Update on Cary-Grove High School Student who was expelled (IL)...

[Autolycus]

Justice best served by dropping charges against Cary-Grove essay writer
By Charles Keeshan
[email protected]
Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Saying justice is best served by no longer pursuing the case, McHenry County prosecutors dismissed charges this morning against a Cary-Grove High School senior arrested over a violent essay turned in for a creative writing class.

The decision, made formal in a brief court hearing, allows Allen Lee to graduate alongside his classmates this weekend without criminal charges looming and to again seek entry to the U.S. Marines after his prior enlistment had been canceled because of his arrest.

It also ends a case that drew international attention to the county and sparked debate over students’ free speech rights.

“We knew this conclusion would be reached, either by motion, by trial or by agreement,” Lee attorney Thomas Loizzo said. “Fortunately for Allen, it was by agreement.”

Lee, 18, of Cary, was not in court today when prosecutors dropped the case. His presence was waived, officials said, so he could take his final exams.

Authorities arrested and charged Lee on two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct last month after he turned in an essay authorities say disturbed and alarmed his teacher, Nora Capron. The essay describes a shooting spree, drug use and stabbings. It ends with a comment that Capron could one day inspire a school shooting spree.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi today stood by the decision to charge the student, but said his office opted to drop the case after determining Lee was not a threat to his classmates or teachers.

“Most importantly, it is clear to us that Ms. Capron has no desire for this matter to continue any longer,” Bianchi said. “As prosecutors, we have to consider the wishes of the victim as well as the likely result of what can be gained if the case were to proceed.

“(Lee) did admit to police he intended to alarm and disturb her,” Bianchi added. “I think it’s a fair assessment that they didn’t get along.”

Lee’s defense today continued to lay blame for the furor on the assignment itself. The assignment instructed students to write anything that came to mind in a stream-of-consciousness style, and without any self-censoring.

“There must be some accountability on the part of the school district or curriculum committee,” Loizzo said. “Had this assignment not been given, we wouldn’t be here. Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it.”

Defense lawyers also were critical of authorities’ decision to arrest and charge Lee before first speaking to the student and his family about the essay.

Bianchi, however, said authorities acted quickly to ensure Lee had no weapons and could not act upon threats they believe the essay contained.

As for the assignment, Bianchi said Capron frequently warned students that their writings must be “classroom appropriate.” Anything offensive, he said, would be reported to a guidance counselor or principal.

“She responded appropriately to the situation, as did the principal, the school and the Cary police department,” he said. “The arrest and charges were clearly warranted.”

Lee regrets the unwanted attention his essay brought to himself and his family, his lawyers said today, but does not believe he should apologize for following what he believes were his teacher’s instructions.

“Allen wrote an essay that created an international disturbance,” Loizzo said. “That’s pretty creative. If I was the teacher, I would have given him an A-plus-plus on that assignment."
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[Erebus]

This is nothing more than thought policing. Arrest and charges is ridiclous. Maybe an eval was in order but not arrest and charges. That does nothing but send a message to the rest of the students that you can be punished if you reveal thought that the "authorities" don't like. She asked for anything that came to mind without self-censorship and she got it. Instead of trying to determine why he felt that way they decided to punish it. Yea that's a great example to students about how things will be handled.

 

[grimjaw]

“(Lee) did admit to police he intended to alarm and disturb her,”

What a crock of @#$%.

I can think of any number of movies in which the directors motive for creating certain scenes were openly to "alarm" and "disturb."

Just so much bull@#$% in that case I can't even respond without veering completely off the high road.

jm

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Wonder if he'll sue the teacher? Not sure what you could sue for but with todays lawsuits something must be out there

 

[Schutzen]

The assignment instructed students to write anything that came to mind in a stream-of-consciousness style, and without any self-censoring.

As for the assignment, Bianchi said Capron frequently warned students that their writings must be “classroom appropriate.” Anything offensive, he said, would be reported to a guidance counselor or principal.

It appears there is a little dichotomy here. Write an un-censored paper, but it must be classroom appropriate and I deem what is appropriate. Or stated another way, I will censor it for you. One thing is apparent; there was no overabundance of common sense in the classroom, in school administration, or in the law enforcement community.

The teacher asked for an uncensored paper, she received it.

The student knew the paper would incite the teacher, it did.

The school administrators lacked the courage to discipline both the teacher and the student. The actions of both were inappropriate for a learning situation.

I don't know what to think about law enforcement. LEO's may not have a choice in the matter. If it is reported, they may be required by law to forward this to the prosecuting/district attorney. However, by the time it reaches the prosecutors office somebody should display a little common sense.

One other brief thought, where are all the "juvenile privacy laws" in this display of ignorance? A young mans foolish indiscretions and interactions with the legal system are broadcast across the news media and the internet.
It couldn't be that this was "gun related" and not a criminal act that brought this to light could it?

 

[JWarren]

“(Lee) did admit to police he intended to alarm and disturb her,”

So what? Many things in this world disturb me. She asked, and she received.


It is so unreasonable that a teenager would do something that THEY think is funny just to get a rise? Sorry...but teenagers are not the best source of wisdom in the world (I know-- I was one once-- and a smart-@ssed one at that).

This is very similar to my high school English class. At the beginning of the year, our teacher gave us an assignment to write every day in a Journal. He never mentioned it again and never checked them. Needless to say, I didn't write in it consistently. At the end of the school year, he informed us that he'd be collecting them, and that they would count for 25% of our final grade.

Talking with him, he informed me that he didn't care what we wrote about-- all he cared about was that there was an entry for every day. Obviously, I needed to go and add in a LOT of days that I didn't write in it.

Being the smart-@ssed teenager that I was, I filled every missing page with lyrics from Black Sabbath songs. I wasn't a Black Sabbath fan, and doubt that I've listened to a single song from them. I did, however, suspect that is would shock the teacher.

Unfortunately, it didn't work. He knew I was trying to get a rise out of him and made efforts to act unimpressed just to get under my skin.

He was one of the best teachers I ever had, and I remained friends with him until his death 8 years ago.


Sorry for the meandering... but back to the point.... it is THAT unbelievable that a kid would do something just to be "funny" or get a "rise" out of a teacher? I thought that was part of the "job description" of being a teenager.
-- John

 

[DonP]

No criminal charges ... but the kid should be taken out and beaten with a stick by the grammar and spelling police.

I read his essay. If this kid's supposed to be an "honor student" that high school has a world of problems in their English department. His writing was basically unintelligable.