does not have that requirement at all. It seems like it could apply to anyone at any time which is pretty damn scary.

[darawk]

Originally Posted by Police Officer

So he wrote something that was disturbing to teachers, school officials, and police, and he was refered to a counselor? He was then expelled and arrested. I would suggest that forming an opinion before reading the essay is premature. Do you think that whatever he wrote would have to be some sick, sick, scary shit that made people fear for their life?

We did see the essay, it's quoted in this thread in the second post. It's really not that bad at all, and it doesn't threaten anyone specific.

[Veteran Joker]

Originally Posted by Police Officer

So he wrote something that was disturbing to teachers, school officials, and police, and he was refered to a counselor? He was then expelled and arrested. I would suggest that forming an opinion before reading the essay is premature. Do you think that whatever he wrote would have to be some sick, sick, scary shit that made people fear for their life?

I did not feel intimidated by what he wrote, all I can feel is pity for a failed system, empathy for a situation I was once in. School is a terrible, cutthroat institution, which I was glad to get out of as quickly as possible so I could start my education.

[fnord]

it preety much does,in swims state he has been arested a few times just for pissing off cops,the chrges were beat but swim had to spend a few nights in jail,swims suyre this kid will beat his charges easily,this case is too public to make it to court,what DA would want to be the guy that tryed to covict a chinese student(right after that shooting)for something thats probly not a crime at all,he would fail and look horible in the media.

[darawk]

Originally Posted by fnord

it preety much does,in swims state he has been arested a few times just for pissing off cops,the chrges were beat but swim had to spend a few nights in jail,swims suyre this kid will beat his charges easily,this case is too public to make it to court,what DA would want to be the guy that tryed to covict a chinese student(right after that shooting)for something thats probly not a crime at all,he would fail and look horible in the media.

It doesn't matter if he beats the charges. I mean, I hope he does, but that's not the point. The point is he shouldn't have been arrested in the first place just for expressing himself.

[AntiAimer]

The problem here lies in common sense. Yes write anything and dont censor it, but a line will always be drawn. If he really thought writeing about killing people and haveing sex with there dead bodies is ok in a school essay...then he must have some real problems. Because who knows if he really means this or not...it's like the recent college shootings. The idiot talked about doing it before, but no one took it into consideration, then it led to it actually happening.

Personally, he got what he wanted. Something should be done, how severe who knows but being a idiot is no excuse. There's just certain things that can't be expressed nor are protected by free speech.

[darawk]

Originally Posted by AntiAimer

The problem here lies in common sense. Yes write anything and dont censor it, but a line will always be drawn. If he really thought writeing about killing people and haveing sex with there dead bodies is ok in a school essay...then he must have some real problems. Because who knows if he really means this or not...it's like the recent college shootings. The idiot talked about doing it before, but no one took it into consideration, then it led to it actually happening.

Personally, he got what he wanted. Something should be done, how severe who knows but being a idiot is no excuse. There's just certain things that can't be expressed nor are protected by free speech.

Sure, it would have been reasonable if they had recommended him to a school psychologist. But to ARREST him for this is fucking absurd. That is the point of contention for me - I don't care what the school did to him within it's own system, but involving the police and trying to charge him with a crime for his writing is so wrong I don't even know where to begin.

[Nagognog2]

If I wrote an essay in a Christan school stating that the Universe was 13.9 billion years old as shown by the studies in cosmic background radiation left over from the Big Bang - I likely would be expelled. The Christians believe that God created the Earth and the Heavens a scant 6,000 years ago. What I wrote would be heresy. Heck - they'd want to burn me alive at the stake to teach me God's love and truth!*

Same thing here - Just different costumes are being worn by the witch-hunters.

* Astronomy websites are commonly hacked and defaced by Christian script-kiddies.

[Veteran Joker]

Instead of confronting him about unsavoury opinions, instead they cower. They are scared of one child!

What depths of paranoid delusion must one be to be frightened of a student that expresses homicidal intent? When I attended school, at least half of the pupils expressed a desire to kill someone, usually teachers. Has anyone died there? No. Are police brought in to beat up* any children that speak dissenting views? Not when I was there, but there are now.

*A student in a fight was pinned down and arms pinned behind their back. The police officer did not exercise proper moderation in the case, and dislocated his shoulder.