Principal Bans Peace Sign at Oregon High School
A Large Lawn Peace Sign Composed of Marigolds Has Been Deemed "vandalism" by School Principal
The intensity of the administration's backlash is rooted in an event three months prior. Ostensibly, a local parent complained about the "peace" messages students had begun to decorate the school windows with. The school's administration, after consulting with the counsel for Portland Public Schools, concluded that the messages would have to be removed. Their rational was that they could not allow a public space, such as a window-or a lawn-to become a free speech forum lest another student use it to promote more controversial or vulgar views. They too would be able to claim first amendment protections.
In their last high school hurrah, Wilson seniors deliberately repudiated the administration's mandate, spending hundreds of dollars to plant the thousands of marigolds. Today, the students are holding something of a community party to remove the flowers, and to restore the lawn.
The school's stance on the issue has struck many members of the mostly liberal Portland community as unconscionable. After all, who opposes peace, they ask. However, short-lived as it was, the Wilson High School class of 2007 most assuredly made their mark on the community. As one Portlander wrote in a letter to the editor of the Oregonian (the local paper), "The seniors of Wilson High are definitely ready to graduate. Their parents and Portland Public Schools should be very proud. I am!"
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- Students at Wilson High School planted a peace sign composed of marigolds in the school's courtyard.
- School has threatened to deny graduation to any involved unless peace sign is repaired.
- Students will, today, remove the sign from the lawn, making it politically neutral once again.
9 Comments
Post a CommentIt's amazing how the outcry of support has risen around the students...and they have recieved offers and donations to more than cover the costs and the labor...It was a brave act, and is to be commended..and Maggie Collins is fast becoming a local hero, well deserved.
I have to agree with Bob E. If it had been a different symbol or message everyone would be upset. Just because you happen to agree with the symbol doesn't make it vandalism okay. And just because it was pretty doesn't mean it wasn't vandalism. Had it been done in spray paint, people would be less likely to appreciate it.
Would all you supporters feel the same way if the students wrote "In God we trust" or "Support the Troops"or "Pray for President Bush"? I'm sure you would be leading the way to get them expelled.
Civil is the key word. Changing of public property is not allowed regardless of the message.
Look at the picture....that sign is huge. I'd hate to have to mow around it and water it!!!
I would hardly consider planting marigolds in the shape of a peace sign a politically threatening act. Good for the students, boo for the principal.
Improved school property methinks! I do understand the principals concern about it setting a precedent for vandalism of the negative kind. Much better people then the students that rip down US flags on school property and replace them with Mexican flags.
Good for those students! Not enough people are politically active in our country. They sure picked a fantastic way to do it!
Good reporting job.
Good for the principal. In spite of the peace symbol, this was nothing more than vandalism of school property, and not much different than if someone had driven through with a big truck and left huge tire tracks behind. And what an idiot that letter writer is! "Very proud" of the class of 2007, who show off what they've learned about peace and tolerance... by destroying school property? Seems there might be some problems in Portland!