chidweller wrote on April 27, 2007 1:39 PM:"Was it smart? I don't think anyone can possibly argue that it was. Criminal, however? Certainly not."

wisefool wrote on April 27, 2007 1:42 PM:"I approve. I did the same thing in my English classes basically because I had the feeling that the teacher didn't read any of our papers and graded our work based on how much we chit chatted about Hemingway in class. Funny how I got a 100% when the second to last paragraph of my essay was about how I couldn't wait to finish the essay so I could go get lit in the alleys of McHenry and have solicited sex with the finest the state had to offer. It was completely untrue, but the fact still remains, the teacher probably turned this in because she was oh so ticked that she was being called on her failure as a teacher."

aunt_shelly wrote on April 27, 2007 1:49 PM:"I agree with chidweller and wisefool. It wasn't smart to write what he did, but certainly not criminal. It also is pretty obvious that the English teacher, while telling the students not to censor themselves and write whatever they wanted, certainly didn't apply those rules when she was portrayed in an unflattering manner in Mr. Lee's "free" writing. "

cyanide wrote on April 27, 2007 1:51 PM:"wow now that i have read this i feel that its way to much attention on nothing, it seems more that the school was upset about his views of the teacher and how well that some of the problems arent handled. i cant believe all this is over barely a paragraph."

Public Defender wrote on April 27, 2007 1:51 PM:"Either way its inappropriate. They should have called the police. I can certainly see where this could be construed as a threat. Forget about VT, this kid is messed up. You want to talk about BS? These supposed quotes from songs and movies are BS too. I bet he went home and dug through whatever music he had to come up with this excuse."

Public Defender wrote on April 27, 2007 1:54 PM:"Face it kid. You messed up. Its okay to make mistakes, you will do it for the rest of your life. Its how you deal with those mistakes that shows your true character. A little advice... show up to court in a suit and tie, answer whatever questions they ask, face the music and move on. This was a bad essay to write at a bad time. Learn from it, do the community service and move on. Stop trying to defend what you wrote because they things you wrote aren't worth defending. If you truly don't feel this way, drop it, stop giving the press useless fodder and go live your life. uut8z"

Public Defender wrote on April 27, 2007 1:56 PM:"Typical high school kid... Can't ever be wrong. One day you'll look back and say "I made a bigger deal out of it than I should have." Nobody will remember this in 10 years, a year, or a month."

warrior81 wrote on April 27, 2007 2:01 PM:"Wow. I feel even more justified now in my feelings than I did before. If I were the teacher I'd take this as a direct threat against myself and the school. "

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 2:05 PM:"Well...I for one as a parent kinda wonder where his head was at there, but I'm not shocked. I'm not awed either. And I'm certainly not afraid of this young man in my neighborhood or at my child's school. They've shown this young man in a way that shocked me at first. They portrayed him on tv in a way that put's him in the same category as the VT killer. All I see now is some random silliness and obviously some sarcasm towards a teacher. This was a police matter? Maybe a short interview with a shrink,just to make sure, but to make him look like a deeply troubled dangerous individual is rediculous. It is clear now, he voiced his opinion about his teacher and is being punished severely for it. And VT incident and school shooting theme has nothing to do with it. Any teacher assigning the right to write "I don't know what to write" as an option is clearly wasting this young man's time. He obviously does not have high regards for her, but yet he completed the assignment, in fact, as directed to. She asked for him to loosen up and not hold back, be creative. Check those off, done. This teacher obviously can not be trusted to grade anyone in creative ability. Time for someone to challenge her ability to provide an ubiased learning environment. Oh well, when it all settles, somebody will have to answer for this, and the lowest form of being on the food chain in this would be her, the teacher. The people she brought this to in an effort to hurt Mr. Lee will be the ones to fire her and hope the rest of it goes away. "

risenbird wrote on April 27, 2007 2:12 PM:"Well...all i can say warrior...is i disagree wholeheartedly with you....but I will defend your right to your opinion. I don't particularly like his essay...i would never write such a thing, but the "adults" involved overreacted. It is FAR from criminal."

jocko422 wrote on April 27, 2007 2:16 PM:"I can think of a 1000 other topics to be creative about. To write about violence, he should have his head examined. It only leads to more thoughts of violence and could result in violent actions."

Springfield wrote on April 27, 2007 2:25 PM:"Just as I suspected; "Much Ado About Nothing". It in poor taste, but threatening? The teacher and school Principal were insulted by a mere boy! So, they decided to slap him down...put him in his place. I worry about my own kids going into this kind of environment. The system is in a serious state of disrepair when it comes to situations like this. D155 needs to bring in some objective outside consultants (good ones) to change the culture of intimidation. Perhaps a civil suite is needed to force the issue. If it costs the taxpayers money, maybe some good will come out of a stupid situation."

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 2:25 PM:"Warrior81 - I think you may be a plant by the NWH to keep up these posts because your comments are farcical if not totally laughable. And for you others who think this essay was criminal may I suggest you read your own student's free writing exercises - you may get a reality check. And the only lesson Mr. Lee and others should learn from this is that private thoughts divulged in writing or verbally to others will and can be used against you in a court of law - so don't say them to family, friends, teachers, co-workers, social workers, and doctors (including therapists.) So far the only exemption is your attorney or your minister, otherwise the thought police will be after you. After reading the essay I believe more than ever this whole situation was initiated by an administration who was overreacting to the dumb ramblings of a kid who was assigned an even dumber writing assignment."

Shazaam wrote on April 27, 2007 2:28 PM:"The teacher told him he can write anything he wants without consequence. So no he is not wrong, he should never have been charge, and they should apologize to him."

openheartopenmind wrote on April 27, 2007 2:28 PM:"Should he have been disciplined, of course, but arrested, no way. I bet the teacher's feelings were hurt more than anything. Also, jocko422, if you read more you would see this kid is going into the Marines. So you think he is not hearing about the violence and the WARS that are going on. So you know what Marines are trained to do? DO you know why they are the first deployed? Violence is everywhere, and this KID is going to be VOLANTARILY, putting himself in the middle of it."

