Swordsmyth
02-03-2018, 12:04 AM
A Tennessee high school student was suspended after her principal complained her viral anti-bullying video hurt his feelings and those of teachers, as well.
Emily Gipson, 16, a junior at Lebanon High School, said school administrators accused her of “trying to incite violence” and gave her a two-day-in-school suspension for the video entitled “Welcome to Lebanon High School,” posted Jan. 22 on her YouTube channel.
The video, which as of Thursday had more than 760,000 views, showed Gipson asking other students to treat each other better. Gipson said she decided to make the video after a classmate, Allie Johnson, committed suicide in October. Her friends told News 4 Johnson was bullied before she took her own life.
“I’ve seen problems with bullying, problems with bullying not being dealt with, and I feel like some things are just put aside,” Gipson told News 4 (http://www.wsmv.com/story/37378083/lebanon-student-punished-after-anti-bullying-video-goes-viral).
“It’s not just about Lebanon," Gipson explained. "It’s about everywhere because everywhere does have these problems. Anywhere I can make a difference I’d love to.”
In the video, Gipson criticized her peers’ reaction to the "Stop It" app the Wilson County school had put out in response to Johnson’s death.
Gipson also slammed school administration for not letting students be creative and not punishing those who bully.
"Posters say 'Smile' and 'Be happy,' but how am I supposed to be happy in a world — no, in a community — where creativity is put down, where the people who make fun of others never get punished because 'There's no proof,' or 'There's nothing we can do about it,' or, my favorite, 'Kids will be kids,'" she said in the video.
"So let's summarize: We're expected to come to this emotional prison every day, and we're expected to forgive the bullies because the authorities are sure they didn't mean it. Sometimes I wonder how many kids it takes dying to make a difference."
Scott Walters, the principal of Lebanon High School, told The Lebanon Democrat that he could not discuss Gipson’s punishment but claimed the video hurt his feelings and those of teachers, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf4IHuO_RZw
More at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/02/01/tennessee-student-suspended-after-viral-anti-bullying-video-hurts-feelings-principal-and-teachers.html
Emily Gipson, 16, a junior at Lebanon High School, said school administrators accused her of “trying to incite violence” and gave her a two-day-in-school suspension for the video entitled “Welcome to Lebanon High School,” posted Jan. 22 on her YouTube channel.
The video, which as of Thursday had more than 760,000 views, showed Gipson asking other students to treat each other better. Gipson said she decided to make the video after a classmate, Allie Johnson, committed suicide in October. Her friends told News 4 Johnson was bullied before she took her own life.
“I’ve seen problems with bullying, problems with bullying not being dealt with, and I feel like some things are just put aside,” Gipson told News 4 (http://www.wsmv.com/story/37378083/lebanon-student-punished-after-anti-bullying-video-goes-viral).
“It’s not just about Lebanon," Gipson explained. "It’s about everywhere because everywhere does have these problems. Anywhere I can make a difference I’d love to.”
In the video, Gipson criticized her peers’ reaction to the "Stop It" app the Wilson County school had put out in response to Johnson’s death.
Gipson also slammed school administration for not letting students be creative and not punishing those who bully.
"Posters say 'Smile' and 'Be happy,' but how am I supposed to be happy in a world — no, in a community — where creativity is put down, where the people who make fun of others never get punished because 'There's no proof,' or 'There's nothing we can do about it,' or, my favorite, 'Kids will be kids,'" she said in the video.
"So let's summarize: We're expected to come to this emotional prison every day, and we're expected to forgive the bullies because the authorities are sure they didn't mean it. Sometimes I wonder how many kids it takes dying to make a difference."
Scott Walters, the principal of Lebanon High School, told The Lebanon Democrat that he could not discuss Gipson’s punishment but claimed the video hurt his feelings and those of teachers, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf4IHuO_RZw
More at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/02/01/tennessee-student-suspended-after-viral-anti-bullying-video-hurts-feelings-principal-and-teachers.html