12-Year-Old Arrested for Doodling at Desk

(AP)  A New York City student has been arrested for doodling on her desk.

Twelve-year-old Alexa Gonzalez scribbled "Lex was here 2/1/10" on her desk at Junior High School 190 in Queens. She also wrote "I love my friends Abby and Faith."

Her mother, Moraima Tamacho, says Alexa was released several hours after she was taken in handcuffs to a police station.

Education department spokesman David Cantor said it "shouldn't have happened." Cantor says "common sense should prevail."

Last month, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful arrests and assaults by school safety officers.

Alexa has been assigned eight hours of community service, a book report and an essay on what she's learned from the experience.

[pragmatist1]

The kid was vandalizing school property. The kid got what she deserved. She's old enough to know better. Her mother should know better too. Too many kids and their parents think their little darlings can do whatever they want and then be excused just because they apologize. Kids won't ever learn lessons without being taught an unpleasant lesson. Being disciplined for doing something wrong is what's missing in too many schools and homes. Maybe the kid should have been given community service and made to clean graffiti off of buildings and school desks. Without a strong discipline, the kid will continue being clueless.

[saneObserver]

I don't think a police situation was a good scare tactic. It will eventually desensitize the kids to the police, not that it won't happen anyway when the little dears get older. It seems involvement with the judicial system is a rite of passage these days. I don't have much sympathy for the kids. I just don't think this was not a good idea. It just shows how the school's hands are tied. She should have spent the following weekend scrubbing off the mess she made and what ever items the school had laying around. The school probably wouldn't have been allowed to do that for whatever reason and had little choice but to call the police. In Singapore she would have been caned. You know what, they don't have graffiti.

[gosstom]

Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue,SueSue,Sue,Sue,Sue,Sue.......

[JV1970]

This is utter nonsense! That child should have been scolded for not paying attention in class and that should have been the end of it! If doodling in class and not paying attention to our teachers is against the law then we are all criminals!

[ampsanne]

What next? Seems the teachers are getting out of hand. Back in my days the teacher would dish out the punishment. We had an supply ink well where you could refill your pens. Underneath it was a black pad. I scribbled on it. Well I got punishment from the nun. She slapped me across my face, and told me to clean it up. And that was the end of the episode. Of course nowadays teachers can't do that. Although that episode happen to this day I hold the nun in high esteem and she was my favorite teacher. That poor girl will have to remember being taken in hand cuffs and not doubt will live with her for the rest of her life. How stupid of that teacher! Perhaps the teacher should have been taken away in handcuffs. I'm sure the teacher could have just said to clean it up, and given her an extra assignment. And that would have been the end of it.

[grhdanny01]

is anyone at all concerned about the emotional and psychological affect this will have on the children? having this happen to them and watching it happen? the messages sent??

[Kaliu3W]

Whatever happened to "let the punishment fit the crime" ? School authorities took this incident way too far, and traumatized a CHILD. The official responsible for the arrest should be fired and assigned community service as well. What a ridiculous situation!

[run2jazz2]

Public education despite its efforts are failing many of America's children. I was a GM for Warehouse/Distribution center in Smyrna, Tennesee. If you don't think that it is you should have seen the way applications were filled out and some of the answers received for those questions. You would have thought that Forrest and Bubba were the applicants.


Sadly, these were men and women who saw nothing more that what they were doing. Manual labor for the rest of their lives instead of using their minds to do something far better.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with manual labor as I too enjoyed getting out their picking orders, driving a forklift or loading a truck. But at the end of the day I had the skill-set and knowledge to use a spreadsheet, complete a budget for my department and write evaluation for my employees.


Young America keep thinking that they can get support this life doing a reality show, rapping and carrying cardboard spinning it on corners to advertise for local companies. Those lifestyles will only last for so long until you have a mortgage, children and a family.

[erasmus111]

There is something wrong with the people of America.

There are just way too many lousy parents, teachers, cops. And those parents, teachers, cops, are all spitting out kids that end up being even worse parents, teachers, cops.

It's an epidemic.

[erasmus111]

And the problem with being "teachers" and "cops" is that they are in a position to influence other children. And they aren't doing a very good job of it.

Taking a girl to jail for doodling on a desk is an extreme and could cause more damage than good. Maybe they should concentrate on actually getting the BAD people in jail.

[mjlewis6]

The people who lack common sense regarding this 'infraction' and over-reaction should themselves be prosecuted for their role in the state's legalized child abuse system and run through for a criminal record of their own for their INABILITY to use common sense.

[BMary]

You bring up a good point, child abuse. Wouldn't having these young children ARRESTED for these minor instances be a form of abuse? Think of the the fear that goes through these kids when they're being handcuffed and hauled off to a cell! You are also exposing these poor children to others who are locked up because they may have some serious problems. If a child wasn't a criminal when they went in they may be one when they come out because they are exposed to the bad influence of others. Children learn from the example of others, be it adults or other children. The teachers are already setting a bad example and they could very well make these children believe that they really are bad and maybe they should be locked up. They could start thinking they aren't worthwhile and may become repeat offenders.

How is exposing these small children to the fear and humiliation of being arrested better than getting a smack on the rear end? If a parent smacks their kids rear end they could be arrested for abuse. I don't think a swat on the butt has ever given a child nighmares but spending a night locked up could.