Society's Child

Video: Woman Sentenced to Community Service for Innocent Child's Play

Michael Allen
Opposingviews.com
Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:19 UTC

Mom Susan Mortensen has agreed to 50 hours of community service after her 4-year-old daughter used chalk to draw on rocks on Belle Isle in Richmond, Virginia.

Even though her daughter did the drawings, Mortensen was convicted on charges of vandalism, but the charges will be dismissed by the judge if she completes the 50 hours of work, according to WWBT-TV (video below).

Mortensen will have to clean and repaint hundreds of rocks, but first, she will have to remove all the weeds around the rocks.

Mortenson told WWBT-TV: "I agree that the outcome is something I would agree with and I thought it would help as far as doing community service."

Mortensen said her 4-year-old daughter had been traumatized by the experience: "She's very scared of chalk for one. And she's very nervous around cops."

However, WWBT legal analyst Steve Benjamin said Mortensen should not have be charged: "Using sidewalk chalk to draw some little doodle on a rock is not criminal. If that were criminal, so would hopscotch, writing 'Johnny loves Susie' on the sidewalks."

Reader Comments

ROEL · 2012-08-02T11:43:59Z

To some extent

I think the punishment applies, though we may argue it is a bit too harsh.
I'm thinking of all the American moms who allow their children to play with the stuff that is for sale in stores, and don't even pick up after them when they are finished. They not even tell their little ones not to behave like that. Who educated these moms, anyway?
I suspect it was Dr. Spock.

Rowan Cocoan · 2012-08-02T13:23:46Z

To FULL extent - a FOOL

To a FULL extent - only a FOOL could "think the punishment applies" (even to "some extent.")

CRIMINAL laws are for CRIMES. This was not one. One can speed through a school zone and that's not a crime either. At 100 mph over the limit, that becomes reckless driving, which IS and SHOULD be a crime.

But how you can possibly claim it is arguable WHETHER this is too harsh?? The definition of a totalitarian society: All that is not prohibited is mandatory. It seems you'd like it there.

But then, why are you here, anyway?

R.C.

nor · 2012-08-02T14:26:08Z

"To some extent I think the punishment applies, though we may argue it is a bit too harsh."

Seriously!?

What makes some adults so intolerant to the childhood experience and the parents of toddlers? I wonder if it has something to do with THEIR personal childhood experience.

A culture is no more than its stories and traditions - change the stories and you change the culture; change the traditions and you change the structure of the society.

Look at Amerikka today. Look at the stories told - or not told due to censorship - uderstand how they have changed. Look at the traditions that have been dropped - like the joy of sidewalk-chalking. Look at Amerikka today.

quiscustodietipsoscustodis · 2012-08-02T12:03:34Z

...

lose millions of dollars in illegal broking - nobody cares and nothing is done for compensation
let a child live out its childhood - mother gets sentenced to 50 hours of community service
seriously, wake up sheeple!!!

psychokitty190 · 2012-08-02T12:16:29Z

we all grew up using sidewalk chalk.this is getting ridiculous.the chalk wears off after a few days,its not like she used spray paint.people need to learn the difference between offensive graffiti and a childs imagination. a damn shame how the law for even children is so strict yet the government is constantly letting big corporations and themselves slide with actual crimes.

Good Optics · 2012-08-02T12:49:55Z

I think some quarters . . .

. . . are getting just a -little- bit anal.

nitewelder · 2012-08-02T15:00:10Z

Responsibility

It's about time parents took responsibilty for their childrens actions! It is not a childs right to deface public property just because they are 4 years old. Parents need to be responsible for their children and pick up after them, or in this case train them or clean up after them.
There will be opposing opinions related to the punishment. How about adults behaving like adults by training manners and good behavior to the kids. Be responsible and punishment will become obsolete.
If you want your kids to deface any surface they chose with chalk, bring your bucket and scrub brush with you.

ironjam628 · 2012-08-02T15:14:50Z

I say choose your battles. It was chalk, not spray paint.

tohuwabohu · 2012-08-03T04:28:55Z

I had a good laugh over what you wrote. So you advise to everyone to treat their kids like dogs or some pets. That is the most ridiculous advice i have ever heard. And if you have kids then that is just sad.

tonybalony · 2012-08-02T16:52:24Z

Chaulking sidewalks by children should be promoted

There is no way anyone who has an ounce of spirit left coming through their human life that would agree this women or child should be chastised in anyway for a 4 year old doing chalk drawings on a sidewalk.

There is nothing defacing about it.

Defacing you say it is, and the mother irresponsible?!..well I'll tell what if you think that...

Something happened to you and or a series of things happened to you when you were the same age as this little girl.

And it continued as your "grew up" with things like the school system, career training, messages from TV and the movies, the media and so on into adulthood.

Bit by bit your spirit was chiseled away by "don't do this" and " do that"...too many of them..so much so you can no longer truly recognize when to be wise and "responsible" and when to allow it to "hang loose" a bit.

Yes so much social indoctrination has been force upon you, that you think you are living a "normal" life.

Your so called normal life and the rest of how we live as a whole is actually very perverted, but you can't see it.

I suggest you be responsible and quit your job or whatever it is that is continuing your anal retentiveness..and get in touch with your spirit with some consistency ...because you are being very irresponsible to your fellow human beings and a burden to them by your attitudes that are continuing to support this massive system that is suppressing everyone; Including yourself. Please, wake up! Enough!

Good Optics · 2012-08-02T17:35:57Z

Chaulking sidewalks by children should be promoted

And when you walk over, say, a hopscotch drawing on a sidewalk does your heart rise a little bit at the thought of kids out in the air simply and harmlessly making fun for themselves, building their co-ordination and laughing s only children do ? ?

Or, do you look at that and demand that they "clean up after themselves," even though they might want their work still in place for the next time they want to play.

Or, do you get out there with the garden house and wash it all away because, "What would the NEIGHBOURS think ? ?

I know where I come down . . .

Joan · 2012-08-02T18:59:47Z

This is "one" of the most stupid things Iv'e heard

of in a long time to, to my mind what this article is telling is me that any form of creativity in a child should be supressed. If the parents cannot control this creativity then they will be punished (I guess we havn't reached the point YET when a 4 year old can be called a cimininal). One could consider her a budding street artist.

see link

[Link]

A good rainfall and the evidence would be washed away.

I_tell_truth · 2012-08-03T04:44:50Z

I hear...

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Society's Child

Video: Woman Sentenced to Community Service for Innocent Child's Play

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