South Carolina, USA
Thirteen year old Rhett Parham, was suspended indefinitely from his school in Greenville, S.C. for bringing a drawing of a bomb to school. The picture was a cartoon of his favorite video game, Bomberman 64, old Nintendo game. A older student complained that Rhett has said he had a bomb. Officials stepped in and suspended Rhett indefinitely.
His mother, Amy Parham claims her son who is autistic, was just sharing his artwork and it was a misunderstanding. She said on Tuesday:
“I’m angry. I’m upset and I’m incredulous, honestly, that a child could come in and bring a drawing and that’s somehow perceived as a threat — especially someone with special needs who really doesn’t filter information the same way that typical children do.”
“They did not suspend Rhett and they did not recommend expulsion. They realized that his disability was the reason that he made statements and drew the picture, and that he had no malicious intent what so ever.”
A spokesman Oby Lyles released this statement on behalf of the district, saying:
“It is troubling that incomplete and inaccurate information has been shared by the mother about the incident involving her child at Hillcrest Middle School. School districts are prohibited by law from releasing specific student discipline information without parental permission. The district prefers full disclosure of the incident, but the mother has refused our request to allow details about the incident to be released.
“The school administration responded appropriately when threatening comments were made, investigated it fully, and acted in accord with applicable laws, policies and procedures to bring this incident to its proper closure.”