In a shocking, horrifying incident at Shawnee Mission East High School, a Black student was hospitalized after being attacked by a white male student. Despite being the victim, she faces suspension in a case highlighting systemic racism and administrative negligence.

  • MxM111@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    She is not suspended for being a victim. I watched a video and while the guy pushed her first, she was clearly trying to hit him into his face first. Even if on personal level I think the guy well deserved it, I do not think school can have policy “it is ok to hit other people into face when they deserve it”.

    • mondo_brondo@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Nah he put his hands on her first. I think she is well within reason to throw a punch at him for that, especially given that he came at her aggressively, calling her racial slurs.

      • Copernican@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I watch a lot of soccer, and to me if kind of looked like a yellow card offense, followed by an escalated red card offense, followed by a other red card offense. White kid definitely deserves a much more severe punishment and longer investigation. But I’m kind of thinking it makes sense for the girl to get a shorter suspension as well based on the video clips. I’m kind of curious what evidence the admin has access to when making the punishment. Was this video shared with them?

        • Pips@lemmy.sdf.org
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          1 year ago

          Fascinatingly, this isn’t a soccer game and if it wre, under FIFA rules there’s an investigation and severe penalties, up to and including a ban from the sport plus fines/restitution for racism. But in 2023, a person yelling slurs and coming at you with animosity in a school is an immediate and potential life a threatening issue. It’s not a game.

          • Copernican@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            The point is there’s a difference between a closed fist punch and open hand shove. I think she was justified and throwing the punch. I think the administration probably has to take disciplinary action for it though against her for that though. I just hope she gets a day or two and the other kid gets something way more severe.

        • SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          If there are plenty of eyes on what’s happening and you have somewhat solid guarantees that the yellow card offense is going to result in a yellow card, you have no reason to escalate. However, every adult who has ever gone through school knows that bullying is systematically ignored by the teachers.

          • Copernican@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago
            1. Both students walk towards each other calling each other out.
            2. Boy throws racial slur and shoved girl in chest. Boy stands ground.
            3. Girl recovers from shove and retaliates with punch towards face.
            4. Boy returns punch towards girl.
            5. Fight ensues.

            I think the girl was totally justified in throwing a punch from a moral POV. Boy is a piece of shit. But from a rules POV I think there is some ambiguity of 3 is defense or escalation. And from an admin POV you probably suspend both since you don’t want either in school the next day or two until there is more time to review the situation and deal out discipline. I’m guessing part of the delay is that this happened right before a holiday. Curious if there is any update on the school review and disciplinary action for both students.

      • iopq@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I’ve been pushed aggressively before, and guess what, I didn’t punch anyone or start a fight. I walked away

    • deegeese@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      White boy assaulted black girl. Black girl gets suspended.

      I don’t think schools should be teaching kids to “turn the other cheek” when getting pummeled by a bully.

      • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Unfortunately if you “fight” you get suspended. Hard stop.

        • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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          1 year ago

          You say that like it’s a law of nature and not a choice made by school administrators.

          • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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            1 year ago

            I don’t think it’s a law of nature. But within a school it’s as close as it gets. The rule is literally called “zero tolerance”.

            • Stoneykins [any]@mander.xyz
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              1 year ago

              Yeah and it is crap. The rule needs fuckin banned from school administrators being allowed to use it, it only exists to protect the school from liability at the expense of the safety of children, it is beyond stupid.

      • Cypher@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Black girl threw the first punch, she escalated right up to it.

        They’re both idiots.

        Never mind the black girl is harassing multiple people over “he said she said” bullshit with aggressive claims of racism to kick the whole thing off.

          • Cypher@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            What’s a reasonable reaction when you’re loudly (and wrongly) accused of making such statements while being recorded and stood over by a person twice your size?

            What’s reasonable when someone does that to your friend and then uses fighting words as you’re walking away?

            Go try that outside any pub anywhere in the world and get your teeth knocked out for your trouble.

            • SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works
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              1 year ago

              So you aren’t even willing to recognize the possibility that the other kids were being genuinely racist, got it, no need to waste my time with you.

              • Cypher@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Oh they were accused so they’re definitely guilty!

                Starting a fight in a hallway was obviously the best way to handle this. You are clearly the genius we need to solve racism in schools.

                If anyone is accused of racism you get out your phones and then publicly lynch the person.

                It was so simple all along!

          • Cypher@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Glad we’re on the same page, she clearly used fighting words to escalate into violence which was her original intent, as proven by her friends filming.

            She just got the wrong opponent from the other group. She was obviously intending to beat down the white girl that was half her size.