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Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

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PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)

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Jib

Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

I'm surprised this wasn't posted about already. I heard about this on the radio today. This girl made a video for a school assignment that was about a fictitious girl who was bullied and eventually committed suicide. She made a fake Facebook page to go with the video....


Honestly, I thought the idea of what she did was very creative and authentic. Bullying is a very REAL thing and lives are RUINED or even TAKEN because of it. I understand the other side... but I think the response was pretty unwarranted. I'm wondering what everyone here things.

As someone who was a victim of bullying as a kid, I think it's about time people recognize the seriousness of it and its detrimental effects.

article and video

Posted 5/23/12 12:19 AM
 
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rojerono
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Member since 8/06

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Jeannie

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

I don't get it.

I feel like I'm just completely missing something. What is the school so freaked out about? Why are they threatening her academic career and even telling her she could go to jail? This is either the biggest *********** ever on the part of the school.. or there is some HUGE part of the story that is missing.

Bizarro.

Posted 5/23/12 3:18 AM
 

nrthshgrl
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Member since 7/05

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Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Why was she suspended? It doesn't make sense. Unless she used a girl's real name in the school or the FB page was a covert way of bullying an actual student, I don't see what the reasoning is.

Also how can she go to jail for that? Banned from FB, yes. Threatening to do something to the school, absolutely.

They should lower her grade for a few misspellings but I think even the LIF Grammar Nazis would let that slide because of her age.

Message edited 5/23/2012 5:31:03 AM.

Posted 5/23/12 5:29 AM
 

Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it

Member since 5/05

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D

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

She did NOTHING wrong on the code of conduct. I work at the high school. The administration was WRONG!!!!!
News 7 was here yesterday.

Posted 5/23/12 7:54 AM
 

MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!

Member since 7/06

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MJ

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

I guess because she fabricated the FB page and didn't put that it was fake, it garnered attention from a parent and they called the cops worried about the fictitious student? So in turn, the school is treating it like she was yelling fire in a crowded theater, causing the police to get involved.

But it was just a misunderstanding. How is that taking things "too far" as the school district is saying? This girl is being punished for her creativity in bringing an issue to the forefront.

Unreal.

ETA: Today show is about to have her on this morning.

Turns out she DID put on both her page and the other page that it was fake. That was printed out, brought to the principal and they STILL suspended her. Yeah this is BEYOND DUMB. They made her give her facebook password to take the page down. Unreal. These admins are idiots. Chat Icon

Message edited 5/23/2012 8:14:55 AM.

Posted 5/23/12 8:04 AM
 

JennZ
MY LIFE!!

Member since 8/05

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Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

And what kills me is, the school NEVER saw the video. They only went by what the parent who reported it said. The school is wrong. This kid made an awesome awareness video, and is getting in trouble for it. Shame on them.

Posted 5/23/12 8:30 AM
 

Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!

Member since 8/05

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Name:
Veronica

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

meh.. nothing changes. I had a poem called Hope (Esperanza) it was about a suicide. It was based on bullying and her reaction. Esperanza dies at the end as she relives her last moments in 5 senses. Memories of the life she'd endured. So as Esperanza dies, so does hope. It was an intentional pun.

It WAS for a competition although I won for the school the district pulled it and I was sent to counseling. I found that ironic. I was bullied but not suicidal. *shrug*

Posted 5/23/12 8:35 AM
 

rkl1130
LIF Adult

Member since 10/07

1476 total posts

Name:
Rose Ann

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Ridiculous!

She was upfront about the fact that everything was fake and it was for a school project. She was making an effort to bring awareness on a very important and relevant subject and is being severely and unfairly punished for it.

What is ironic is that schools use similar videos to what she made to teach children about bullying.

Posted 5/23/12 8:40 AM
 

FreeButterfly
hum...

Member since 5/05

6263 total posts

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Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by Xelindrya

meh.. nothing changes. I had a poem called Hope (Esperanza) it was about a suicide. It was based on bullying and her reaction. Esperanza dies at the end as she relives her last moments in 5 senses. Memories of the life she'd endured. So as Esperanza dies, so does hope. It was an intentional pun.

It WAS for a competition although I won for the school the district pulled it and I was sent to counseling. I found that ironic. I was bullied but not suicidal. *shrug*




Can you post your poem? I'd like to read it!

Posted 5/23/12 8:49 AM
 

Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!

Member since 8/05

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Veronica

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by FreeButterfly
Can you post your poem? I'd like to read it!