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 2:29 PM:"jocko...yes, he could have gone so many other directions, maybe he could have talked about a game people like, like Halo. Or maybe popular TV shows like the Soprano's or Law and Order SVU. Maybe he could have talked about music like gangsta rap. Maybe he could have given a book report on a well known novel. Please don't act as though any mention of violence is so far above and beyond the common person's thinking. "

razmin13 wrote on April 27, 2007 2:33 PM:"Public Defender - Are you a psychiatrist? Do you know Allen personally? No. If he was really deranged or "messed up" why would be try to plead his case? or even be let out on $75 bail? OR be allowed into the military. In case you didn't read the authors note, a psych evaluation is required to join the marines."

momof3 wrote on April 27, 2007 2:37 PM:"There is something wrong with our society when you can read this and NOT find it disturbing. I agree completely that the situation should have been handled differently, namely that the parents should have been notified first. And they, more then anyone else should find their son’s paper very alarming. It doesn’t matter that you’re referencing lyrics or movies, the fact that it is found elsewhere should tell you there is nothing creative about it. So you wanted to use this time to let your teacher know you don’t like her class. That could have been done in a non-violent adult way. By the way you express yourself in your note, I would guess this has far more to do with obeying authority then not liking English class. I can’t wait to see how you react when your in close quarters with other men, have guns at your disposal and more rules and regulations then you can even dream of. Good luck U.S. Marines, I'm sure you'll be able to straighten this kid out. "

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 2:41 PM:"did everybody actually see the whole assignment sheet? There is a link. Not just the few lines given earlier, the whole thing. To quote it "However, remember that you can't fail in free writing. The point of doing free writing is the process, not the end result. If you follow the guidelines, your free writing is successful." One of the benefits of free writing is listed as "It can be fun.""

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 2:43 PM:"The teacher needs to take responsibility for allowing and/or suggesting such an assignment that was vague at best. I believe the district needs to think twice before offering her a position to come back and teach at CGHS. How do we as parents make sure our kids will not have her as their teacher next year? Also, the student needs to take responsiblity for not using better judgement. For a such a "bright" student he certainly failed miserably to write about such vile acts, it would concern me if he were my son,.....(sex with dead bodies)....come on now!! Was he criminal, NO....just plain stupid, learn from it, move on and stop talking about it."

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 2:54 PM:"Momof3 - are your children pre-teen? Or home-schooled? The teenage and college years are all about defying authority, always have been and always will be, unless we are all in the unfortunate circumstance of having our freedoms taken away. I think this whole fiasco is going to be great research, discussion and learning for Mr. Holter's classes."

aunt_shelly wrote on April 27, 2007 2:55 PM:"Now that I've read the 'assignment guidelines' available on this site, I'm still of the opinion that the administration over-reacted. He was told to write whatever he wanted to, keep writing non-stop, don't go back and cross out what you've already written, it can be a release valve for inner tensions, etc. I think that the assignment may have been too 'free' for kids that age. While there should be some accountability on Lee's part, the teacher, English department, and administration needs to answer for assigning something like this with such open parameters, if they weren't prepared for the possible results."

jocko422 wrote on April 27, 2007 2:57 PM:"So I had a free writing project in College. I wrote about streaking back in the 70's, not how I wanted to kill people. openheartopenmind, My father and uncle were in the marines and I was born at camp pendleton. My son is in the Navy and he never wrote anything sick like that. If he was so smart, he should have thought about the ramifications that it would have caused. Especially after last weeks incident. "

avrgjoe wrote on April 27, 2007 2:59 PM:"Just a quick question. What would the public's view be if nothing was reported and he came into school killed people and then they bring up the writing. My opinion is the question would be why wasn't anything done about the writing. If someone writes something on paper, it is a thought that is in their head. Doesn't mean they're going to act on those thoughts but doesn't mean they're not going to act on it."

another_pov wrote on April 27, 2007 3:05 PM:"I agree with a lot of things said here on both sides, but especially with momof3. There is an even bigger issue here. Allen Lee is not the only one writing these things...he is just the only one writing them down in an essay at school. This should be a wake up call to all parents to listen to what music their kids are listening to. Have you checked your kids myspace account? Talk like this is all over the internet, but people over the age of 18 aren't aware of the communication methods of most of today's youth. I'll stop my own free writing exercise now...just another POV."

momof3 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:06 PM:"I do have a child at CG, she also has a high grade point average. And get this, she DOES NOT use the type of language that this boy uses. This is NOT an example of free writing. This is an example of a disturb teenager with demented ideas. If my child wrote a paper like this, I would pull her out of school myself. There is something very wrong with anyone (not just a teen) who would write like this when we just had threats at other D155 schools. For people to say, "it can't happen here", well that just doesn't cut it anymore. The truth is, school shooting can and do happen at all types of schools. Teenage years are not "all about defying authority". I know a lot of teens who are very upstanding young men and women. I'm not saying they never defy authority, but if that really was what the teenage years were all about then our society would be far more chaotic then it is."

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 3:07 PM:"jocko422 - RIGHT ON! Last weeks incident is and will remain a very open flesh wound for decades. This boy knows better to not walk into a airport and say "bomb" due to 9/11 incident and homeland security, what he wrote is just as alarming, being he was in a school setting. Use your brains you brag about Mr. Lee. If you were my son, I would be appalled and ashamed on your actions. "

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 3:11 PM:"Yes, he should have been questioned by the administration and his parents. If they believed he was still a threat then yes, report it to the police or hospital. But I believe the police would have sorted it out if it hadn't been for the complaint signed by Ms. Popp. I believe they would have realized he was not the type to act on his dumb ramblings assignment. Do any of you conservatives enjoy violent movies? Just because you do doesn't mean you are going to act on it. And jocko - your relatives are in the armed forces to defend the right to say stupid things."

razmin13 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:15 PM:"momof3 - ALL teenagers use bad language. I can tell you right now that they act VERY different around their parents than they do at school around friends."

momof3 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:17 PM:"Let's keep in mind too that this wasn't the entire essay (or the original.) The disclaimer at the top says that the NWH won't even print the worst parts. Lee's statement says, "This production of the writing is done in the most accurate manner I can depict of the original writing." So this is a re-write when it would serve him well to come across as less violent. Would this kid have acted on his threats? I don't know, but thank God Cary- Grove students won't have to find out the hard way. I just hope some unsuspecting Marine unit won't have to find out either. "

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 3:17 PM:"momof3 - may i suggest a new place to live your fantasy? It's called Utopia. You are unbelievably judgmental. Youth who are believed to be saints by their parents are usually just experts at hiding truths."

momof3 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:23 PM:"I never said my child doesn't use bad language. I'm sure there are things she does that I wouldn't want to know about. I did the same thing as a teen. But I've never written a paper like this and neither has she. This paper was not just a case of a few swear words. As has been stated before, he used graphic sickening descriptions of violence only 1 week after a school massacre. I doubt we would be discussing this had he written the assignment at the beginning of the year. But it would do well to serve as a reminder that school shootings can happen at anytime, especially when we've "forgotten about it." "

razmin13 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:26 PM:"This IS the entire essay except for the obscenities. The most sickening part is the Greenday quote. the original copy of the essay is clearly shown in the picture. VTech, although it was terrible, is not justification for the treatment Allen Lee received."

