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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 17012
[Society]
Date Posted:
1/6/2007
10:21:37 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,349
RSS: 20,238
Comments: 10
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Group Brings Medieval Re-Enactors Together
Author: Justin M. Norton, Associated Press Source: USA Today
Title: GROUP BRINGS MEDIEVAL RE-ENACTORS TOGETHER
Seventeen-year-old Patrick Agin often spends a full week whittling an individual arrow and is learning to make chain mail armor by hand. So when it came time to submit a senior photo for the Portsmouth High School yearbook, he selected a snapshot of himself wearing chain mail and slinging a prop sword over his shoulder.
The school rejected the photo, citing its "zero tolerance policy" for weapons, and Agin and his family sued, claiming the school was violating his right to free speech.
But Agin and others who spend their free time sword fighting and feasting on medieval-style meals also wonder why the school would discourage his passion for a hobby they say offers tens of thousands of people a way to learn about history through hands-on experience.
"It's no different from wanting to appear in a Boy Scout uniform," said Tamara Griggs, a spokeswoman for the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group of 35,000 dues-paying members that hold mock battles, learn arts like calligraphy and conduct demonstrations in shopping malls. Agin belongs to the organization.
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Community Thoughts: There are 10 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Logical Inconsistency | Jan 7th. at 9:57:14 pm EST
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Allan B. (Cerritos, California) - Email Me
If the school is to be consistent in their zero-tolerance policy of pictures of weapons, then they must remove all history textbooks and library books that show Revolutionary War minutemen with their flintlock rifles, WWII soldiers, etc. Would such a policy also apply to pictures of execution devices, such as a cross? I wonder.
As an SCA member and a school employee, I’m often invited to wear my armor and weapons (similar to the young man’s armor in question) and participate in school presentations of life in medieval times, as well as Read Across America events and campus Ren Fairs. Only once was I asked not to bring my weapons on campus so I explained that without presenting the weapons, the protective properties of the armor were meaningless. The Principal didn’t relent so the students had to go without a presentation.
If the young man can go over the head of the school administration and get one of the school board members on his side, the whole thing can be easily resolved. Votes go a long way and if enough of the voters in the community are annoyed at the school, the elected board will certainly take notice.
Just my two cents...
-Allan-
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| Just For The Record | Jan 7th. at 6:57:06 am EST
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stalkingwolf (Bullhead City, Arizona) - Email Me
The SCA is not the only Dog in this hunt. Just the first.
There are several other recreation groups for this period. One that comes to mind is The Empire of
Chivalry and Steel. While I was a member of SCA
for several years . I left because of the depth of politics
and discrimination in the organization. They are not
(at least in the kingdom that I participated) as welcoming and open as they would have you believe.
I left the ECS when I left the area and found no group where I moved.
I have just recently found out about another group in
my area. Dont know much about them, havent had time to locate them yet.
One other comment I would like to address is,
Guns ( or knives,axes,swords,pikes,spears, or bows)
dont kill people, people kill people. One of my favorite
quotes is ( and Im sorry I do not have the name of the person being quoted but probably could be attributed to the Donald)
" If Guns Kill People then Spoons made Rosie O'Donnell Fat".
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| One Little Problem | Jan 7th. at 5:55:16 am EST
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Prydain (Manhattan, Scotland) - Email Me
He's not taking his sword to school. It's just a picture. I'm not really sure why anyone would object to the picture without good cause though. As for SCA, I had to quit because there doesn't seem to be any active groups in my part of Scotland. Rest assured that when I get home, I will definitely be joining back up. For the moment, I make do with the branch of the Battle Sports Union at my uni. Slightly different rules but just as fun, especially since I get to play with spears over here. SCA is a very good pursuit for anyone who's inclined and I think the school should be supporting him in this. I am a bit biased though, can you tell?
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| Hmmmmmm..... | Jan 7th. at 2:50:14 am EST
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Thorin (Newaygo, Michigan) - Email Me
Seems to me I have seen pics of kids with their prize deer, while holding a rifle/shotgun in some local HS Year Books! I think it's silly that kids cannot even draw a picture of a sword in class.....when I was in 7th grade shop class, I made a 3-ft sword.....and took it home on the BUS!
