Locker poster sparks outrage
The district has an unwritten rule against such displays, the superintendent explained.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Got Satan? That's the slogan on a poster that recently adorned the locker of a pupil at David Anderson Junior-Senior High School, sparking the ire of many local residents and possibly prompting a change in the school district's rules.
The poster was of rocker Marilyn Manson, whose dark, sometimes violent lyrics have engendered controversy.
Featuring a close-up of Manson in his trademark ghoulish makeup, the poster was accented by the "Got Satan?" phrase, a parody of the "Got Milk?" campaign.
Seen during search: The locker decoration became public about two weeks ago when police held a routine drug sweep at the school.
No drugs were found during the raid, but a local photojournalist covering the event took a picture of a police officer searching for drugs with the Manson photo clearly depicted on a nearby locker.
The newspaper ran the photograph on the front page of its March 10 edition, triggering letters to the editor from area residents outraged that the poster was on a school locker.
Schools Superintendent Charles McShane said Thursday that the school district -- which calls its sports teams the Blue Devils -- also has received letters and calls complaining about the poster.
Policy: McShane explained that an unwritten school policy bans decorations unrelated to school on the outside of lockers.
The Manson poster apparently had gone up before school administrators noticed it and had a chance to remove it. The poster was taken down the day of the drug sweep, before the photo appeared in the newspaper, McShane said.
He called the poster's appearance an isolated case. "This type of display does not typify the typical kid" attending Lisbon schools, he added.
Pupils usually abide by the rule regarding locker decor. "They use good common sense," McShane added.
The pupil who put up the poster was not disciplined because he had not violated any written policy.
Recommendation: But as a result of the episode, McShane said he will recommend to the school board that it convert the unwritten rule on locker decorations to a written one "so that no one can say, 'You didn't tell me,' " he said.
If the school board approves, the written rule could be in place by next school year. Whether violators will be disciplined will be considered on a case-by-case basis, McShane said.
The school district has "a right to declare what is acceptable to be placed on lockers," which are school property, McShane said when asked if limiting locker decor restricts pupils' rights to freedom of expression and speech.