[Artemisia] Well here we are in the news again.

[BECKY LEISHMAN]

I'd have to say that I'm one of those old fuddy duddies that agrees with the school.  

While I think their reason for not allowing it is somewhat 'lame' given their mascot, I also think their willingness to allow the youth to post the picture in the book as a paid advertisement (in this case a private advertisement on behalf of the SCA) is a reasonable alternative.  If the youth was truly interested in getting his 'hobby' out there in the open and perhaps get others involved, this might just be one way to do it.  Course that also means he and/or his family would be fronting the money to do it. 

Another way to do it might have been to include it on the 'extra curricular' activities page... but more than likely to do that, the youth would probably have needed to previously get approval for and start up an official 'medieval recreation club' through the school.  This would most likely have needed to be done prior to his request to post that particular picture... and he would probably have been forced to loose the sword for the picture because of school policy.  In fact, would probably not have been allowed to bring a live steel sword to school either... with or without the club. 

Was he involved in a school play where the wearing of chain mail and carrying of a big sword would have been appropriate... hence a picture posted on the theatre page... probably not. 

While I agree that we have a truly cool hobby, there is a time and a place for everything... this was most likely not the time or the place for this one. 
Guess we'll see what the judicial system says (aren't they bogged down enough?)

Bethoc
Ducking for cover.