An lawsuit in New Jersey seeks damages for school officials that took a zero-tolerance attutide way too far. The plaintiffs,
known only as K.J. and T.J., filed suit on 12 counts after their son, K.J., Jr., was arrested for a doodle of a "superhero glove with a flame coming out of it."
In December 2012, three days after the massacre in Newtown, CT, K.J., Jr.'s teacher noticed the drawing and alerted school administrators. After viewing the student's sketchbook, administrators alerted the police, who then went to the family home, along with fire and medical personnel, as well as a bomb squad. K.J., Jr. spent sixteen days in juvenile detention before being placed under house arrest. Despite the fact that he was cleared of criminal charges, the school has blocked his attempts at returning.
K.J., Jr. has been described as "a very gifted child in the areas of chemistry and engineering," and also has diagnoses of Asperger's and ADHD. There is documentation in his Individualized Education Program (IEP) that he doodles in class. Not only were his special needs ignored during the school's overzealous actions, but his parents report that their son was also "harassed, intimidated, bullied, retaliated against, and cyber-bullied."
Sign this petition to let the board of education know that these actions are unacceptable.