Toronto Teens in the Right

While we may never know the exact details of the case, teens protesting outside Birchmount Collegiate in Toronto are in the right. The whole mess started on a social networking website known as Facebook, which is popular among teens and young adults. Five students had been criticizing the school's vice principal. Based on what the media had released, there were no threats against this person, just criticism. The school board, however, felt that they were bullying the teacher and suspended the five students. This has caused outrage on campus, with a protest being held. Of course, with teens in large groups, they get rowdy and four teens were arrested. It's important to note that that was not what the protest's organizers had intended.

The fact is, this should have never gotten to the point it did. The people in charge who originally decided to suspend the students did indeed violate their rights. As long as no threats are made, people are supposed to be free to say whatever they wish about authority figures, especially in private. These students should never have been suspended, especially for remarks made outside of school. The suspensions should immediately be lifted and the officials involved should be made to make either a written or public apology to the five students involved (not the other way around as some have suggested).

Of course, there is always a broader issue. In this case, it's school bullying and teacher unprofessionalism. Bullying has been a part of school since schools have existed. In the last four years, however, there have been serious efforts to try and stamp it out. That's because a few deranged youngsters have committed suicide due to bullying; not to mention the rash of school shootings beginning with Columbine High in 1999. Bullying is a very difficult thing for many youngsters to deal with. Many people have encountered it, most get over it. I don't find anything wrong with helping children deal with bully issues. However, can student's really bully a teacher?
Back when my parent's where in school, the teacher was the unquestioned authority figure. If you got out of line, you'd get the strap, and then another whooping from your parents when you got home. Things are different today. Many parents take a spectator stance on parenting. In those houses, the child never really learns who's boss. When they get into school, the world becomes very bizarre to them. There's this adult who wants to make then do things. Mommy and daddy don't do that. As the teacher tries to assert authority, the child becomes confused and refuses to accept. Child lashes out, and they're at the principal's office with a phone call home. Of course the parents don't do anything. After this happens a few too many times, the child eventually gets put on some mind bending anti-ADHD drug.
It's quite difficult being a teacher today, with so many kids like that. However, that's why they get paid an obscene amount of money. Teacher's have very little to complain about. Teachers are still the authority figure in the classroom. I don't think they can be bullied by their students. Issues with students need to be dealt with in a professional manner. Suspending students, especially for remarks made outside of school is highly unprofessional. In my opinion, the teacher involved was not being bullied at all. That person a sissy, plain and simple. Buck up, that's what the world is like now. If you can't deal with it, you should not have gone into teaching in the first place.