Shane Finn, 14, is an autistic eighth grader with the mental capacity of a third grader. He did something not unknown to kids around the world. He drew a stick figure of himself shooting his teacher. He is now an accused terrorist in Georgia.
The childish drawing included the helpful labels “me” for the figure pointing the gun at the other figure, labeled “Hartman.” Hartman was not amused and, despite the fact that Finn has only 75 IQ, Finn was charged with a terrorism felony.
We seem to have become a society where any infraction must be expressed in criminal terms, even when committed by a child (here). Even sketching a gun can get you suspended, here. Once again, the question remains the judgment and professional responsibility of the prosecutors in advancing these charges. If a 14-year-old autistic boy is now considered a terrorist for a drawing, we have lost this fight.
For the full story, click here.
I believe anyone involved in the prosecution of this case should be immediately dismissed from their current position, no matter what title they hold, from the school employees to the prosecution teams, anyone that has been a part of this nonsense needs to go and to be banned from every holding that or any similar position again!
Seconded without reservation.
Besides, if you look at the drawing, “Hartman’s” foreshortened arm clearly indicates he was reaching behind his back. Possibly for a weapon. Reasonable apprehension and all that. There is an argument to be made for stick figure self-defense here.
I work for a fairly small company, not really big enough to have a HR department or anything like that. As a result, my supervisors pretty much get to make up what actions are taken when an employee does something wrong as they go along. Three of the four are fairly reasonable, but the fourth (who unfortunately is the head of the department) gets off on using his power, and makes up bizarre and arbitrary rules as he goes, and often enforces them without telling us about them first.
I wonder if he’s related to Hartman?
Obviously, the need for rational discussion between the teacher, the parents and the child is entirely too complicated. Yes, the easy way to resolve an issue such as this is the immediate criminal prosecution of the child.
It makes all the sense in the world. To a mental midget, perhaps.
Sometimes people need to ride motorcycles in Ottawa Hills, OH. Maybe its time for all of these good folks to take a ride.
now there’s an interesting idea!
I say water board him and throw him in jail for life. Reduce his sentence if he tells us who gave him the pencil and paper.
Gyges:
that must be a fun place to work.
I see a valid mathmetical expression. Me with gun + teacher = RIP. Perhaps take some points off for not declaring the variables appropriately…
Good lord, I’d have been in prison by age 10 if this was a crime.
Our society has gone truly insane.
Byron,
Actually, since the only manager I really have a problem with works opposite shifts from me, it’s not all that bad usually, but I am looking for a new job thanks to a couple of really draconian policies.
Like I’m sure you know, your employees are only as good as you treat them.
You know, in second grade, my friend Aaron and I used to draw pictures non-stop all day of massive armies and then draw lines back and forth between them that was guns/missiles firing. We would then add the explosions and dead soldiers (stick men laying on the ground). We were the ‘smart’ kids so the teachers let us do whatever we wanted, so we just drew these pictures all day everyday. I remember it in vivid detail, and I am very happy I went to school back when people had a shred of common sense.
It’s about time someone showed this little autistic bastard that actions have consequences. Left to his own autistic devices, he would undoubtedly have turned into this:
http://www.cogsdev.org/cwcki/Christian_Weston_Chandler
Gyges:
become a capitalist and open a brew pub.
Gyges:
I treat my employees like I would want to be treated. Leave me the f . . . k alone and let me do my job.
I love the address of this place: 5340 S.Trimble Road, NE. A confused place in multiple ways. A
ctually, in a normal, functional school a teacher would have been a little alarmed, autistic kid or not. But it probably would only have gone as far as a phone call to the parent. Interesting that the child’s name is disclosed (presumably with parental permission), but the school people (?the charter, ?the county school board) aren’t named and there is no review of the process (perhaps the kid’s lawyer suggested not saying). Chareters have such a halo around their rep, but I often wonder if most of them are run by people who really don’t understand basic school practice.
