Okay, a couple weeks ago we were given the task to write a children’s book in my English class. We wrote it turned it in and the teacher said we could proceed and even said said we had did a good job. This book was called Two Girls with a Cup, that is the exact name. In the book two girls get lost, but there is a compass on the bottom so they found their way home. Once at home they played with the cups in several ways like staking (once they had found more) and rolling it about on the floor. The last page, to emphasize they were in good shape, they ate lunch from the cup. WE all know here in America food represents comfort and safety, just look at are swelling population.
This week a girl who very much dislikes me informed the teacher about our inside joke . At which point I am informed and go with the dean of discipline and he clearly reads the book out loud, and seemed rather curious as to how such a book could be offensive. Two days later (today) we are once summoned to have a meeting with the principle herself, ya. (At the meeting there are a number of other teachers around us all listening in.) She would barely let me get a word in and basically said no matter what your getting in trouble. I started providing reasoning to my argument, she how being all knowing said " Don’t start listing all your rights to me" and started back in with badgering us followed by one of her very dull henchman. She even seemed to take joy in a personal shot she managed to work in, I said I would take full responsibility and the other kids knew nothing about it, her reply (roughly) ‘What a poor friend of you your all going to get in trouble’. This was followed by her henchman exclaiming such disgusting work was reason for expulsion and the board was ready to review. At this point they dismissed us and laughed directly in our faces, apparently it was so funny some of the other people had to join in. Walking down the hallway we also got odd devious looks even the girl who did expose the joke did a rather nasty fake laugh. She was not offended, this was a tool for her to get at me nothing more. Their argument was based upon it was done with bad taste. Bad taste a reason for expulsion! Keep in mind we are all honors kids who score high on the state tests keeping the school going .
I would also like to add there is no rule(s) as to where we can or can not derive our inspiration from as long as we don’t carry over any explicit material, which I did not in any way. This book was judged after the fact, when they knew where I had derived my inspiration. That is like saying Cinderella is offensive they is an online movie called Cinder-fella (Lets say it is of a pornographic nature).
So do you think expulsion is the correct choice or even out of school suspension, for a children’s book?
My take: You probably don’t deserve to be expelled for that. But you have probably done other things that deserve expulsion that you never got caught for. So it all equals out in the end.
I’m glad you can see the heart of the matter so clearly. I wouldn’t let this bother me if I were you.
Since you didn’t get to express your self in the meeting, I’d suggest you write a letter to your principal, dean, and teacher… if the story is the issue, ask them to consider the story and nothing but the story, to ignore the input from your classmates, the snide remarks, etc.
It seems they are allowing their judgement to become biased. That’s unfair to you.
Personally, I think you deserve a medal for your creativity.
It was tongue in cheek. But it goes back to an actual (stupid) event that happened to me in high school. My school caught one person with chewing tobacco. This person pointed out that the school rules didnt forbid chewing tobacco, only cigarettes. So in typical 70s fashion, they made a rule and suspended him retroactively.
He was a friend of mine, so as a type of protest, I bought a can of Copenhagen snuff, emptied out all the tobacco and filled it with chewing gum, then stuck in my back pocket.
When a teacher saw the tell-tale round disc in my jeans pocket, she sent me to the principal. I pulled out my can and asked the principal if he would like some chewing gum. He asked me if I would like 3 licks (paddles) or three days suspension. I told him I hadnt done anything wrong. He said, “maybe not today, but I am sure you have done something that deserves 3 licks or 3 days suspension, so which will it be?”
I would also like to add I would be so mad if the personal aspect was taken out of this, but then of course there would be no argument would there… They were obviously trying to alienate my from my peers, that in itself is what really got to me. I have very few friends, so this was taken very seriously on my part. If it was not for that I really do not think I would feel so disturbed by this.
I only know enough to know that you don’t want to know. But I can tell you that there is a disgusting video by the same name as his book making the rounds.
Can you please explain what was supposed to be offensive about your work? I am puzzled by what appears to be a massive overreaction to … well … nothing.
Regarding inappropriate children’s stories, I have recently purchased for my nieces (6 and 4) a copy of “The Story of the Little Mole who knew It was None of his Business”. Some of the negative reviews are entertaining. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Little-Mole-Knew-Business/dp/1856024407
Thanks! They are not prepared for what I am going to bring, an intelligent well thought out argument. If I do get suspended my story will surely be sent out to local news papers and such. In a way I hope I am for that purpose, I feel bad for my friends though. Either way they are along for the trip and should enjoy it as much as they can. Seems like I won a battle everybody, I mean everybody knows about this now. The one teacher even read it to his creative writing class.
If you google “two girls one cup” you will find out that there is a video that is apparently rather pornographic and disturbing that this school project shares its name with more or less.
That this fact alone is enough to warrant a students expulsion seems, on the face of it, excessive.
There always seems to be a lot of school administrators looking out for nothing but their egos, pocketbooks, and power trips.
Go over her head, and try speaking with district administrators, anyone who could be considered her “boss.” Keep going up that ladder until someone overturns her decision. Just remember to never raise your voice, always speaking in a calm, cool, and collected manner, with logical arguments.
And like you said, definitely go for the newspapers. They eat that stuff up.
