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High school student Courtni Webb, 17, suspended for writing a poem about Sandy Hook shooter

By Lena Sullivan 12/31/2012 09:58:00

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Suspended: Courtni Webb, 17, who poem about the shooting tragedy

A 17-year old high school student has been suspended for a poem she wrote about the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Courtni Webb wrote the poem in a personal notebook about Adam Lanza and what she felt were his reasons for the mass murder at the Connecticut school earlier this month.

The contents of the poem prompted the school officials at the Life Learning Academy on Treasure Island, San Francisco, to suspend her.

'I understand the killings in Connecticut. I know why he pulled the trigger,' wrote Courtni Webb.

'Why are we oppressed by a dysfunctional community of haters and blamers?'

The poem was found in a personal notebook of Courtni's by a teacher, reported examiner.com.

Causing controversy: 'I understand the killings in Connecticut. I know why he pulled the trigger,' wrote Courtni Webb in a poem

Action: The Life Learning Academy, a a 60-pupil vocational school for students, suspended Courtni after reading the poem

Courtni, who writes 'all types' of poetry to express herself, told Today that she was just trying to express 'her belief that tragedies in Sandy Hook happen because people feel helpless.'

She says in the past she has handed in poems dealing with dark issues and has not experienced any problems.

Her poems are a therapeutic way of expressing herself, explained the student, and should not be over-analysed.

Reaction: Courtni's mother thinks the school district is overreacting

Outraged: 'I feel like they're over reacting. Why? Because my daughter doesn't have a history of violence. She didn't threaten anybody,' said her mother, Valerie Statham, left

'For example, the only person I can think of would be like Stephen King. He writes weird stuff all the time. That doesn't mean he's gonna do it or act it out,' said Webb.

'I feel like they're over reacting. Why? Because my daughter doesn't have a history of violence. She didn't threaten anybody. She didn't threaten herself. She simply said she understood why,' said her mother, Valerie Statham.

The San Francisco Unified School District are currently deciding about Courtni's future at the school and if she poses genuine threat to the safety to her fellow students.

But for now, she is suspended until further notice.

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