TAUNTON, Massachusetts, December 15, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com & cnews.canoe.ca)
An 8-year-old boy was sent home from Maxham Elementary School and required to undergo a psychological evaluation after he drew a stick-figure picture of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The boy's father, Chester Johnson, said he got a call earlier this month from the school informing him that his son, a second-grade student with special education needs, had created a violent drawing and was being sent home. The image depicted a crucified Jesus with Xs covering his eyes to signify that he had died on the cross.
"As far as I'm concerned, they're violating his religion," Johnson said. "They told me he would have to leave the school and get a psychological evaluation, which I didn't see necessary for the picture that was drawn. Especially after I told them he went to the La Salette on Thanksgiving with his mom. I didn't see anything wrong with the picture that was drawn."
The boy and his family had recently gone to see a Christmas display at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, a Catholic retreat center in Attleboro.
Toni Saunders, an educational consultant with the Associated Advocacy Center who is working with the boy and his parents, told the Taunton Gazette, "I think what happened is that because he put Xs in the eyes of Jesus, the teacher was alarmed and they told the parents they thought it was violent. They weren't looking at the fact that this is an 8-year-old child with special needs."
"They made him leave school, and they recommended that a psychiatrist do an evaluation," Saunders said. "When I got that call, I was so appalled that I had to do something," she added.
Maxham School principal Rebecca Couet refused to comment to the media about the event and referred all questions to the superintendent's office.
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