Boy’s Drawing Ruled Cause for Discipline

A boy’s drawing two years ago of him pointing a gun at a kneeling, praying teacher was more than a doodle, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled. It constituted a punishable threat. The court rejected arguments from the boy’s lawyers that the drawing was protected under the 1st Amendment, noting that the Constitution “does not protect conduct that threatens another.” The court also said the teacher’s fears that the Worcester boy--12 at the time--could carry out the threat were “quite reasonable and justifiable.”