Vancouver. School Investigating If Younger Boys Were Bullied Into Fighting

Was Squamish school too quick to suspend fighting students?

SCHOOL INVESTIGATES  WHETHER YOUNGER BOYS FORCED TO FIGHT BY OLDER STUDENTS

The Sea-to-Sky school district is still investigating the student fight last Friday to determine if the younger students were forced to fight by older boys.

But that didn’t stop Don Ross secondary from punishing the younger boys, both of whom received a three-day suspension Friday.

SCHOOL PUNISHES THE YOUNG BOYS WHO WERE BULLIED

THE SCHOOL SAYS THE BOYS SHOULD HAVE COME FORWARD.  WHY SHOULD THE BOYS BE FORCED TO COME FORWARD.  THE SCHOOL DIDN’T PROTECT THEM FROM THE BULLIES.

The school did not return my call Monday (probably because it was a Pro-D day) but the district’s director of instruction, Rose Mackenzie, was handling media questions. I asked her why the boys – one of whom was Austin Aldridge, 14 – were suspended before the investigation was completed. She replied:

From what I understand, the vp (vice-principal Robyn Ross) met with him (Austin) and they talked about it. He knew that she was aware of it and yet he still fought.

“Students need to know that fighting is not an option. If he was being coerced to fight, he should have reported it to the office.”

Here the school administrator is blaming a boy who was bullied for not reporting it to administration.  This is typical don’t blame me, blame the victim — who in this case is a child.

JS. He did not do that?

RM: “I don’t know. I haven’t been a part of the investigation. It’s something I need to find out. But apparently she (Ross) had talked to him, she was aware of his concerns and yet he still went out and fought. I don’t know – we’re still investigating.”

That, plus information from Austin’s mother Zoe Aldridge, certainly leaves the impression that the school was aware of Austin’s concerns. I’ve asked for clarification and will update this post when I have it.

From what I’m hearing, Don Ross isn’t the only school where younger boys say they’ve been forced to fight by older boys – often for the purpose of a Youtube video.

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