chidweller wrote on April 27, 2007 3:26 PM:"Who exactly are some of you people trying to convince, and what 1950s Pleasantville jaded little world are you living in? Do you ever stop to look around, at every form of media, at our government, etc.? This essay is TAME in comparison to plenty of things that are going on. Should he have been disciplined? yes. Should something have been done to ensure that he wasn't hellbent on killing people at the school? absolutely. However, neither of those solutions necessitate the police. Particularly, the CARY police, one of the most arrest-happy over-reactive police departments that I have ever seen in my life. Granted, I'm sure many of you ultra-conservatives who are calling for fire-and-brimstone to be rained down on this poor (allbeit foolish) students head, don't really care about the real issues, nor do you care to educate yourself on anything that would pull you out of your jaded existence. You are probably the same people who are terrified of anyone with a piercing or tattoo, convinced that marijuana is a terrible, addictive, pox on humanity, and that your beliefs are entirely infallible. Try pulling yourself into the real world, with real problems, and realize how insignificant this entire situation truly is."

momof3 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:28 PM:"I never said my child was a saint either. She's a good kid, but is capable of making dumb mistakes. However, I don't recall her expressing a desire to "have sex with dead bodies.""

deke7509 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:28 PM:"silly? yes. disturbing? yes. Was it a criminal offense? Absolutely not. I feel sorry for the prosecutor that is going to have to dump this charge. I sincerely hope they do so without any strings attached--no get-a-psych-eval-and-if-everything-is-ok-I'll-drop-it. It goes to show 'you ask a stupid question, you get a stupid answer." "

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 3:29 PM:"He didn't walk into am airport and yell bomb! He didn't walk into a movie theater and yell fire either! They did it for him? We should not know who he is because of this! they wanted us to. A whole lot of "what if"s is all I see here. Hey...what if the school district and police protected his interests at all and didn't parade him through downtown USA with a mug shot and a reference to a mass murderer like the guy from VT? What about that? You people, any of you, you think this is right? Ruining this young man in the worst way, making sure everyone they can get to sees him as a troubled danger to us all? Yes, it is a sensitive issue. But he didn't intend of offending anybody or stirring it up. The teacher is to blame for the circulation of this, and it's content. It was a rough draft(remember no corrections) there was no copy, it was her's to read, to like or not, to throw away and give him an F if she so chose. Instead, here we are, and it is not his doing!"

razmin13 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:31 PM:"momof3 - that is from a video game. AND in quotes. welcome to the 21st century of entertainment (violent movies and video games)."

ConsiderIt wrote on April 27, 2007 3:32 PM:"I think most would agree that the essay does contain some disturbing images which might warrant additional consideration, especially in light of recent violent events in schools. However, arresting someone as the first response with no additional investigation does seem overreactive. Frankly, the most disturbing part of the essay is that it was written by an "A-student" who doesn't seem to have mastered basic spelling or grammar skills. If this is what passes for A-level writing a more pressing concern should be the state of public education in this town."

Springfield wrote on April 27, 2007 3:33 PM:"Post Script: Hey folks, ask yourself what you would do at the office if they invited you into a meeting and asked you to say what you really think about the way the company is being run. "Just be candid. Tell us what's good and what's not good. We really want your opinion." Would you tell them that your manager is incompetent or that the company is a major environmental threat? Or, tell them what they want to hear? Adults learn to censor themselves as they age. Kids still have an idealism that tells them that it's OK to tell the truth, even bitter truth to the powers that be. I’m sure the Marine Corps will help form him into a mature adult that we’d all be proud of."

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 3:36 PM:"NW Herald, please specify that you have edited some specific profane words by blanking them out and that you have not eliminated any actual text. Someone in here is confused and posted above that parts may have been editied out. Please specify. thank you."

openheartopenmind wrote on April 27, 2007 3:38 PM:"To the people that are bringing the "if's" in(what if they did nothing and...yada yada yada), no one is saying he shouldn't have been punished or talked to or this shouldn't have been addressed at all. What most are saying is he shouldn't have been arrested. It was an overreaction to have him arrested. Kids, well everyone for that matter, is exposed to soo much violence and disturbing images everyday, do y'all watch the news? I don't want to go on a giant rant, should he be punished and evaluated, yes, arrested, no."

momof3 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:38 PM:"razmin13- yes, I realize that sickening acts like that are considered entertainment by todays society. I guess that's how we get kids who think it counts as a free writing assignment. BTW, does the name Jeffrey Dahmer ring a bell? "

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 3:42 PM:"ConsiderIt - I was thinking the same thing. Our taxes obviously are being poured down the drain when an "A" student has such poor spelling and grammatical skills. Now our tax money is going to be rushed down the drain for the money that will be spent by the school defending itself against a situation they created. As a skilled negotiator I say both sides should write apologies, drop the complaints, and a few meetings set aside with teacher and student and counselor to discuss anger issues on both sides. No punishement for Mr. Lee or Ms. Capron, let this be an exercise in the workings of our social system."

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 3:45 PM:"Oh My God. Some completely insane individual has now associated this with Jeffrey Dahmer? We have no real threat but continue to "what if" this kid into a truly psychopathis serial killer anyway. if they can't get us to bite on VT, then try Columbine, if that doesn't work.......Who's next? hannibal lechter?"

chidweller wrote on April 27, 2007 3:47 PM:"don't worry average joe, momof3 clearly has absolutely no grasp on reality whatsoever, you can probably just disregard her."

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 3:49 PM:"momof3 - do you actually live here? on planet earth? in the USA? in a suburb of Chicago? Now you're comparing Mr. Lee's writings to Jeffrey Dahmer? YOU are frightening me more by the minute. Please don't be on my jury when I don't obey the lawn length ordinance of the town."

chidweller wrote on April 27, 2007 3:50 PM:"but bequicknow, if your lawn is too long, clearly that shows signs of you being a mass murderer akin to ted bundy!"

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 3:52 PM:"by 8PM they'll have him running down the street with a chainsaw and a leather mask. What if?mofo sounds like a person who has some profound views on things too. And I'll bet their neighbors think they're nice and quiet. You know what that means......better send cary PD over there, that's a serial killer in the making there. "

Concerned48 wrote on April 27, 2007 3:53 PM:"Way to go Cary Grove, this student is being discharged from the Marines as of May 1st due to these charges!! "

current_cg_student wrote on April 27, 2007 3:59 PM:"As far as I can tell, most of these comments seem to be from people out-of-touch with the actual reality of the situation, and it would seem that an opinion from a student's point of view is needed. While I believe what he did was not the brightest idea (especially given the timing and state of our nation), what he did was in no way illegal, or even threatening. That is why, at least from this students observations, the student body at C-G is behind Allen. The general feeling is that our principal (or whoever made the decision to go to the police) "passed the buck" on to the police. As far as anyone can tell, no attempt was made to inform Allen of their concers untill three squad cars pulled onto his front lawn Tuesday morning. The vicious cycle of "teacher vs. studnet" will never end unitll this kind of situation handling ends!"

cyanide wrote on April 27, 2007 4:02 PM:"i think its awesome that his life is now ruined thanks to personal vendettas. if he wasnt a killer before these events could sure lead to it. congrats on ruining yet another life and tryin to pass the blame onto other ppl. i hope this lets some ppl sleep better at night."

