School tells student to pay $1,000 to remove peace display

As a senior "prank," some students planted $600 worth of marigolds in the shape of a peace sign. They're in trouble for that. For that? Many parents have come forward to offer their help in removing the flowers, but the district insists on having professionals do it. (Oregonian)

Comments

[KC]

As admirable as the hope for peace may be, doing that on school property without prior permission was pretty stupid. She should be glad the school didn't involve the police, and have her charged with vandalism.

Who knows? She and her cohorts might well have gotten permission to do it if they had asked first. But maybe not.... It may be "pretty," but (among many other possible objections) what a load of extra maintenance work for the school groundskeepers, to mow around, and so on.

[Rusty]

DUM DA DUM DUM...DUM DA DUM DUM DUM!
(Part Deux!)

[sometimesilie]

So should they have put a flaming skull and sword or something more in line with our stated official national objectives or what?

[stopeatingmysesamecake]

Perhaps some landscaping company will volunteer to remove those unsightly flowers free of charge.

The video shows a wall of the school with a peace sign made of world flags, so I guess they are not against peace.

[JB]

As senior pranks go, this one was tame. Fine her $1 and make her dig them up and replant them at a nursing home on a saturday. Sheesh.

[KDP]

The kids could have used old cow heads.

[Nonchalant Savant]

Reminds me of one of my favorite pranks. A few years ago, members of the SMU marching band had just made a large "M" (for Mustangs) formation on the football field at rival TCU. They stood there for a few moments, and then finished the rest of their marching show.

Dateline: 3 months later. As the Texas winter killed off the playing field grass, a very large green "M" appeared on the TCU football field. Seems that the Mustang band kids had pockets full of winter rye seeds that they unceremoniously (yet, stealth!) dumped onto the field during that formation months earlier.

Pic here: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3842/3484/1600/smugrass.jpg

[Oxhead]

This reminds me of a story I heard once.

During World War II, German prisoners were often put to work clearing up bombed portions of England and generally helping out the population. One elderly lady enjoyed the daily attention her assigned German-prisoner gardener paid to her flowerbed. After the war ended, her gladiolas (or some other flower) formed a perfect Swastika, about six feet across.

[invah]

Maybe I am just in a mood, but that made me giggle to myself. Just thinking about how it gradually appeared cracks me up.

They probably watched "Fight Club" the night before or something.

[KC]

JB: "Fine her $1 and make her dig them up...."

And make her restore the topsoil in the disturbed areas in the grass, spread grass seed, and water and feed and monitor it all until the grass is fully established, etc., etc.

[S.O.]

Would that all pranks were something like this. Planting flowers! Yeah it's school property yada yada but no cherished fastfood idol was kidnapped, nothing was destroyed, no classes were disrupted. And as far as the stunt they did do, I mean they could have done worse, like planting Roundup Ready ® Dandelion seeds or spreading salt or something stealthy that would make the pattern. Maybe someone should follow up with the winter rye thing later on (thanks for that NS).

[UpperClass Becky]

KC, you make it sound like a physical impossibility. It actually sounds like a better "punishment" than making her pay $1000 to fix $600 worth of work. It's not that difficult to make grass grow in a green belt.

I think the school is being unreasonable, and that a little physical labor won't kill her.

[S.O.]

Hi B. My knee-jerk guess is that the school is unreasonable because they are afraid that there will be too much parental and student support for the kids that do the replanting. Requiring that a company do it sterilizes the political angles. Or maybe not: what do you want to bet that some parent doesn't hold a bake sale or something to raise money in support?

[Get Real]

$600.00 spent just making the rich nursery even wealthier.

The money could of been better spent buying the homeless clean underwear, rather than artificially modifying the environment.

If the clean underwear offended the homeless, they could have invested their resources in buying the homeless some booze.

[Allison]

I live near this school.

I believe the reason the students picked a peace sign their senior prank is because earlier last year they displayed peace signs in the windows and were forced to take them down when someone complained it was 'unpatriotic'.

[Wicked_Winds]

they should have been more patriotic, yes of course, they should have started a war, a useless war, yes of course, oh wait nevermind bush already beat them to it, well in that case, to me a peace sign would be just the right kind of thing to do. to hell with the school, what are they worried about?

