Evidently if you write an essay in Chicago that the teacher finds “disturbing,” you can be:
- Given a poor grade.
- Called to the principal’s office.
- Referred for psychiatric evaluation.
- Arrested for “disorderly conduct.”
The answer, it seems, is D.
Allen Lee, an 18-year-old straight-A student at Cary-Grove High School, was arrested Tuesday near his home and charged with disorderly conduct for an essay police described as violently disturbing but not directed toward any specific person or location.
[…] The youth’s father said his son was not suspended or expelled but was forced to attend classes elsewhere for now.
[…] 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.
And what was the disturbing essay that could have pulled down jail time?
The “key outcomes” this month for the Creative English class was for students to identify and utilize poetic conventions to communicate ideas and emotions. With that in mind, teachers reminded students that if they read something that posed a threat to self or others, the school could take action, said High School District 155 Supt. Jill Hawk.
And with that caveat, the actual assignment:
“Write whatever comes to your mind. Do not judge or censor what you are writing.”
[…] Emling provided a reporter with a copy of the class assignment, which was titled “Free Writing.” It advised students to “write non-stop 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.’
And the actual essay. Which is disturbing only because it’s just a goofy teen-angsty rebellious stream-of-consciousness bit of drivel that quotes bad bands and references video games.
And for this?
The English teacher read the essay and reported it to a supervisor and the principal. A round-table discussion with district officials conveyed, with lively debate, and they decided to report it to the police.
“Our staff is very familiar with adolescent behavior. We’re very well versed with types of creativity put into writing. We know the standards of adolescent behavior that are acceptable and that there is a range,” Hawk said.
“There can certainly be writing that conveys concern for us even though it does not name names location or date,” he said.
Now, one can possibly understand, given the whole Virginia Tech thing, a teacher being really concerned by an essay and taking some sort of action — heck, even, maybe, referring it to the police to investigate. But calling this “disorderly conduct,” an actual crime?
Not particularly fond of the kid or his essay, but it’s not disorderly conduct. It’s just bad writing. I mean, if bad writing is a crime — I’m in real trouble.
(via BoingBoing)