SF Guy wrote on April 27, 2007 4:03 PM:"Given the tenor of the times, the writing of this essay was not only sick, inappropriate and somewhat suspect from a mental hygiene perspective, it was wildly, fantastically, breathtakingly STOOPID (misspelled for effect). I would doubt that the Marines would want anybody this bereft of good judgement and awareness of how others would react to his Tarantino-esque drivel. Not to worry, however. Once the "rights industry" ramps up to full speed as I mused in a letter earlier this week, he will probably get a full, four-year scholarship to the univerity of his choice. Betcha it's Virginia Tech..."

current_cg_student wrote on April 27, 2007 4:04 PM:"If what Concerned wrote is, in fact, the truth, D155 should be ashamed of themselves as I am now embarrassed to even be a student under their authority."

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 4:08 PM:"Calling all civil rights & personal injury attorneys - someone in Cary needs your help. You already have a lot of witness names. Be sure and ask for a change of venue to Chicago."

SF Guy wrote on April 27, 2007 4:08 PM:"current_cg_student, would you rather have been a student at Columbine? Please tell me when these kinds of mental spewings are harmless and when they are tip-offs that trouble is coming. I would really like to know."

chidweller wrote on April 27, 2007 4:12 PM:"sf guy... there is a really, really easy way to find out. call his parents, call a counselor, and sit down with him and have a conversation. something that could have helped to avoid past tragedies, and could have put an end to this travesty before it even began. You are an alarmist, over-reactionary, and are everything that is wrong with this country."

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 4:12 PM:"If they got him kicked out of the marine's, it's time to get together and shove it back at them. They are not above recourse. It's time for a full student body walkout. They want media attention, time to give it to them. Parents, no matter how you feel about his "content" on this essay, the fact is...today it is the Lee's son, tomorrow it could be yours. "

Dan McCaleb wrote on April 27, 2007 4:14 PM:"To clarify: The essay as published here is complete, with the exception of a few vulgarities that were edited with asterisks replacing some letters.Dan McCaleb, senior managing editor"

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 4:14 PM:"and before you even post against me, and you few know who you are, this instance is violent type content but there is no way we can let them start deciding what is whenever they feel like it, which is what will happen if they get away with this."

warrior81 wrote on April 27, 2007 4:19 PM:"I'm extraordinarily happy that the Marines took action on this. A person that implies he'd like to take part in school shootings is not the type of person I want protecting the country. As far as legal damages, I hope he gets exactly what he deserves.....nothing. "

current_cg_student wrote on April 27, 2007 4:20 PM:"I don't think that this situation is in any way comparable to the Columbine High School shooting. This is a striaght A student that has great frineds and is involved in athletics, hardly the profile of your average mass murderer. I find it hard to believe that any of you, out of anger or frustration, have never said something that sounded threatening. He just made the mistake of saying it somewhere a concerned teacher could read. I think if nothing else, the thinking of Allen as a mass murder needs to be stopped."

CLCHSmom wrote on April 27, 2007 4:21 PM:"To all of you that are condeming D155's actions, I'll bet you'll be the first ones to scream "why didn't they do anything" when this student or a copycat decides to act his fantasy out. This is an obvious red flag and I support the teacher's opinion to turn this student in. Just like drugs, there should be ZERO tolerance when it comes to threats of any kind. Especially after Virginia Tech and the threat at our school last week. I can't believe you parents!"

cyanide wrote on April 27, 2007 4:21 PM:"stop justifying the ruination of this young mans future for the safety of others because it is garbage and u know it. there were better ways to handle the situation, but because he challenged the authority of his teacher and the quality of the school they took it personally and took it to a level it may never had to have reached. sfguy u say its because of the tenor of times which means if it was a different time or say that vt never happened than it would be ok? thats just foolish"

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 4:24 PM:"SF Guy - I agree!!! I have two boys that graduated from Cary Grove and another one next year. If one of them wrote such disgusting, disturbing and sick thoughts,it would freak me out and they would be getting mental help immediately. (Belive me none of them are angels) and we have had our fair share of Cary's "finest" CPD. Mr. Lee had to think the thoughts first before he wrote them on paper....WOW! Not to mention his obvious anger issues. "

chidweller wrote on April 27, 2007 4:24 PM:"I'm really failing to see here how some of you are interpreting "police action did not need to be taken" into: "OMG THIS IS SO WRONG THE TEACHER SHOULD HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHAT A DISASTER". Not a single one of us is saying that nothing should have been done. Things should have been done, and there should have been a punishment, counciling, etc. The POLICE on the otherhand, had no business being called into the situation, at least until AFTER some sort of psychological evaluation and conference, and they certainly had no business arresting an individual who, if they had investigated at ALL, clearly has done nothing wrong."

BIG_Bdlerybrwn wrote on April 27, 2007 4:24 PM:"He should not have been arrested for responding to an assignment. The parents should have been consulted first.One wonders, what, if anything, the District Atty was thinking when the charges of disorderly conduct were filed. It may not be an A paper, but this has got to be first time anyone, anywhere has been arrested for doing their homework.Let him go back to school immediately, have a group hug between student, teacher, administrator, drop the criminal charges, and maybe, just maybe, Allen Lee won't sue anyone for false arrest. ps. might not be a bad idea if Allen attended a differen English class"

SF Guy wrote on April 27, 2007 4:25 PM:"chidweller, "You are an alarmist, over-reactionary, and are everything that is wrong with this country." Thanks for the laugh. That was pretty good. Typical, though. When you haven't got an argument, name call. Do it to somebody who cares what you think. And keep on defending indefensible stupidity. It's a dirty, thankless job, but somebody's got to do it, I suppose."

bequicknow wrote on April 27, 2007 4:26 PM:"Hey momof3 - you have another neighbor in Utopia -CLCHSmom. I wouldn't be the first one to scream "why didn't they do anything". If you have even bothered to read all of the postings by the people who support Mr. Lee's freedom of speech yoiu would have read that most of us think it should have started with talking to Mr. Lee, his parents, his teacher, and the administration. We never said don't do anything. You obviously have missed the point, as reactionaries often do. "

TheaverageJoe wrote on April 27, 2007 4:28 PM:"CLCHSmom, don't even think of trying to tell us that you wouldn't be gathering the posse and marching on the school with your torches blazing if it was your son. If they publicly attacked your kid like this. Shall we let them decide what offends? After the fact? Lay out wide open guidelines but after the fact change their mind? Oh, and obviously we can never trust our children to be honest about any problems at school, word might get back to the administration they have a complaint. This is a failure of the school, like it or not. They never considered his best interests or his rights."

