Student Arrested for Creative Writing Essay

Via Wired Threat Level Blog -

Chicago high school student Allen Lee, 18, was arrested and charged with "disorderly conduct" for writing an essay in creative writing class that his teacher found disturbing. He's also been barred from classes at Cary-Grove High School, where he's reportedly been a straight-A student. The Chicago Tribune reports that the teacher had "encouraged students to express their emotions through writing."

Cary Police Chief Ron Delelio said the charge was appropriate even though the essay was not published or posted for public viewing. Disorderly conduct, which carries a penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, is filed for pranks such as pulling a fire alarm or dialing 911. But it can also apply when someone's writings can disturb an individual, Delelio said. "The teacher was alarmed and disturbed by the content," he said.

Let's hope the unnamed English teacher doesn't discover the public library, or the Chicago cops will be looking to arrest nearly every important author in the last century for disturbing the peace.

It's noteworthy that this action wasn't a knee-jerk response. It followed a round-table discussion by school district officials, who not only concluded that Lee's essay was so disturbing as to demand action, but evidently eschewed moderate responses like contacting his parents or referring him to the school counselor in favor of having him arrested and charged with a crime for his words.

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This is double plus ungood....