Mom sues over yearbook photo

[Midnight Mike]

Senior’s picture with sword nixed because of school’s no-weapons policy
December 12, 2006
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The mother of a high school senior who posed in chain mail and held a medieval sword for his yearbook picture sued after the school rejected the photo because of its "zero-tolerance" policy against weapons.

Patrick Agin, 17, belongs to the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization that researches and recreates medieval history. He submitted the photo in September for the Portsmouth High School yearbook.

But the school's principal refused to allow the portrait as Agin's official yearbook photo because he said it violated a policy against weapons and violence in schools, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The lawsuit seeks an order that would prevent the yearbook from being published without Agin's senior portrait.

Agin's mother, Heidi Farrington, said she and her son believe the decision defies common sense.

"He doesn't see it as promoting violence," Farrington said Tuesday. "He sees it just as a theatrical expression of the reenactment community that he's involved in right now."

According to the lawsuit, principal Robert Littlefield told Farrington she could pay to put the photo in the advertising section of the book, but he would not allow it as Agin's senior portrait.

"That in and of itself demonstrates to us that there's absolutely no legitimate rationale for banning Patrick's photo," said Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU.


Littlefield said he thought there would be less editorial scrutiny given to paid advertising space, and that an ad would not be viewed as receiving the school's endorsement.

The complaint says there is nothing in the weapons policy that would apply to the picture Agin submitted. It also says the weapons policy is arbitrarily enforced, noting theatrical plays at the school have included prop weapons and that the mascot — a patriot — is depicted on school grounds and publications as carrying a weapon.

[T-Bird76]

Yeah ok... I bet he gets alot of A$$ from the girls.

[moose135]

Yeah ok... I bet he gets alot of A$$ from the girls.

I don't know Tommy, when he shows them the size of his "sword"... :D

[nwafan20]

Man, my swords WAAAAYYY bigger than that!!!




Nah, just kidding. But anyway, c'mon, just let it go in the yearbook, hes not causing harm to anyone.

[moose135]

But anyway, c'mon, just let it go in the yearbook, hes not causing harm to anyone.

But where does it end? Some kid wants to have his picture taken with his hunting rifle? The gang-banger who wants to show off his MAC-10?

[RDU-JFK]

I agree with Moose here. The school has a zero-toleralce weapons policy, and if they include a pic of the kid with a sword or mace or whatever, this might be an endorsement of weapons use, no matter how old or dated. The school has a policy, and it should be kept. What if there was a kid with a joint in his mouth for a picture? Or a beer? Schools have these no-weapons policies to avoid liabilities and lawsuits.

This weirdo kid should just include a normal picture. Another "sue-ciety" case in this country.