I wish! I wrote it over two decades ago! I bet I'll stumble across it again. I found a poem I wrote in grade school about gold LOL

Gold can not be Sold

Your heart is gold
and so is your soul
and that gold
Can never be sold

LOL

I think I was 10

Posted 5/23/12 10:23 AM
 

Katareen
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Katherine

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by Xelindrya

meh.. nothing changes. I had a poem called Hope (Esperanza) it was about a suicide. It was based on bullying and her reaction. Esperanza dies at the end as she relives her last moments in 5 senses. Memories of the life she'd endured. So as Esperanza dies, so does hope. It was an intentional pun.

It WAS for a competition although I won for the school the district pulled it and I was sent to counseling. I found that ironic. I was bullied but not suicidal. *shrug*




I think being sent to counseling and being suspended/arrested are two vastly different things!

Posted 5/23/12 11:05 AM
 

METLove2008
LIF Adolescent

Member since 5/08

541 total posts

Name:
Ellie

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

From the article:
The school superintendent released a statement saying the district is unable to comment on a matter involving any student, adding “the incident is very unfortunate in that it created a substantial disruption to the school.”

I think the schools action caused a lot more disruption then the students video and FB page. Now they have kids circulating petitions and making t-shirts. The school should have addressed the concerns of the one parent and left it at that.

Posted 5/23/12 11:20 AM
 

Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it

Member since 5/05

30683 total posts

Name:
D

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by METLove2008

From the article:
The school superintendent released a statement saying the district is unable to comment on a matter involving any student, adding “the incident is very unfortunate in that it created a substantial disruption to the school.”

I think the schools action caused a lot more disruption then the students video and FB page. Now they have kids circulating petitions and making t-shirts. The school should have addressed the concerns of the one parent and left it at that.




Learning more and more. The student was NOT suspended for the video, but being insubordinent about NOT taking the bad language out of the video.

Posted 5/23/12 11:23 AM
 

nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.

Member since 7/05

57538 total posts

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Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by Diane

Learning more and more. The student was NOT suspended for the video, but being insubordinent about NOT taking the bad language out of the video.



Now this makes sense!But you cannot be arrested for insubordination??? I'm wondering where the threat of arrest came in for a 15 year old.

Posted 5/23/12 11:36 AM
 

METLove2008
LIF Adolescent

Member since 5/08

541 total posts

Name:
Ellie

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by nrthshgrl

Posted by Diane

Learning more and more. The student was NOT suspended for the video, but being insubordinent about NOT taking the bad language out of the video.



Now this makes sense!But you cannot be arrested for insubordination??? I'm wondering where the threat of arrest came in for a 15 year old.



I feel like I'm missing too much of the story to comment now. I'm reading the different news stories and they all have different info. One article says the concerned parent called the police who then contacted the school. Another article says there was no call made to police, the concerned parent contacted the school directly.

I'm reading that she gave them the FB password right away to remove the page and she removed the video from youtube but then was still suspended anyway (which caused her to re-post the video). Chat Icon

Posted 5/23/12 11:44 AM
 

rojerono
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Member since 8/06

13803 total posts

Name:
Jeannie

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by Diane


Learning more and more. The student was NOT suspended for the video, but being insubordinent about NOT taking the bad language out of the video.



You know what's funny? I didn't even notice the cuss words when I first watched the video. I was more concerned with her poor spelling and grammar.. and the fact that she's supposed to be 12 and looks much older.

So.. the bad words used to illustrate what kids actually say when cyber bullying was a bone of contention with the district.. fair enough. But exactly HOW insubordinate could she have been to incite this kind of reaction? Suspension? Threats of jail time? She must have REALLY thrown some fit.. did she threaten violence to the dean or damage school or personal property in a fit of teenage rage? Because unless she literally lost her -ish completely, I don't see that their reaction was remotely warranted. But.. what do I know.

Message edited 5/23/2012 11:55:27 AM.

Posted 5/23/12 11:54 AM
 

Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it

Member since 5/05

30683 total posts

Name:
D

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by nrthshgrl

Posted by Diane

Learning more and more. The student was NOT suspended for the video, but being insubordinent about NOT taking the bad language out of the video.



Now this makes sense!But you cannot be arrested for insubordination??? I'm wondering where the threat of arrest came in for a 15 year old.



she wasnt being arrested...just suspended.
She didnt show up for her central office hearing, because she went on the Today Show.
There is MORE to the story, but cant supposedly the school cant comment because it is being investigated. I think she is suing the school.

Message edited 5/23/2012 12:15:17 PM.

Posted 5/23/12 12:13 PM
 

PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)

Member since 7/08

19084 total posts

Name:
Jib

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by rojerono

Posted by Diane


Learning more and more. The student was NOT suspended for the video, but being insubordinent about NOT taking the bad language out of the video.



You know what's funny? I didn't even notice the cuss words when I first watched the video. I was more concerned with her poor spelling and grammar.. and the fact that she's supposed to be 12 and looks much older.




