A tenth grade Korean student is called racial names and then physically attacked. He defends himself and breaks the bully's nose. Fifty years ago the school officials would have patted the Korean boy on the back and sent the bully home with a stern note. But in 2009 it is the victim, the Korean boy, who was charged with assault and threaten with suspension.
I would be ashamed to be a teacher at this high school.
Then the students of the high school stepped in:
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On Monday, 400 of his fellow students, wearing black in solidarity and carrying signs of support, walked out of Keswick High School to rally in protest in front of their school.
Organizer Mathew Winch, a Grade 12 student, said the school has fewer than 10 Asian students, but everyone wanted to stand up against bullying and racism. The story even hit the front page of local newspapers.
After the public outcry, the York Regional Police hate crimes unit reopened the case. Although the other student has not been charged, further charges are possible, a spokesman said yesterday.
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I would be so proud if Mathew Winch was my son. He rallied his fellow students and they may be able to get some justice for the Korean boy.
This is a case of the children being wiser than the adults.
(Hat tip: Clicked)
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Technorati tags: parenting, children, education, government schools, public school, public education
3 comments:
OMG, this happened to my daughter in public school! What a world we live in. I'm so glad I homeschool.
Ah, as soon as I saw the words "hate crimes unit" I knew this was in Canada. It's encouraging that the kids took a stand, but discouraging that this requires some bureaucratic busy bodies to step in and with a "case" to reopen when the natural law of consequences already decided it.
I'm not convinced it's true racism anyway; kids just pick on the most obvious "difference," whether it's a racial feature or a big nose or buck teeth. Making too much of it only makes it worse in my opinion.
This is a sad trend not only in schools, but also within our justice system. It seems criminals often have more rights than victims do these days. I enjoy your blog.
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