SF Guy wrote on April 27, 2007 4:30 PM:"bequicknow, I could be mistaken, but I believe that educators at the elementary and secondary level are required to report such threatening communications, just as health professionals are required to report suspected abuse. Any teachers or educators here who could confirm this?"

Opuleeze wrote on April 27, 2007 4:31 PM:""I do have a child at CG, she also has a high grade point average. And get this, she DOES NOT use the type of language that this boy uses." quote from momof3. Then further down you say you never said that, make up your mind!! Get real, I work with teenagers everyday, they say things their parents would never believe. This whole thing was handled badly, but Cary poliuce made it worse. Yes talk to Allen, call his parents ,call in counselors, but to call police after the students were told "write whatever comes to your mind" is wrong. I just finished reading the uncensored version brought home by my son it's no different than what is written in the article. I'm glad to hear CG students are standing behind Allen."

venumsbeauty wrote on April 27, 2007 4:36 PM:"I sure hope no one minds the length but this is a copy of the email I sent to the editor of NWHerald this morning on Thursdays Article. I defend Senior Allen Lee. Good Morning Mr. Lyons, I hope you do not mind me emailing you, though I wanted to voice (per say) my opinion on your article in the Northwest Herald yesterday - Thursday4/26/07. Not only was I impressed to see someone stand up for Allen Lee, but I agree completely with your article. I am still young myself, only 25 but I can not remember one time in highschool that we were repremanded for our opinion ecspecially if given the assignment in FREE SPEECH. Unfortunately, pending the circumstances of todays world and the tragic shooting in Virginia, some people do not believe it is okay to voice our own opinions. Then and again - the district attorney in Virginia can not even give good reason or any reason to back up the killings by Mr. Cho, which I am sure will bring no comfort to the families he took great children from. But it is okay to arrest a highschool senior with a 4.2 GPA and a military future for saying what he feels. Here we have a teacher who wants to look like she or he is "saving the highschool from another rampage", when senior, Allen Lee was not even saying he was going to do such a thing. This teacher needs a good wake up call, so to the teacher: YOU ARE NOT COMING OUT LOOKING LIKE A HERO, YOU MADE YOURSELF LOOK LIKE AN ***. YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE PUBLICITY, THE STUDENT ALLEN LEE IS -JUST LIKE HE DESERVES! AND VERY POSITIVE PUBLICITY ON HIS PART!!!! Reading his essay made me want to opinionate myself on todays generation, again I am young myself but in general, things have changed since I graduated in 1999. Even then, classmates, fellow neighborhood children and yes even teachers were known for harrassing! I came across plenty of students who were constantly bullied, or harrassed by other students who thought they were better because of money, or whatever their reason was - they were just better. And teachers as well, degrating children in front of others, or even constantly putting pressure on students to make them feel low, will bring anyone to a breaking point. I almost wonder if this teacher who turned Allen Lee into the administration and police is young her/himself? or just an old prune. I am not sure where this email is leading to, now that Ive started typing, but it angers me that law enforcement and even school administration would suspend a student for voicing his opinion. I do not condone Mr.Cho's violent rampage in VA by any means, and I send my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims, although people need to wake up. Unfortunately Mr.Cho chose to murder, yet think about how todays world is. Cruelty, unexplained bullying, just for no reason these kids are picking on others, constantly pushing others to a breaking point and laughing it off. Columbine should have been something to learn from, two teenagers on a murder spree brought upon by years of bullying, constant harrassment and even their own insecurity which I understand is NO EXCUSE - they broke the law and murdered fellow students and teachers. There is no excuse for murder, but unfortunetly not everyone has a sensible mind after years of mental abuse. I think these children need serious guidance, and counceling and unfortunately it is too late now. But it is not too late for the future and for teenagers and faculty/parents to wake up!!! Listen to your children, listen to the way they are treated or most importantly - listen how they are treating others while you are so blinded to thinking they are perfect students. They are not perfect, they are bullying others, using their high dollar vehicles and other material items as a sense of security. - WHICH AGAIN IS NO EXCUSE TO KILL OR HURT SOMEONE, YET, If someone is down or depressed, or just not popular, that is okay -why treat them like they already feel?? Teach your children some respect and the respect of others, because unfortunately some people are doing the wrong thing and causing tragedies in the wake! I really do not know how to stress how important it is to repremand your children these days. I was in all the appropriate highschool clubs, dance team, sports you name it - but that did not give me the right to treat girls who could not dance or make good grades in a demeaning manner. I welcomed them, I treated them with the same respect that THEY DESERVED. I was no different then them, why are people so freaking cruel??? And parents wonder why children "break" or "flip out" - they have had enough and no one to talk to it about it or no one to defend them, and in the long run, this probably is not the last time a tragedy will happen, ten years down the line, another highschool or college student will have enough again, because we do not have any respect in this country. If a teacher was offended by Allen Lee's essay, she or he should look in her own backyard and find out why he wrote that essay - he is not defending the murder I am sure - he is only stating that if you treat others the most respect and atleast make them feel accepted and not insulted, them things like this would not happen! Teachers are bullies too. And when they brush off tendencies like bullying, they only condone it. Thank you for letting me vent, A concerned parent of two toddlers facing the future."

clresident wrote on April 27, 2007 4:37 PM:"To CLCHS Mom, yes, there should be zero tolerance when it comes to a threat - a direct and specific threat. Not some non-sensical ramblings of a teenager. This doesn't mean he was going to do a thing to anyone or any building. I am also a CLCHS mom, and last week's incident was not a threat - just a prank by a kid who probably wanted off of school on Friday and was pulling a copycat incident as was being reported by TV news and newspapers all week."

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 4:39 PM:"TheaverageJoe - agreed when it comes to the children losing trust. Several years ago there was an article about a boy from CLHS who went to his guideance counselor saying that he was addicted to cocaine and wanted help....what does the counselor do? Told the principal and called the police and had him arrested for residue on a dollar bill!!! Now tell me if this kid and/or any kid from that school would ever trust any authority figure again within that district? I think not!Mr. Lee messed up, he knows it and there are consequences, but a arrest most certainly is not warranted!"

SF Guy wrote on April 27, 2007 4:41 PM:"bequicknow ... say what? Seems to me a lot of teachers are being hauled off all the time in abuse cases. If you have evidence or knowledge of a teacher committing a crime, by all means report it. It would be your civic duty..."

SF Guy wrote on April 27, 2007 4:43 PM:"I do tend to agree that an arrest was over the top. I would have thought that suspension and mandatory psychiatric evaluation would have been more appropriate. This kid needs help."