COMMON SENSE … COMMON SENSE … Get you Common Sense here! I could make a killing peddling common sense in Georgia. With a little help and a butterfly net I could probably corner the market given the dearth. And the courthouse? Why, that’s my first place to set up shop — maybe outside the prosecutor’s office.
kids ARE scarey…
We’ve got to do something to stop these weird and arbitrary terrorism charges. Before 9/11, what would have happened to this kid? Since 9/11, every state and locality has adopted such laws. They are used to wreak terror on the citizenry, making any threat, intended or unintended, veiled or direct, something akin to flying planes into buildings. Sick.
It’s clear this boy is not a terrorist and it should have NEVER BEEN POSSIBLE to charge him with something so ridiculous. Change the law, or at least tighten it up. Terrorism is serious stuff and these laws making it an arbitrary joke.
Finally, any teacher that would react by reporting a child with special needs as a terrorist should not only be fired, they should be ashamed of themseleves. Little, little people that pursue this case.
Mespo:
how much are selling it for? Are you dispensing advice like Lucy or are you performing some sort of miracle? It is Georgia afterall.
Byron:
“how much are selling it for? Are you dispensing advice like Lucy or are you performing some sort of miracle? It is Georgia afterall.”
***********************
I was going to price it on a sliding scale based on need, but I estimated my revenue at zero. I am also thinking of just selling it at the stand, but if I can master that walking on water stuff I may expand it to weekend boaters.
I represented the mother of a 4th grader. He stuck his finer out while on the playground and said, “Bang, bang.” He got a detention for commiting a “low risk violent act.” There was not speaking logic to these folks.
When this is (hopefully) thrown out, the prosecutors should pay for the defense’s legal fees.
texas would have a needle in his arm by next week
This really scares me, especially with having a son that has an autism spectrum disorder and is completely fascinated with military history and weapons. His impulsive behaviour would allow him to create something like this possibly.
I restate my comments on the Alabama governor’s race evolution controversy thread. Simply substitute the word “Georgia” wherever you see the word “Alabama.”
Oh my GOD, Obama just layed out the “I don’t give a shit” bombed. And poor Olbermann and Maddow are force to skate into the great limbo. I mean WTH, the big fat void has come to sit on our chest.
Obama merely didn’t just do nothing, Obama actually did “nothing” uh so, where the hell does reality go from here with scary big oil spill? Any suggestions Jonathan??? Holy shit, what now?
As someone who teaches children with autism, and should understand the communication challenges that this group of individuals face on a daily basis, I would think that Hartman would have been rejoicing at young Shane’s accomplishment. Research is proving more and more everyday that people with autism are far more able to communicate both receptive and expressive communication) pictorily, not only did Shane do this, but he communicated an emotion….anger.
as a New Zealander i live in a country that is not quite as far gone as yours but it doing its best to catch up. We have been forced to accept many of the frightening , illogical and simply undemocratic actions that modern World poitics prescribe as Justice in the War on Terror.
This story is a fine example of the stupidity being leagalised as security. The serious aspect of this New World Order is that this child, if convicted, will be on the no-fly list. The no-fly list that over 1 million Americans are on with the majority being placed on the list for no criminal behaviour whatsoever.
The same no-fly list which your Government is pushing as reason to strip the listed ‘terrorists’ of their citizenship
You should all be very afraid for your land is the first going down and we all will follow i have no doubt, but you are the ones who can do something to stop it.
Writing blogs is fine, commenting here there and everywhere is fine, but it achieves nothing without action.
Get out there and prove to the world you can save the country that promised so much but has now lost nearly everything.
It’s the Inquisition all over again..!
Prosecutors only care about convictions not the truth or reason or the facts, if they think they can add a conviction to their score card, that’s all the matters not who’s guilty or innocent the harm of injustice they are repeatedly guilty of!
Georgia became a state in 1788 (fourth colony to ratify the Constitution).
At their founding in 1733 slavery was illegal. They did not legalize slavery until 1749.
They seceded from the Union in 1861 and were the fourth state to do so. The infamous Andersonville Civil War Prison was in Georgia.
The KKK originated in Tennessee and found a happy home in Georgia.
Georgia stands 6th in the country for illegal immigrants.
Their public school system ranks in the 40′s.
