Hello, George.

This is Page Nelson from Oakland, CA who enjoys very much the opportunity to sample the generally high grade comment and discussion that your site affords. Here are my edited thoughts:

Would the staff or administration of Venable School allow a student to show an image of a classmate with a red X through it? I think not.

Are classmates more real or deserving of fundamental respect than anyone we see on the boob tube? Bush or Bin Laden are both human beings, each in his way very imperfect, and we should beware of teaching our youngest, least formed citizens to demonize either of them or anyone else. Teachers are in a school to teach, not to politicize children or act as gallery assistants for their occasionally inappropriate excresences.

What question can there be then of this frankly ugly and unworthy display of hatred and disrespect being treated as a first amendment issue? Forget gangs in LA. Permitting a formal display of contempt for ANY human being in a school is the worst kind of preparation for life -- or junior high.

Page Nelson,Venable School, 1961 (electronic mail, December 1, 2004)

Editor's Note: Ah, clearly a teachable moment.

For more, see Jeff Rossman Comments on Rob Schilling, Venable School and the Bill of Rights, Totally Crossed Out, Steven Miller Comments on Rob Schilling, the Charlottesville School Board and Administration and the Bill of Rights, Ham Caldwell Comments on Venable School, the Mean Streets of Los Angeles and the Bill of Rights, and Lloyd Snook Comments on Venable School and the Bill of Rights.