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 4:56 PM:"Administration is very wrong in this situation and they may be paying dearly to the Lee family! It all could of been handled more professionally by evaluations, counselor, parents and the student. Not an arrest"

Ducky wrote on April 27, 2007 4:59 PM:"WOW, this is totally unbelievable. An A student writes a paper as directed, (he probably did not use his best judgement, but we are all lacking in judgement from time to time) and ends up getting arrested. I personally think the writing was in bad taste, but not illegal! The teacher, principal and police all over reacted. I remember getting in trouble at school, my parents were called, they handled the situation, and that was the end of that! This entire situation was handled poorly and will most likely have an adverse effect on this young mans life for a very long time!"

warrior81 wrote on April 27, 2007 5:00 PM:"When there's a percieved immediate threat to human life, the safe choice is to act immediately. Calling parents, counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, pharmacists takes time. Calling the police was a safe, preventative measure. There was no telling how dangerous the kid could have been. "

JDPNMGS wrote on April 27, 2007 5:01 PM:"I just want to say that in order to enlist into the military you do need a psychiatric evaluation. Allen enlisted, and so our military thought him fit to fight for our country. Additionally, if you support Mr. Lee and have a facebook account, please joing this group.http://uillinois.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2348524679"

idontcare wrote on April 27, 2007 5:01 PM:"I think you all outta get your heads examined!! If you dont find this disturbing and alarming your just as demented as this kid is. What you want the school to do nothing then if something does happen your the first one to jump on the "why wasnt anything done" bandwagon! Read the story on MSNBC.com. This type of behavior needs to stop this society is out of control!"

SF Guy wrote on April 27, 2007 5:11 PM:"I just have to wonder what would possess somebody to write content of this type in a classroom situation, including allusions about mass murder and necrophilia, especially someone who ought to have the intelligence to know what kind of reaction it would elicit. Does the phrase "What the devil were you thinking?" have any special meaning?"

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 5:13 PM:"JDPNMGS - yes he did, but now he has been unlisted due to his actions. They are protecting themselves until he has been exonerated. If he is found guilty they cannot inlist him...simple as that. Perhaps Mr. Lee will think more clearer before he writes his sick thoughts. It is called...consequences"

McMomof4 wrote on April 27, 2007 5:18 PM:"wow, apparently this whole world is so caught up in tragedies that they have to make something out of nothing. This story even made the MSN news page on msn.com I can understand C-G's need to investigate a possible threat, but this went way beyond that. It seems to me, from all the info I've read and heard on this, that Allen was specifically told not to censor what he wrote and to be creative. So since Tom Clancy and John Grisham write fictionally about assasinating presidents and such, shouldn't they too be charged with disorderly conduct by the same standards? I'm sorry to this kids family and friends who I'm sure know what kind of person Allen is. Come on C-G, we've already had our share of tragedies, lets not go looking for trouble when there isn't any."

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 5:26 PM:"WOW - try saying that if some kid comes to school and shoots your child. For such a "bright" student he did a really stupid thing!!....and so did the teacher!"

CLCHSmom wrote on April 27, 2007 5:33 PM:"There's a difference between authorities doing "something" and ZERO TOLERANCE. Just like D155's rules about alchohol (on or off premise for athletes) or drugs or cigarettes. This boy PUSHED the limits here, especially just after VT and Central's threat. And how does any one really know that CLC's threat "was just a prank"?? Who knows, if the police and school hadn't reacted as they did (rightfully) then maybe it would've evolved into something "more than a prank". With the sick society we live in, we need to err on the side of caution. No I don't fault the school, if it were my son, I'd take him out of school myself and get him the help he needs. "

warrior81 wrote on April 27, 2007 5:34 PM:"What stupid thing did the teacher do? Encourage the kids to be creative? I took part in creative writing in HS with several hundred other students. None made references to school shootings paired with implied threats towards the teacher and school. SANE people do not write in this manner, period. How many of her other students wrote about school shootings? None. He's apparently the only insane threat to be found. It needed to be investigated promptly, which it was. He did an excellent job at knocking his life down a few notches in an attempt to be a brash smart-aleck. Congratulations kid, you got the attention you were begging for. "

jlb727 wrote on April 27, 2007 5:44 PM:"This boy sounds like he's intelligent, but also a straight-up jerk. Just because you do not get along with your English teacher, you shouldn't write something talking about how you will carry out a school shooting because of her. He wrote this simply to cause trouble, and in the process he was taking advantage of the current climate of fear in schools in the wake of Virginia Tech. That poor teacher did not deserve this. I am studying at Northern Illinois University to become an English teacher. We are taught in our teaching methods classes to use this free-writing technique with students to help them improve their writing. The one thing that the teacher needed to do was specify that the writing should be school-appropriate. Nevertheless, I hope Mr. Lee is prosecuted."

CGgrad07 wrote on April 27, 2007 5:52 PM:"I am a classmate of Allen's. In fact, I sit in a desk nearby in our Creative Writing class. So, when the essay was assigned I heard the same thing he did and received the same piece of paper he did. Yes, she said write it uncensored. She did tell us not to cross things out. But, from the first day of class she has told us on every assignment that if she sees anything that is a danger to the students or the faculty of our school that she HAS to report it. I heard it and the other students heard it- including Allen. I don't think that Allen should have been arrested. He should have been talked to and then maybe given to the counselor for help. But, the blame should not be on Ms. Capron for her decision to take it to higher authority. I am glad she did, she was acting in the students best interest. How would everyone feel if she didn't and he actually did something and everyone in my class ended up dead?Allen was stupid to write something like that after everything that has happened with Vtech. Stop blaming Capron, she was trying to help the students and she is a good teacher "

JDPNMGS wrote on April 27, 2007 5:58 PM:"Couple of things,First CGHSmom, the correct term is enlist, not inlist. I was just stating that he had already received a psychiatric evaluation.Warrior 81, another student in the same class gave a presentation on how if he was a hitman who he would shoot and why, it's in other articles. Allen is more a victim of timing more than anything else."

Arnprl wrote on April 27, 2007 6:03 PM:"I have to say that this kid actually has some talent. I have a BS in English and a law degree, and this is not bad writing. There is a whole area of literature that is written in this style. There is absolutely nothing that should provoke fear in this. I think that he pretty much proved his point about the teacher. I used to teach English on this level, and what I would have done is talked to Lee individually about his intentions. Clearly this teacher wants to, as Lee put it, "keep a gap between herself and her students." I used to get stuff back from students filled with suicidal ideology etc. Most of it is just teenaged angst, but I would always make it a point to meet with the student and try to figure out what was going on. Some of those students had some real problems, and guess what, I was able to help because I didn't call the cops on them when they sent me an unpleasant message in their work. MOST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH,I don't think we should discount Lee's talent as a writer here. He definately has poetic talent, when he descirbes his teacher's distance from her students as being "like a 63 year old CEO of a fortune 500 company, and an illegal immigrant." This is a brilliant juxtaposition of three people who on the surface couldn't be more different, however, they are the same. You see, the illegal immigrant wants to keep a gap between himself and the rest of the US b/c he THINKS he needs to hide his illegal status, but he doesn't. The CEO needs to keep his distance from his employees because he thinks a personal relationship would damage his ability to be athoritative, but it wouldn't, and the English teacher who is afraid to connect on a personal level with her students because of some imagined threat of losing control, or maybe just a fear of intimacy. 3 people, very different, but the same in their inability to connect due to an imagined threat. To read more writing in the style in which Lee wrote this essay, check out some William S. Boroughs or Henry Miller. Both literary giants who built their careers by writing stuff that is much more disturbing, graphic, violent, and pornagraphic than what Lee has written here. People are so stupid. To teach creative writing to someone with as much talent as Lee would have been like a breath of fresh air back when I was teaching English."

warrior81 wrote on April 27, 2007 6:03 PM:""Allen is more a victim of timing more than anything else" - You are 100% right. If he wrote this a month ago or two years from now, much less is made of it. "

Opuleeze wrote on April 27, 2007 6:31 PM:"JDPNMGS glad you brought up the other student and his "hit list speech." My son also told me about this and there were no repercussions for that student. Is it bad timing, profiling, or both. A very troubling double standard."

