6th Grade Graffiti Artist Gets Same punishment as Drug Users

SG-17 · Jul 9, 2007

KATY, Texas Writing "I love Alex" on a school gymnasium wall brought a 12-year-old the same punishment as if she had made terrorist threats.
The Katy Independent School District rated the message, written with a baby blue marker by sixth-grader Shelby Sendelbach, as a Level 4 infraction the same as for threats, drug possession and assault.
Only murder, gun possession, sexual assault and arson are considered more severe by the suburban Houston district.
For her punishment, Shelby was assigned to an alternative school from Aug. 27 through Dec. 21.
School district spokesman Steve Stanford said the district was just following a state law, saying it requires assignment to an alternative school for graffiti.
Her parents have appealed and a hearing is set for this month. Lisa and Stu Sendelbach said they don't condone what Shelby did but think the punishment is overly harsh.
"We are shocked that the school district rules as they are written make no distinction between what Shelby is accused of and what a gang member does with a can of black spray paint," Stu Sendelbach said.

That is just stupid, God I hope this law doesn't come to Pennsylvania, or 3/4th of the students will be in an alternative school.

Godwynn · Jul 9, 2007

Given most of the punishment that is handed out in Texas, I say she got off pretty light.

Captain Planet · Jul 9, 2007

Stick to writing on school desks and bathroom stalls hun. Alex doesn't like you anyways, he just wants your goodies. Enjoy "alternative" school, you'll probably get a better education anyways! There's some bad boys for ya there too!

h4ppy · Jul 9, 2007

I bet she won't graffittize a wall next time she loves Alex. Well, actually, she probably will with the place they are sending her to, should send the delinquents to boot camp instead...

Shadylookin · Jul 9, 2007

well you gotta be tough on crime

people really need to stop worshiping the law and act with a little common sense

bhsup · Jul 9, 2007

I seriously doubt this is any sort of "law". It's probably a code of conduct a local school board passed and is being incredibly anal about.

Bill3000 · Jul 9, 2007

VRWCAgent said:
I seriously doubt this is any sort of "law". It's probably a code of conduct a local school board passed and is being incredibly anal about.

Well, the thing is:

School district spokesman Steve Stanford said the district was just following a state law, saying it requires assignment to an alternative school for graffiti.

Volum · Jul 9, 2007

I'l bet that got Alex attention!

Love hurts

bhsup · Jul 9, 2007

Yikes. Thanks for the correction, Bill. I stand corrected and wish Texas the best dealing with this silliness.

SG-17 · Jul 9, 2007

I cant believe no one has commented on the name of the link yet......

This is a little extreme, I can understand if the gym was new, and she got detention and a fine for cleaning it, but a couple of months of alternative school.

LucyDuke · Jul 9, 2007

For a sheep, for a lamb.

Way to undermine administrative credibility there.

Perfection · Jul 9, 2007

"Graffiti Artist" :lol:

WerBackIII · Jul 9, 2007

In Bulgaria Graffiti artists are not punished by the police! The police is punished by the graffiti artists!

Real Graffiti in Silistra, BG!

amadeus · Jul 9, 2007

First, good. If the punishment isn't severe enough, they're going to do it again. Hopefully, this girl will think twice before acting out again.

Second, she is not an "artist," she's a dimwitted preteen that scribbled nonsense on a wall.

That's art.

Also art.

NOT art.

Mise · Jul 9, 2007

amadeus said:
First, good. If the punishment isn't severe enough, they're going to do it again.

If we kill them, I'm fairly certain they're not going to do it again.

Masquerouge · Jul 9, 2007

amadeus said:
First, good. If the punishment isn't severe enough, they're going to do it again. Hopefully, this girl will think twice before acting out again.

I'm looking forward to the day when you'll become a parent and punish your kids severely enough so that they "won't do it again".

amadeus said:
Second, she is not an "artist," she's a dimwitted preteen that scribbled nonsense on a wall.

apart from the "dimwitted" part (aren't all kids by definition dimwitted?), I agree.

luiz · Jul 9, 2007

It's a way too severe punishment, but what she did was wrong.

BTW what she did was not graffiti, and I have no patience for the actuall self-proclaimed "graffiti artists" that go around trashing the city. Those guys should be punished, hard.

.Shane. · Jul 9, 2007

VRWCAgent said:
I seriously doubt this is any sort of "law". It's probably a code of conduct a local school board passed and is being incredibly anal about.

Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner!

edit: I guess not!

GG Texas! I lived there from 96-97... I doubt I'll ever go back.

Kumquat · Jul 9, 2007

amadeus said:
First, good. If the punishment isn't severe enough, they're going to do it again. Hopefully, this girl will think twice before acting out again.

Second, she is not an "artist," she's a dimwitted preteen that scribbled nonsense on a wall.

That's art.

Also art.

NOT art.

Who are you to define what art is :lol:

bhsup · Jul 9, 2007

Kumquat said:
Who are you to define what art is

One could as easily ask that of the supposed self-styled "artists" who make so much crud that isn't art. Who are they to call themselves artists?

6th Grade Graffiti Artist Gets Same punishment as Drug Users

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