Right same here... and as a former teacher, I was so inclined to edit Chat Icon Chat Icon

I'm really glad that this has gained so much attention in the media and people are really behind her!

Posted 5/23/12 12:34 PM
 

GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!

Member since 11/06

26792 total posts

Name:
Shawn

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

UPDATE:
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/longwood-teen-back-in-school-suspension-lifted-1.3737937

Emerging from a meeting with her parents and Longwood school district officials Thursday morning, 15-year old Jessica Barba said her controversial suspension over an anti-bullying video had been lifted and that she was returning to classes.

Barba, speaking outside the district offices in Middle Island, said the suspension would be removed from her school record and that she will be back at Longwood High School, starting with her second-period science class later in the morning.

Barba said she had no regrets over her video and no hard feelings toward school officials.

"It's a good school, and they took a wrong and turned it into a right," she said.

"All I wanted was to go back to school and my friends and hand in my project."

Standing beside her, her father, Michael, called himself "the proudest father in the world."

The Barbas did not say if the school district apologized. Michael Barba said only that there were "more pressing" matters school officials were dealing with that led to confusion. He did not elaborate.

Jessica, her mother, Jody, and her father arrived at the school district office in Middle Island shortly after 7 a.m. without speaking to a group of reporters, who were waiting outside the building.

The fictional video, which ends with a student committing suicide over being bullied, was posted May 15 on YouTube. After complaints to school officials by at least one parent, Barba was suspended from school for one week on May 17.

On Wednesday, after appearing on the "Today" show with his wife and daughter, Michael Barba told Newsday of the meeting with school officials.

"I can't say too much," he said Wednesday. "I don't know too much. They reached out to me. It seems they want to get this resolved."

During the show, host Matt Lauer said there would be a suspension hearing later in the morning that the parents would miss, and both parents nodded in agreement.

Jessica said during the show that her video, which also included an anti-bullying Facebook page, had a disclaimer stating that the bullying victim, who commits suicide, was fictional. Lauer said it should have been simple for the parents to clear up the matter by printing out the Facebook page and showing it to the school.

"I did print it out and I brought it to them and they still, they didn't really care too much about that," Jody Barba said.

Michael Barba told Lauer that he hoped the matter would be resolved. "All I expect is her to be able to go back to school, erase the suspension, because it was a mistake, and be able to turn in the project," he said.

"This is a great project. There's thousands of people that love it. It can be fixed. This can be fixed, simple," he said.

The Suffolk County Police Department said Tuesday that "no crime has been committed" in the case.

Jessica Barba said she does not understand her suspension. "I don't get it."

Barba said she posted the anti-bullying video May 15 as part of a school project on persuasive speech. The next day, a school official told her she was suspended for a week, beginning May 17, she said.

While school officials have declined to comment on the suspension, they did say that a parent had notified police of the video.

With Jo Napolitano and William Murphy

Posted 5/24/12 9:06 AM
 

Otherme
Square head cutie pants

Member since 3/06

6899 total posts

Name:

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

why was the video posted to FB and/or YouTube before it was handed in to the teacher? i was confused about that..

I'm all for teens doing work to help resolve bullying - really.. i do think it's a very worthy cause.
But i have to admit that upon viewing the video - I thought the girl was older than 12 and way too pretty and perky (and booby) to be realistically portraying someone who was a victim of bullying and that the video seemed too produced to look like a class project.
But that's just the cynic in me Chat Icon

but i'm glad the whole thing was resolved and she's back in school (why they had to go on the Today show is beyond me as well)


Posted 5/24/12 2:56 PM
 

Jan1975
.

Member since 8/09

3846 total posts

Name:
Sarah

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

If this is what adminstration is wasting their time on then they must be out of their minds. They should be praising her for a job well done in getting a message across. Shame on them.

Posted 5/24/12 5:19 PM
 

bookworm
Two Little Rosebuds

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Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

I heard from someone who works in the district that this was handled severely because the girl was already on the radar for making a serious accusation against a teacher. I can't remember the details exactly (what the accusation was or what happened to the teacher) so I don't want to repeat them without being sure. But the vibe I got is that she earned a reputation for being...unsavory.

Posted 5/25/12 6:12 AM
 

Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it

Member since 5/05

30683 total posts

Name:
D

Re: Student suspended over anti-bullying project. (link to article with video)

Posted by bookworm

I heard from someone who works in the district that this was handled severely because the girl was already on the radar for making a serious accusation against a teacher. I can't remember the details exactly (what the accusation was or what happened to the teacher) so I don't want to repeat them without being sure. But the vibe I got is that she earned a reputation for being...unsavory.




It was her sister

Posted 5/25/12 10:33 AM
 
 
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