Gus wrote on April 27, 2007 7:22 PM:"Come on, everybody. Read the intelligent, well-written postings by Allen. Commend him on his ability to express himself and explain. The teacher gave an assignment and then sandbagged him for following instructions. I'm trying to think of a polite word to explain THAT. I repeat my posting after an earlier article. I am alarmed or (AND) disturbed by the actions of the teacher, the principal, the Cary police, and the State's Attorney. Should I have THEM charged with Disorderly Conduct? Of course, I cannot express myself directly to the teacher or the principal, without fearing a Witness Tampering charge in McHenry County! Remember that case, where someone other than the alleged offender contacted the so-called victim to request that prosecution not occur?"

CGHS Mom wrote on April 27, 2007 7:23 PM:"JDPNMGS - bite me...it was a typo, I guess you could say, so was all of the poor grammer that Lee wrote was also. Your pathetic, get a life"

Side9th wrote on April 27, 2007 7:25 PM:"It sickens me to see the world we live in today. Everyone is so PC and worried about who you would offend with your comments. You can't say "bomb" on an airplane, "gun" in school, can't spank your kids, the list goes on. Anyone who thinks we live in freedom here in the United States is sorely mistaken. I feel bad for this kid for simply using poor judgement and gettink jacked up by his school and now the police. Dispicable. I bet that if our founding fathers looked at America as it is today, they would have turned around and begged England to come back. Sickening."

nursecat wrote on April 27, 2007 7:34 PM:"This situation is very disturbing. Necrophillia is not normal and to even relate it to a "messed up situation" or anything is not normal. I am glad this happened after the VT situation, because now we are all aware that these issues are out there. Unfortunatly tradgity is what causes us to learn and try to make sociatal changes. What the school is doing is trying to prevent anymore tradgity. Where there is change there is always discomfort, but really change is good. I don't think this is a racial issue. I think that if this kid was white or black or indian it would have been dealt with the same because of what happened at VT. Not because of the shooters race. To me it is clear that this child is troubled and needs help. The fact that he is clean cut and an A student means nothing. Does anyone remember Ted Bundy? Everyone thought he was the perfect model citizen. Instead of criticising the system we all need to take a good long look at it and realize that a change is in order. "

mom8688 wrote on April 27, 2007 7:37 PM:"I'm a parent of two children in college, and an elementary teacher in McHenry County. In my opinion, the assignment was not well-thought out in the light of the recent VT shootings. With that story still fresh in the minds of most of us, to ask students to write and essay, uncensored, is asking for their thoughts. When a teacher requests uncensored thoughts, it seems she should accept whatever she gets. Mr. Lee had not ever been a concern to anyone, yet he immediately received major attention for his essay. As a warning to the teacher...be careful in what you assign...you might just get it. I do not believe it fair to punish a student for following her directions. I agree with above persons who thought it more proper to call in the student and parents for a conference before calling police and leveling charges. Thanks to Mr. Lee for enlisting in the Marines also. That takes a lot more bravery than most of us have."

momof3 wrote on April 27, 2007 7:40 PM:"Okay, this is the last post from me because as usual this is out of control. I DID NOT COMPARE LEE TO JEFFREY DAHMER. razmin13 seems to think that acts like "having sex with dead bodies" only occurs in the make believe world of video games. I was reminding him that it does indeed happen in real life and is not a joke. Now, to clarify. Do I think CG made a rash decision in arresting him? you bet I do. A meeting should have been called between him, his parents, the teacher and Mrs. Popp. After that it should then be determined if an arrest is warranted. Do I believe he should have been arrested? I don't know, it's not my call. I DO believe CG made the right decision in removing him from class, but it should only be until he is deemed safe to be back at school. Did Lee cross a line and go to far with his joke? Yes!!! Everyone, especially teachers will expect teens to test them, but he went to far. When the teacher said he could write about anything, I'm sure she never expected to read a paper like that. "

Gus wrote on April 27, 2007 7:41 PM:"OK, everybody. You're having your say. Now, put your money where your mouth is. Better yet, put some in an envelope and mail to the Lees. Their expenses to defend Allen will be huge. No crank letters, please. Every $10-20-25 will help. The endless power, authority and money of the State to prosecute is huge. Give Allen a fair chance to defend himself. How much will it cost them? $50,000? $100,000? You'd better believe it! Their address is in the phone book."

mom8688 wrote on April 27, 2007 7:44 PM:"Here are Allen's comments from Facebook: "Yes, this is probably who you think it is, I know a lot of you are curious about the handwritten essay and I’d like to disclose a few things. It is undeniable that the essay contains violence and the crudest humor a decently educated high school senior could come up with, now with that given, the nature of the assignment must be discussed concurrently. Although the assignment was a last minute change of plans assignment, the assignment was handed out on a printed sheet detailing in bullet point that the free writing assignment be done without censorship or judgment on the contents. A copy of this assignment can be obtained from any student attending a “creative writing” class at Cary Grove High School. Further comments by the teacher (Ms. Capron), suggested that the students may specifically target the teacher and that the assignment would in most probably not even be read. Now given the standard required censorship within school for all writings (turned in or not, because what you write privately in school is subject to disciplinary action within school grounds) I felt like a writer from the 1600’s who was just granted the first amendment. I have read several reviews that believe my actions were a prank, and that I was looking for a reaction. Let me make this clear, it was not a prank, I was not expecting my essay to be read, and I wrote believing I was fulfilling the requirements of the assignment with no intention of causing Fear or Harm in any shape or form. (I pray that I did not mistype or that this comment gets edited without my consent). Multiple copies of the essays are currently in circulation, although not under my control and I have no idea where the original is. I do believe that the essay will be eventually released along with the assignment. The actual basis for my arrest under the charge of Disorderly Conduct, filed by Susan R. Popp is “but as a teacher, don’t be surprised of inspiring the first cg shooting.” Any legal expert can tell you that no personal threat by my person is indicated in that statement, or threats to any persons or property. At best, I should have been considered a “whistle blower” (someone that believes a threat may be present) rather than a potential homicidal manic to be arrested within 16 hours of writing an assignment as I was told to. For those of you wondering specifically what I was thinking at the moment I wrote that statement, I was exaggerating the general feeling for Ms. Capron in the student populous. Why did I exaggerate to such a degree? Because that is how I was instructed to do so by my teacher to pursue creative writing. It must also be understood, that I am proud to have attended Cary Grove High school, no matter the outcome of the case. I deeply respect and cherish my relationships at school with both my fellow students and teachers. My current goal is to receive my diploma and continue with my military aspirations; however I can not continue to attend Boot Camp in San Diego without a clean record. I deeply miss my teachers and friends, and cannot wait to talk to my Law in America teacher to hear his opinion and the events that have transpired. My deepest thanks go out to my friends and their families in support of me in this difficult situation. Hopefully the media coverage will end soon, and I can go back to being a normal student, graduate, and continue on to be a Marine." "