Thorin
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| In My Opinion... | Jan 6th. at 10:18:43 pm EST
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DodiaFae (Rhode Island, Rhode Island) - Email Me
The only thing that makes it any different from wearing a boy scout's uniform is the fact that the SCA seems to accept EVERYONE. Boyscouts generally carry pocket knives, which are *concealed weapons*. I'm pretty sure that more stabbings are carried out with concealed knives than with swords of any kind.
Also, did anyone forget that the last article posted on this subject mentions the fact that the school mascot carries a weapon? It's still just the people running the school being hypocritical, I don't care what anyone says about it. If they aren't going to allow this kid to use this (very cool, I must say!) photo in the year book, they should take the muscat away from the mascot. A gun is more likely to kill someone than a broad sword is.
When I was in high school, there were several boys who were students of a local martial arts school. They were still allowed to bring their hands and feet to school, as well as wear their martial arts school jackets to high school. I'm pretty sure that this is still the case today, in many schools, including the one in this article.
Reading this article made me want to find a local SCA and join. Sounds like LOADS of fun, and something I wouldn't mind having an influence on my child's life. Sounds like you could learn all the survival skills of the scouts and then some.
Maybe the schools, instead the energy to harrass this kid and ban his photo, they should consider promoting this group in schools as something for kids to do after school. Too many kids go without something to occupy their time and creatively occupy their minds.
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| Sweet Memories | Jan 6th. at 8:50:47 pm EST
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Jaya (Midwest, Missouri) - Email Me
I spent several fun-filled years in the SCA. It is a wonderful place, My Award of Arms and Order of the Torce came to me for being chirurgen (first aide person) at events.. Among my many interests I studied herbal medicine, embroidery, calligraphy (sp) and created a personna. I saw the standards for respect, courtesy, and honor adhered to and cherished. It was and is a wonderful group to belong to! I miss the SCA a lot, but time passes and lives and careers take us on different paths.But, I still refuse to give away my garb. (costumes) .
In the witchy world I am Jaya.
In the SCA I am Lady Orianna of Rose Haven OT (order of the torce) My personna is a lady in waiitng to her most Gracious Majesty Queen Alinor of England. Currently, we are on Crusade.
Blessings, Jaya
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| I Wonder If Someone Has Brought Up... | Jan 6th. at 4:40:42 pm EST
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Morgan Ravenwood (Lake Havasu City, Arizona) - Email Me
the fact that the sword is a respected insignia for the Marines? If this kid decides to enlist and if it's in the Marines, he should try displaying THAT sword!
BTW, in most schools, a pot leaf on a t-shirt is most definitely banned and wearing one just MIGHT be grounds for expulsion.
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| SCA Teaches All The Things They Want Kids To Learn | Jan 6th. at 1:12:51 pm EST
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Stormsinger (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - Email Me
Not just medieval history (okay, the good parts, yes, but we know about the bad parts too -- and why they no longer occur) , but honor, courtesy, respect and a serious desire to learn and seek mastery over oneself and the things we do. A squire will not become a knight without learning at least one skill not related to fighting -- calligraphy, cooking, embroidery. I know one who learned middle-eastern ("belly") dancing, and could dance the hips off just about any woman in his class! They must be able to participate in medieval dances as well as fight, since "courtly graces" are a mark of a knight, and they must learn how to use at least three weapons -- three very different martial arts skills.
I have three lower-level service awards from the SCA, and I earned all of them by having a strong a voice and a willingness to work in the kitchen -- I like to say I earned my honors by being a scullery maid. Time has forced me to drop out in recent years, but every time something like this comes along, I want to dust off my Award of Arms, pull out my cotehardie and see what's going on at the local barony. Maybe this is the year to do it...
As for this young man, my gods, would I be proud to have him in my household. I hope he wins his battle -- and I'd love to see him in a pink tux!
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| What Next | Jan 6th. at 12:29:58 pm EST
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alkhemy (Sunland, California) - Email Me
I thought zero tolerance meant no weapons of any kind on school property - how does this apply to a photo? Next thing you know, some kis id going to be expelled for wearing a cannabis-leaf logo on his T-shirt...
Back in the UK ther is a category of "human" known as a Jobsworth. This is the kind of person who hides behind a phrase like "it's more than my job's worth to let you do this" when engaging in the unreasonable application of a rule. Over here, an awful lot of Jobsworths seem to work in schools...
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