Dec 7, 2009 6:33 pm US/Eastern
Students Suspended For Facebook 'Slapping' Threat
MENDON (WBZ) ―
Five middle school students have been suspended for a
Facebook page that threatened a faculty member.
A student at
Miscoe Hill School in Mendon started a Facebook page called "If 1,000 People Join This Group, I'll Slap Mrs. Meyer." The site referred to an assistant principal.
Police were called in to investigate after school officials were made aware of the web site. Students from both Mendon and Upton attend Miscoe Hill.
The creator of the Facebook page was suspended from school for ten days. The other four students were suspended for five days each, for posting what Superintendent Antonio Fernandes called inappropriate comments.
Fernandes said the student who started the web site was extremely apologetic, had no intention of actually slapping the administrator, and had never been in trouble before.
"That's the thing that's troubling because they're good kids. They're really good kids. Never displayed any issues in the past," said Fernandes.
He said the schools have a zero tolerance policy and he hopes this can become a teachable moment.
The suspended student's parent who talked with WBZ-TV said the punishment is too severe. "I certainly don't condone him posting any comment about a teacher at all. But he received 5 days of suspension and I think that is way too high." Other parents disagree.
"I don't think that's overreacting at all. I think it's a very unfortunate situation. I don't think it ever should have happened," said Christine Shepherd as she waited to pick up her child after school Monday.
Two additional negative Facebook groups started by Miscoe Hill students were also found. All three have now been removed from the social networking site.
At Miscoe Hill this week, students are now taking part in a school spirit week, in an effort to bounce back from the negative attention.
Reporter Ron Sanders contributed to this report.
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