The terrorism charge against a 14 year old autistic child with the mental capacity of a third grader should surprise no one. It’s Georgia for cryin’ out loud!
artguy:
“Writing blogs is fine, commenting here there and everywhere is fine, but it achieves nothing without action.
Get out there and prove to the world you can save the country that promised so much but has now lost nearly everything.”
******************
All great actions begin with the intellectual foundation built primarily of written words. To that extent, we are following in the giant footsteps of our founders. Committees of Correspondence were the first acts of rebellion, as you might recall. It is true that without action, thoughts are impotent but it can scarcely be argued that one can exist without the other.
“the mental capacity of a third grader”
Sounds like that describes the mind of the authorities.
Somebody sing “Georgia out of my mind” …
The country has been severely mentally damaged by years of propaganda, which is after all, an effort to detach the public from reality.
Sooner or later propaganda is going to damage the minds of somebody.
Here is an example of the side effects of fear propaganda.
Mespo:
excellent post, it took about 2,000 years for the intellectual groundwork for the United States to be laid. Probably longer than that.
And the concepts and principles our country are founded on are relatively new and always seem to be buffeted by those who would deny people liberty.
There is no significant action without thought first.
great post.
Aye, mespo. That was a gem.
Or in the words of a “mutual acquaintance” . . .
[after a hail of gunfire doesn't stop V]
Creedy: Die! Die! Why won’t you die?… Why won’t you die?
V: Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof.
. .The square looking Cartoon replica of a ‘Cartoon Gun’ that shoots cartoons (or ‘Paper Gun’ that shoots lawsuit bullets)clearly illustrates that the ‘Cartoon Gun’ might be metaphorically discharging ‘Cartoons’ upon the same group of wrongdoers who have offensively used the law to attack Shane Finn.
. .Of course, the School Authorities may never face charges for fabricating an elaborate, and defamaing false police report against Shane Finn; but, the family of Shane Finn should file a Complaint against the complainants who attacked Shane with the false police report.
. . The school officials are examples of time wasting misfits who exaggerate and distort trivia into major litigation to serve their own imagined falsehoods.
. .
I found a dump load of information which can help Shane Finn and his attorney. does anyone know the attorney’s name or even their law firm? If you can help me find this information, I think we can all be heroes here.
As a child the school system shuttled me among the classes for the learning disabled and “gifted”; I was occasionally shaken pretty violently, locked in the janitors closet to meditate on my failings and (best of all) just plain left alone to participate or not and progress (quickly) through the various grades at my own rate based on test scores. School was a horror starting in Kindergarten. In retrospect though it was preferable to what I read about the drugging of school children as SOP to keep them from being disruptive and the criminalization of childhood and childish behavior.
Our kids seem to have been relegated to little more than political pawns in an increasingly politicized society. At least I did have the benefit of a Civics class and three good teachers between kindergarten and HS graduation and it seems to me that if the American Taliban has its way not even that will be available to future generations.
http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0514/republicans-remove-free-speech-materials/
Republicans search schoolroom, remove pro-labor teaching materials
“…Knox County Republican caucus there to find that his teachers’ materials had been rifled through and a poster outlining the history of the US labor movement was missing, replaced with a bumper sticker that reads, “Working People Vote Republican,” …Republican operatives also rifled through a closed cardboard box containing copies of the US Constitution, donated by the American Civil Liberties Union. And Clifford found a note nearby that stated, “A Republican was here. What gives you the right to propagandize impressionable kids?” “
I sit back laughing because this is just what Shane wants. He wanted to be a martyr and get the media exposure and you dolts dole it out ignorantly…It’s not about Hartman…Shane gets the last laugh…
Viva la Shane!
I think this is screwed up. Clearly Shane was frustrated, perhaps the teacher was being nasty or abusive toward him,
and b/c he doesn’t know how else to express himself, he chose to let out his anger in a drawing. And HE gets in trouble for it? That’s sick. Something like that happened at a place I used to work at. An autistic co-worker was humiliated and verbally attacked by our boss, and he went home,wrote how he felt on myspace and got fired for it. Since then my friend, whom we’ll call Craig, has since then attempted to take his life. And this is all because the school and work systems in America have no tolerance for people with disabilities. New laws need to be passed to protect people like Craig and Shane. The sad part is, is that Shane and Craig arent the first people this has happened to either.
