By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A teacher in Taunton, Massachusetts Elementary School sent a second-grader home with a recommendation that he undergo psychological evaluation after drawing a stick figure of Jesus on the cross.
According to WBZ 38 News, a teacher at Maxham Elementary School asked students to draw something that reminded them of Christmas. Apparently, the boy, who has special education needs, drew what appeared to be a crucified Jesus on the cross with X’s covering his eyes.
The boy’s family said they had just visited the Christmas shrine at the LaSalette Catholic shrine and retreat center in Attleboro, which is probably what inspired the drawing.
The teacher became concerned that the drawing was a sign of violence and contacted school officials, which resulted in the boy being sent for psychiatric evaluation.
The psychiatrist later determined that the child was not violent or a threat to himself or others and has been cleared to return to school.
His parents are furious, however, and say the school over-reacted.
“This is a highly intelligent kid. He gets 100’s on his tests,” Chester Johnson told WBZ.
“I want him transferred to another school and I want something done about this. They owe my family an apology and they owe me an apology and what they can do is keep giving my son the education that he needs and work with him.”
Some experts agree with him and say the school’s reaction did more harm than good.
“More disturbing than the knee-jerk interpretation of this child’s drawing, is the response of the school,” said Kerri Augusto, a professor of psychology and family studies at Becker College.
“The extreme lengths to which the administration went to ‘protect’ the child, resulted in punishment for the child and his/her family and shows blatant disregard for the child’s social and emotional needs.”
Maxham School principal Rebecca Couet is refusing to comment on the incident.
(WBZ 38 and the Taunton Gazette contributed to this story)
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