[Bryn-gwlad] Get a load of this!

[Amanda Shields]

http://www.eastbayri.com/story/310265397098437.php

PHS aims to disarm sword-wielding senior

PORTSMOUTH — Patrick Agin's portrait is welcome in the Portsmouth  
High School yearbook, school officials say, but that medieval  
broadsword over his shoulder has got to go.

With yearbook photo deadline looming, Mr. Agin has not decided yet  
whether he'll consent to being disarmed, but the choice he says he  
has been offered is clear: Allow the school to crop the sword from  
his senior shot, provide a new picture, or go without a yearbook  
photo altogether. He likes none of the above.

Principal Robert Littlefield declined to discuss the particulars of  
Mr. Agin's case, saying confidentiality concerns prevent him from  
talking about individual students.

But "hypothetically speaking," the principal said he does not believe  
students should appear in the yearbook armed — with swords or weapons  
of any kind.

The photo in question shows Mr. Agin wearing a chain mail coat and  
holding that sword over his shoulder. From his belt hang a drinking  
mug and what appears to be a second smaller sword.

The picture has nothing to do with weapons or school safety and  
everything to do with one of his favorite pastimes, says his mother,  
Heather Farrington.

"One of Patrick's extracurricular activities has been participation  
with his family in the SCA, the Society for Creative Anachronism."  
That international society, with many thousands of members, "promotes  
research and reenactment of the medieval period, the years 400-1600  
in the then known world," Ms. Farrington said.

"To reflect his passion about re-enactment and his participation with  
the SCA, Patrick chose to sit for his senior picture in costume,  
specifically, chain mail and a sword."

"I tried to talk to Mr. Littlefield about it, to show him that it  
wasn't about weapons or school safety but about something i enjoy and  
that I have learned a lot from," Mr. Agin said. "And I pointed out  
that the the school mascot (Patriot) has a gun and a sword" — to no  
avail.

He added that the cropped version "looks horrible."

While neither confirming nor denying these accounts, Mr. Littlefield  
said, "In my position as principal I am constantly asked to make  
decisions that walk a fine line between individual expression and the  
best interests of the school."

Ms. Farrington said she thinks Mr. Littlefield has "arbitrarily  
decided to use the school policy against weapons in school in this  
case —this is ridiculous."

While the sword is steel, she said, it is a reproduction, "a theater  
prop," not the real thing.

Keeping her son's chosen senior picture out of the yearbook "isn't  
going to prevent violence in school in any fashion," she said. What's  
more, there are already weapons in school — "The track and field team  
use actual weapons on a regular basis, i.e.. the javelin and shot put."

Cropping the photo without consent is not only illegal but produces a  
foolish looking result, Ms. Farrington said, adding that her  
suggestion that the school compensate them for the photo shoot was  
also rebuffed.

"At this time I don't even know what they have chosen to use as my  
son's senior picture, but I am very frustrated at this whole affair,"  
she added.

Mr. Littlefield said it is important that the yearbook maintain high  
standards.

"It represents our school to a widespread audience for a long time to  
come," and as such should reflect the ethics and mission of the school.

Asked if he has had to intervene with any yearbook photos in the  
past, Mr. Littlefield said he has from time to time.

"I try to strike a balance but I'm not always going to make everybody  
happy."

BY BRUCE BURDETT

bburdett at eastbaynewspapers.com


Anna




Amanda Stout
Educational Support Team
ashields at apple.com
Manager Jim Robertson
Cube 1837
iChat: Tawaret2112 (AIM)



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