Jimi1976 wrote on April 27, 2007 8:45 PM:"I'm still in shock that;a) CGHS called the policeb) CPD actually arrested himI hope the Lee family plans to sue CGHS, CPD, and the arresting officer(s)This could have...and should have been handled with a simple phone call to Lee's parents...and perhaps a meeting with the school counselor."

VMO725 wrote on April 27, 2007 9:29 PM:"Just read in another paper that his contract with the Marines was terminated because of this BS. Unbelievable!! Nice going CG. Thought we were supposed to help kids and not ruin their lives before they even start. You ask a student to write a paper of whats on your mind after a brutal massacre that has been all over the news, internet, papers, etc... I am also proud of the students for standing up for him! Way to go! I just hope this all works out for the best. I didn't read anything I haven't seen on movies, shows, music, the news, papers, etc... Free Mr. Lee!!"

Jackson wrote on April 27, 2007 9:29 PM:"Parents should all alert their kids to the growing practice of some teachers to encourage baring ones soul in writing, only to have it psychoanalyzed by the teacher, who is uaually not a trained psych professional. "

hollydolly wrote on April 27, 2007 9:47 PM:"I dont think what he said is criminal per-say but he doesnt deserve to be a Marine. From one Marine to another. Respect is #1 and he blew it.even if he said he was only joking. too little to late. get a job where no=one cares."

My Opinion wrote on April 27, 2007 9:49 PM:"I wasn't too concerned over the writing until I read the last line. That is where he went too far. He is an I D I O T! The moron posted blogs on this site yesterday. Yes Mr. Philpot (Gus) he is going to need some lawyer money because he did alarm and disturb....If you were that teacher, how would you feel after reading that? Why is everyone coddling this freak! The boy has issues...not fit for the military I think. As I said before, he should have approached the teacher first and consulted with her. The two boys from Columbine had written many disturbing letters prior to murdering numerous students. Perhaps the faculty and police just blew it off and made a courtesy call to the parents."

Hail Odin wrote on April 27, 2007 10:17 PM:"Hi, I've found a website giving detailed information that shows both sides of this raging debate.Here is the link, hope it helps.http://ericabrahamson.4t.com/"

vectrexer wrote on April 27, 2007 10:41 PM:"Mr. Lee's comments probably put his own wel being at risk. However, that was his right. It's also his right to expect to be able to freely express. Was the timing bad? Sure it was. Was the content offensive? Sure it was. Was the content criminal? No! The teacher and Pricipal at C-G High School owe Mr. Lee and the rest of their student body a huge apology for terrible undermining of trust and educational objectivity."

JDPNMGS wrote on April 27, 2007 11:16 PM:"CGHS Mom - Allen had written this essay without the idea that it would be published or read by other people. That being said, I would also like to comment that grammer is actually spelt grammar, it is not unlist but discharge, and it is not your but you're. Please be mature. I'm sorry that you think I'm pathetic, but I'm glad that you feel the need to attack as many people as you can on this forum. I would also like to say, not to you cghs mom but everyone, that the fact that there was a school shooting, does not void his right to write about the topic, especially in an uncensored assignment."

druth wrote on April 27, 2007 11:19 PM:"This is a copy of a letter sent to Principal Popp...Principal Popp,After reading the CNN article about a criminal disciplinary action taken against a student at your school, I was compelled to to write you. I understand that in light of the actions that have taken place recently at Virginia Tech, you as a public institution must guard yourself against similar attacks, but I think your course of action is a haunting example of just why we create such madmen in our country. I would imagine that student of all ages in this country were affected enormously by the horrific attack that took place, many of them experiencing a sense of shock and depression. It seems reasonable to assume that when a loose and cathartic creative writing assignment is given with the express instruction to ""write whatever comes to your mind. Do not judge or censor what you are writing" that these stresses and worries could manifest themselves in all sorts of ways. I'm not saying that you as an institution don't have responsibility to safe guard the rest of your student population, but to arrest a straight "A" student for doing his assignment is ludicrous. Counsel, advise or educate the student on his writing and/or feelings, but don't arrest him. When you do that you are taking a young man, obviously going through a great deal and you are pawning him off on a system that will certainly do nothing to help him. Shame on you!! Heaven forbid any other students in your school (or elsewhere) might be going through similar turmoil, possibly to an even greater degree. They certainly will retreat further within themselves, fearful what what might happen if they seek help from someone they trust... like their teacher.I realize there will be many rationalizations and caveats made about this student, this paper, or this situation, but the real tragedy is the open forum that you as an educator were tasked to uphold, but failed to achieve. Students who are fearful to open up, become adults who never open up; freethinkers who are squashed when their ideas shock us, become drones in a system that desperately needs their spark.; and troubled souls punished for crying for out for help, become time bombs will all must pay for."

cgmom1 wrote on April 28, 2007 12:45 AM:"Can everyone please stop making reference to the fact that Lee is a "straight A" student..........good grades in school shows he is intelligent, but does not reveal anything about his psychological state."

c g wrote on April 28, 2007 1:17 AM:"are you kidding me?? his psychological state... this has nothing to do with the assignment. write for a period, no matter what it is. This student is absolutely and fully correct in writing whatever he wanted to. What kind of teacher is this??? Write for a full period, no matter what you write. A) You're asking for this sort of controversial result. B) If a teacher felt that guidelines need be enforced, whose fault is it for not following these guidelines, the teacher, with guidelines in mind, or the student, with non at all??? Go ahead, keep monitoring, censoring, and even deciding on ones own what a high school student is to write. See how far creativity, expression, and culture progresses by these means.And by the way, go ahead, keep this kid out the marines. Who would want anyone of this intelligence and impact leading our most influnetial forces anyways? What a joke. Eduaction. What a means of control."

This is cache, read story here