Student Told To Pay $1,000 For Planting Marigolds In Shape Of Peace Sign On School Property

[matcom]

<snip>

Portland school administrators are sanctioning one Wilson High School senior for her role in an outdoor peace display -- $600 worth of marigolds planted in the shape of a peace sign -- and have told her she can participate in the June 1 graduation ceremony but will not receive a diploma until she pays up to $1,000 to remove the flowers.

Maggie Collins, a University of Oregon-bound 18-year-old, is being held solely responsible for the display after she discussed her role in planting it on a local television newscast, according to her older sister, Caity Collins. Caity Collins, a student at Whitman College, said district administrators asked Maggie to name the others who took part in the senior prank and told her she must foot the bill to return the landscaping to its original state.

Caity and Maggie's mom, Alyson Breathed, is meeting with the Wilson principal Sue Brent this morning to discuss the situation, Caity Collins said.

The principal's office said it could not comment on any disciplinary action. But a statement did say, "We do understand that these students could have acted in a more destructive way, and will certainly take that into account in any consequences that might be imposed."

A call to Superintendent Vicki Phillips was not immediately returned.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/05/wilson_high_school_student_who.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. It is still vandalism, even if it's a peace sign.

If I were the principal, and the peace sign was in an appropriate place (that is, not the middle of the football field, for instance), I'd let it stay. If it couldn't stay there, I'd ask the girl to take them out and put the yard back, instead of charging her $1000.

[skygazer]

2. A thousand bucks to pull up some marigolds

and throw down some grass seed? I want that job.

[yellowcanine]

4. Can't just pull up the marigolds and "throw down some grass seed"

It is the wrong time of the year for planting grass seed for one. And another, you can't blame the school for insisting that the lawn be returned to its original condition. This means digging up the marigolds, preparing a proper seedbed, having sod delivered, installing the sod, and watering the sod daily until it has rooted sufficiently. Depending on the size of the area, $1000 doesn't sound like too much for that job done by a professional landscaper. I wouldn't trust a bunch of amateurs to do it, no matter how fine their intentions. This person may have had good motives, but she did it the wrong way and needs to be held fully accountable for her actions. Why do the protest at the school in the first place? The school board is not responsible for the war in Iraq.

[jakefrep]

8. Me too...

...I'm a total anti-greenthumb, but I could figure out how to do that for $1000.

[Zywiec]

3. Why not get a $5 container of round-up

A few sprays of that should take care of the flowers.

[underpants]

6. How much does the grounds crews in Wilsonville get paid?

That couldn't take more than two hours could it?

[Parche]

5. Wilsonville

Its about 10miles from here, and I used to work there for a bit.
She is the only one so far to come forward, there were at least 35 others
that helped her out.
Just a school prank.

[Connonym]

7. Hell, I think we should take up a collection to pay the girl's fine

fuck the establishment

[UrbScotty]

9. What BS. (nt)