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A concerned mother has voiced outrage after her daughter’s school confiscated a drawing of a pig because its jaunty tie looked like a penis.
Sierra Carter, from Michigan, took to TikTok to explain that she had received a phone call from her 11-year-old’s art teacher who had concerns over one of her creations.
Sierra’s daughter had drawn a colorful masterpiece, titled Piggie, which depicted the farmyard animal waving its arms, alongside a speech bubble that simply read: ‘Hi.’
But the Hanover-Horton Elementary School tutor deemed it ‘inappropriate’ and said the pig’s bow tie depicted male genitalia.
Sierra has since attended meetings with the teacher, a social worker, and the principal as well as the school’s superintendent – but claims that the matter has not yet been resolved satisfactorily and says the picture is still being kept on her daughter’s record.
Sierra Carter, from Michigan, took to TikTok to explain that she had received a phone call from her 11-year-old’s art teacher who had concerns over one of her creations
Sierra’s daughter had created a colorful masterpiece, titled Piggie, which depicted the farmyard animal waving its arms alongside a speech bubble that simply read: ‘Hi’
Social media users were quick to share their support for Sierra and her family, branding the situation as ‘shameful.’
But the school’s superintendent, John Denney, called the situation ‘unfortunate,’ stating that it was a ‘one-sided narrative that has been created on social media that paints our staff in a negative light.’
In the candid clip, which so far has more than 800,000 views, Sierra spoke to the camera as she explained what has been happening.
She said: ‘I got a phone call from my daughter’s teacher – she is in fifth grade, she is 11 years old. Her teacher told me that my daughter had drawn something inappropriate in the art class and that a little boy had come up to her and made her aware that he thought my daughter drew “boy parts” on her pig project.
‘She went over and asked my daughter for all of her papers… My daughter told her teacher straight away that she drew a bow tie.
‘But the teacher proceeded to take all of her papers from her and then she said she had to give my daughter’s project to the vice principal of the school.’
Sierra, who was then called into a meeting, continued: ‘I get there this morning and they take me into a conference room, and I sit down with the teacher and the social worker for the school.
‘They hand me her art project that was just “so offensive” and as soon as I look at it, I’m like: “Are you fricking kidding me?”
Sierra said that her daughter’s teacher should have shut the whole issue down from the start – and other social media users were quick to agree
‘I literally slammed my hand down on the table and I said: “To be completely frank with you, I am p****ed. Why are we sitting here right now? And why was there a big deal made of this. It’s a fricking bow tie.”
‘They tell me that when they gave it to the principal to ask him what his thoughts were on the whole thing, the first thing that he said was “write her up.”‘
Sierra said she then demanded that he be brought in so she could also discuss the drawing with him.
Having pointed out to him that it was just a bow tie, Sierra said: ‘[The principal] goes “a bow tie is a bow.”
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‘And I’m like “I’m sorry my daughter is no Monet, but to her a bow tie is a bow and a tie. And if another kid happened to look at it and think it was something else that sounds more like a he-problem than a she-problem. Why you’re making this my daughter’s problem, I don’t know.”‘
Sierra said the principal then agreed not to write up the incident, but claimed that he wanted to keep the artwork on file in case any future issues came up.
She continued: ‘My daughter has never been inappropriate. She has never even talked about “girl parts” or “boy parts”, has never drawn anything at home or at school or anything.’
The protective mother, who repeatedly stated that her daughter had not done anything wrong, ended the clip by saying she had been left ‘super confused.’
She said that her daughter’s teacher should have shut the whole issue down from the start – and other social media users were quick to agree.
One wrote: ‘The social worker could have stopped this issue in seconds, shameful! The adults have their heads in the gutter.’
Sierra branded the school’s actions as ‘defeating’ and ‘very discouraging’ before claiming that the artwork was still being kept on her daughter’s file
One entrepreneur has even gone one step further in their support by turning the controversial drawing into a T-shirt design and selling them for $24.99
Another said: ‘As an administrator I am so sorry that you had to deal with this. When I saw the pic I thought “you are kidding me” keep sticking up for your kiddo!’
And a third added: ‘You have GOT to be kidding me! That’s ridiculous! It’s clearly a bow tie and the teachers/principal/social worker should be ASHAMED!!’
One entrepreneur event went one step further in their support by turning the controversial drawing into a T-shirt design and selling them for $24.99.
Sierra has since posted a series of other updates to her followers on the video-sharing platform.
She thanked people for their support before revealing that her daughter can sometimes struggle at school and with socialization due to her ADHD.
Sierra, who also met with the Superintendent after the incident, said: ‘I just want the school to understand how hurtful their accusations are towards my daughter and I just want them to make it right.
‘I just want them to apologize and I don’t want my daughter to feel like she’s constantly in trouble for something because she’s working so hard to be good at school.’
She branded the school’s actions as ‘defeating’ and ‘very discouraging’ before claiming that the artwork was still being kept on her daughter’s file.
In an official statement from Superintendent John Denney, he told FEMAIL: ‘Our staff is charged with maintaining schools that are safe and free from distraction or disruption. In performing that responsibility, they strive to follow all legal and policy requirements. Any decisions related to this matter were made consistent with, and in furtherance of, those principles.
‘It is unfortunate that a one-sided narrative has been created on social media that paints our staff in a negative light. As with every situation, there are two sides to this story. In this case, a student appropriately brought concerns to the attention of our staff.’
It continued: ‘In response, our staff handled the situation with compassion and discretion. Staff contacted the student’s parents to discuss the situation. No student was singled out or ostracized. Every effort was made to protect the privacy and dignity of all students. Nothing has been placed in any student’s school records related to this matter.
‘Due to student confidentiality laws, we cannot provide further information regarding this situation.’