You know, I got in trouble in school for drawing stick figure violence too. And this was before the “let’s label kids instead of trying to figure them out” craze that started in the 1980s.
And to the mom, your kid not knowing right from wrong is not Autism’s fault, it’s YOURS.
I am autistic. I earned the Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago partly through writing and defending a dissertation, “Mental Health and Mental Illness: Cause, Purpose, Cure, and Prevention; A Bioengineering Perspective,” 1998.
When I first heard of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project, it occurred to that it might be wise to first look for intelligence on planet earth because it is close at hand. If it is impossible to find even a trace of a hint of intelligence here on planet earth, how in the universe of universes would we ever have a clue about what to look for that is extraterrestrial?
Methinks I am not nearly stupid enough to harbor the notion that I am in any way “intelligent,” for I find that I have no “responsibilities.” What I have instead is “response abilities,” and I learn what my abilities to respond to events are as I respond, and never know what my response abilities will be in a new, unfamiliar, situation until after I have responded to the actual situation. Since almost everyone else seems to me to claim that they can know their responsibilities in advance of encountering a situation through which their response abilities are made manifest, I am evidently nearly perfectly stupid as compared and contrasted with very nearly everyone else?
Only… I have terrible difficulties with interpersonal communication, what I intend to share in terms of meaning(s) with other people is, almost without exception, catastrophically misunderstood, in my personal experience.
So… An autistic child is working at learning to communicate in pictures? (Please read, or re-read, Dr. Temple Grandin, “Thinking in Pictures” or Oliver Sacks, “An Anthropologist on Mars”). What is the proper social response to this autistic child’s attempt to communicate a valid concern? Silence the child.
What is the main lesson I find society attempts to teach young children at about age 18 months? “Don’t do what I tell you to do, or else; and if you disobey me, I will make you suffer until you do as you are told.”
I find that the “infant-child transition” or “infant-child discontinuity” is of the social mandate that truthful infants become dishonest and deceptive according to societal norms.
Infancy is a time before a person has learned enough words to be capable of internalizing dishonesty and deception. Childhood is a time during which a person collects the mandatory repertoire of deceptions (aka psychological defenses). Adolescence is a time during which a person perfects the ability to be dishonest in accord with the person’s culture. Adulthood is a time during which a person can coercive the infants of the next generation, through terror (as in “the terrible twos) into replicating the dishonesty of the adult generation, and the vicious cycle continues, for thousands? of generations?
However, as both of my parents accurately observed, I never went through the infant-child transition, never went through the terrible twos. At an age of more than seventy-one years, I have never gone through that transition, and I function internally as I did when I was the traditional biological age of infancy. I never, in the traditional sense, became other than an infant; I never transitioned from infancy to childhood, and therefore could never transition from childhood to adolescence or from adolescence to adulthood, as those constructs are traditionally understood.
I find that I live as a “little child” and have always done so, for more than seventy-one years. And I am not deceptive in stating this.
As a matter of fact (everyone has a right to his/her own opinions, but no one has a private right to any fact), there is now at least one person who has managed to live for over seventy one years without ever learning the ways of effective lying. (Please read Robert Feldman, “The Liar in Your Life,” Twelve, 2009, especially page 258 and then page 73…)
I am NOT anonymous…
May the Big Bang have mercy!!!
J. Brian Harris, Ph.D., P.E.
Wisconsin Registered Professional Engineer No. 34106-6
All I have to say is that ever since I can remember little boys have been drawing pictures like this from kinder right through to ten and 11 year olds. None of those boys were ever violent and even in the case of my two younger brothers (of whom are now adults and never been in trouble with the law, let alone for violence) some very loving young boys like to draw pics of guns, people shooting and airoplanes dropping bombs. Maybe I am no expert and someone can tell me I am wrong but have always assumed it was a natural part of boys being boys to draw this sort of thing…autistic or not. Sometimes I think things such as children drawing pictures like this have been taken all too far.
Parodn the spelling of aeroplane
I am terrible on a keyboard
opp and yet again…Pardon was the word I was looking for