[UpperClass Becky]

Did I miss something? Exactly what date and time did PEACE become unpatriotic? S.O. I think you might be onto something. And if I lived closer to the school, I would head up the bake sale!!!

[anonymouse]

Used motor oil works well for drawing in grass fields...

Satanic star on the football field anyone??

Mildest prank I've seen in the news...

[S.O.]

Uh-oh this is getting rapidly political. Well, what the hey, here are a few more thoughts:

Get Real, there is a point to what you say. On the other hand almost anything could be turned into this sort of logic. Fireworks? Boom! and the money's gone - better to give it to the homeless. Etc.

Also boozed-up geezers tend to foul the environment not to mention their undies. (I suppose if they were recruited to irrigate the flowers in this case - or the grass that replaces them - that would add another layer of indignations to the story.)

Interesting info Allison. Actually if I were the school I would have let them keep the peace signs up in the windows if they also sent them to jihadists (the boom! and the unlucky crowd is dead people). Equal time after all.

[S.O.]

"B" that's the spirit! I do think that peace advocates shouldn't let others decide what "peace" is supposedly against (like against our side or whatever). Part of that means that peace signs go to everyone - I'd cheer to crying if ordinary folks in some of the currently violent parts of the world would be painting them on walls there. If peace isn't a worldwide movement it's always going to get cornered with accusations.

Anyway, sign me up for some non-herbal brownies from the sale.

THIS is worth $1,000!!!!
I remember during the senior year some folks spray-painted and dumped hay in one of the outdoor lunch areas.
Don't even get me started on our graduation ceremony.
This frigging pales in comparison.

[spacey]

i think we need more people planting peace signs...cuz apparently the message still hasn't sunk in.

i give this girl a lot of credit, and for not finking on her cohorts. shes a good egg.

leave the peace sign, its not hurting anyone. its a way for the seniors to be remembered and a message for everyone. yay girl who did this.

[Soo]

I actually would warn against using used motor oil on the football field. You know, environment and all that.

[UpperClass Becky]

Maybe the better parts of this thread should be sent to the school--pasted on a piece of cardboard in the shape of a PEACE SIGN!

I understand why they want professionals - licensed, bonded and if there is an accident involving bodily harm, they already pay workman's comp.

People showing up out of the blue can sue if they get injured. It's why I can't hire kids to mow my lawn anymore, they get hurt, I'm liable.

I'm for the peace sign staying! What better message could a graduating class leave?

[Jeff Vachon]

Perhaps the school authorities were afraid that the girl was secretly criticizing the President! Peace is a radical and unpatriotic concept these days!!!

[A.Teacher]

I can't believe so many people are against this. A peace sign made from flowers could've passed for a senior class gift to the school, not a prank. I think it's a nice idea.

[T.C.]

Oh No!!! Not Flowers!!!! What ever happened to the days when the graduating senior class would plant 400+ pot plants on school grounds as a parting gift?

[T.C.]

Oh No!! Not flowers!!!! What ever happened to the days when the graduating senior class planted 400+ pot plants on school grounds as a parting gift?

[Cherie]

Back to crop circles I guess.....

[Cherie]

back to crop circles I guess.....

[elchampino]

Sadly, a peace sign is political these days. It shouldn't be, but it is. The school has to set an example - it can't allow the peace sign w/out punishment. What if next year someone decides to plant a cross, or a star of david or islamic half moon thingy or the mexican flag or some kind of pro war propaganda? The school should let that slide as well? Once they let one "view point" (yes, sadly, peace is considered a politically sensitive view point in this country) off the hook, they have to let them all off the hook or risk being accused of taking sides. It's a slippery slope.

Also, I think the school wants "pros" to do it because if they allow the girl and her friends and neighborhood volunteers to come clean it themselves, it becomes an event. Hell, they would probably enjoy it - a bunch of likeminded people, out on a nice day, working with their hands and the soil, maybe some picnic baskets and some lemonade. Just that moment and the image of those people coming together would be more powerful than the sign itself. The school is seeking to deny them that as well.

