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.
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”.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
I’ve been pushed aggressively before, and guess what, I didn’t punch anyone or start a fight. I walked away
Is this the first time you realize that your life and experiences are not a template for anyone else’s life and experiences?
Ever heard of proportional response?
Yes, I have.
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Wow so brave 🙄
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.
Unfortunately if you “fight” you get suspended. Hard stop.
You say that like it’s a law of nature and not a choice made by school administrators.
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”.
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.
Yeah, that’s what a dumb person says.
I’m not suggesting it’s my opinion, I’m explaining the standing rule.
Yeah, I know, but the people still using this rule are dumb.
Did you actually read what I wrote? And the boy is suspended too.
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.
What is the reasonable reaction if someone is calling black people ‘slaves’, according to you?
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.
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.
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!
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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.
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Oh no!
Please don’t downvote me sir they won’t let me post in c/worldstar if my karma goes negative
That doesn’t make him not a racist.
I noticed this too. She should have stepped away at that moment, but instead responded with force. That being said, she’s a teenager and defending herself from someone much larger. This is 100% on the male, even if she made the wrong choice in how to deescalate. We can’t expect teenagers to not defend themselves, we can expect them to not be racist assholes.