I know where the school is coming from. That being said if I had attended that highschool in my day I probably would have been out there planting those flowers with her. And if I lived there now I probably would have volunteered to help her clean it up.

[Sean, Torrington CT]

I blame our sue-happy society and the culture of lawyers who encourage this.

[DCer]

In 1985 the senior class painted the archway to our high school with bright colors in order to remove all the black and gray paint that was used. It apparently was some kind of LSD in-joke. The next monday after the prank we came to school and the entire entry to our high school was painted bright colors by the school staff as it remained for at least 3 years later.

[Phranqlin]

What's most remarkable is that the prankster isn't singing like a canary to share the blame among her friends. She's taking full responsibility for her actions. This kind of attitude is all too rare these days (especially in those higher up on the government and corporate ladders).

[agshare]

flowers beats bullets..at least they didnt rampage thru the school,killing people..geez,school..LIGHTEN UP!

[S.O.]

Phranqlin and spacey mention how the girl, Maggie Collins, isn't snitching on her cohorts. I agree completely that this is a great example, but what about her cohorts leaving her to hang alone in the wind like that? What about solidarity? What if they all owned up to it and everyone in the class (even students who actually weren't part of it) went to the admin to confess? Now that would be a message.

As for the school, they'd make a lot better publicity by inviting more flower planting. You can't win with a policy of ripping up flowers. Something smarter is needed.

(weekend's coming! - I'll stop sermonizing)

[Sigh]

I suppose it's good that she didn't rat anyone out. But, what of those cowards? We believe in peace soooo much that we are going to let one of our own take all of the responsibility?

[elchampino]

I didn't think of that, S.O./Sigh... now it is pissing me off.

I am Spartacus!

[Leslie Espinozza]

WHAT!? Whats wrong with them...

[Chantilly Rose]

This is a PRANK?! Well, I guess I was "pranking" last December when I put paper cranes of peace on public Christmas trees. I live in a small college town, so I guess no one minded. Or maybe they already knew I'm one of the local peaceniks. And we still call them Christmas trees, whatever people may be celebrating then. But I won't get into that.

May Peace Prevail On Earth! (www.worldpeace.org)

The latest update to this story says that another student 'fessed up to his part in this heinous act. Also, parents and students are being allowed to restore the lawn to its previous boring appearance.

[Phranqlin]

Spartacus is one of my favorite flicks! I love those old "cast of thousands" sword & sandal epics.

Of course, if it was remade today, the ending would be more like:

"He's Spartacus!"

"No, he's Spartacus!"

"That guy over there -- he's Spartacus!"

[Spunky]

She could have saved some money by ejaculating into a salad dressing bottle instead... oh, wait...

[long-haired, pot smoking hippy freak]

This punishment is the most assinine thing I have heard of in a long time. The school administrators should take a long look at themselves in the mirror and be ashamed. No, Wait! In order to look at themselves, they would need to get their heads out of their asses! Are they not aware that the child did an environmentally responsible thing by planting flowers -- what with the decline of bees and all.
Snaps to this girl! Pass the hat!

[Sparticus]

No, I'm Sparticus

[Sean, Torrington CT]

They should burn pro-war slogans into the lawns of the school admins and school board next year!

So the kids who ducked punishment are cowards? What about the low-buck chumps who cheerlead war, but won't sign up to fight it? Rules are arbitrary and born of man, I have my own set of rules.

Besides, I thought peaceniks were cowards by default.

[Sigh]

Environmentally responsible? Bringing on peace? Will this change anyone's mind? Really?? This is how we are going to get world peace??? Defacing school property with some marigolds is clearly the most effective way to right the wrongs that lead to warfare, death, and destruction. To hell with elections, running for office, trying to see the world from other peoples views, sympathetically listening to what the opposition is saying, etc. etc. We have marigolds, and we aren't afraid to use them!!

[Charles Brobst]

The students should sue the school for violating their constitutional right to free speech by removing the flowers.
The parents should sue their kids for being young.
The school should sue God for creating flowers.
Would they rather they had smoked them?
Everybody! Get a GRIP already, they're only flowers!
And oh yes, George Walter Bush is a jackass.

[Roscoe Domino]

Who does he think he is? Going on vacation without asking us?

GEEZ!!!