Is it fair to punish all for the actions of some?

Question

My daughter has done welding in high school all year and planned to do it throughout high school. A few weeks ago they had a substitute teacher and there was a kid who was already known to be bullied a lot. What my daughter told me she saw was some kids decided to BRAND him. They actually pulled his shorts down and branded his thigh while other kids held him down. No idea if where the sub was during this. Nobody knew what happened until 5th period. It happened in 2nd period. I'm not sure why he waited so long to tell anybody but police were called. I received an email and my daughter was told today that they have decided to cut the welding program. So many kids are devastated about it. I mean why punish ALL for the price of a few kids. Some of us parents are thinking about going to the school board to complain that all our kids are being punished for the fault of a few. My daughter enjoys welding and it showed her that as a female she can do a male dominated career. Is this fair in your eyes?

Answer

They probably had to for liability purposes. It’s not fair, but I can see why they made that decision.

Answer

Its not about being fair or unfair. Its also not a punishment. An violent assault occurred in the classroom and no adult knew. This is a huge liability. The school clearly cant operate a safe welding classroom environment. I wouldnt want my kid in that environment.

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Why didn’t anyone else come forward immediately? Jesus. Why didn’t your daughter get an adult, immediately?!?!?! The kids involved need to go to jail, and everyone who just sat and watched should be punished.

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I'm sorry but I have a huge problem with the fact that you are more compassionate to your daughter, who is losing a class that she enjoyed OVER tha kid that is "known to be bullied" as if the "known fact" excuses him being branded or any other mental or physical torture they have put him through. It doesn't, kids tortured another person with bystanders there, INCLUDING your daughter and NOBODY ACTED! and nobody told an adult afterwards so he could receive medical care. She deserves the punishment just like every one in that class.

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You will get nowhere with a complaint about them cutting the program. Your daughter sat by, watched, and didn’t tell anyone??? Why? This boy was assaulted, plain and simple, and will have a PERMANENT mark that will always remind him of this incident and those students. It’s 10000% fair that the program was cut. Again, there were bystanders who said nothing? They’re complicit in this. I don’t see any way the school will reverse their decision, and I personally don’t think they should. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

I think this is 100% fair, why did no one go and get someone while it was happening? How would you feel if this happened to your daughter? I know for me if it was my child I would make sure it was shut down so the same thing didn’t happen to someone else’s child. Also that could be a huge law suit for the school so they probably had no choice but to shut it down. Your daughter will be fine that’s why they have schools after high school for that. It’s probably a good learning experience to actually do something rather than stand and watch.

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Yikes. By all means, go to the BoE, but I would think that this ship has sailed. This is a very major assault, and closing down the program may be in compliance of things that are occurring behind the scenes. It sucks for you student, but don't you think it sucks more for the poor kid who got BRANDED? It wasn't a safe learning environment. I would not want my kid in that environment.

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Its not about what is fair or not fair for the kids that didnt participate. A CHILD was forcefully held down and BRANDED in the middle of class with no apparent adult around. This is a HUGE safety and liability issue. They were likely met with "either shut down the program for good or face a mega lawsuit". Everyone always thinks "my kid would never do that" until their kid does that. The school has absolutely no way of knowing if this incident or even wirse would occur again and after what already happened it is a LOT safer for the all of the other kids. If you want your kid to continue welding, then invest in her. Buy her all the equipment she needs and let her practice at home to build up her skills so she can eventually become an apprentice when she is old enough.

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A child was deliberately and criminally physically harmed. That trumps whether or not this is fair for anyone else. It's not fair for that child who was hurt. Safety should be the top priority. It would be a huge liability to continue having this class.

Answer

I dont think the school had much of a choice given the situation. You could reach out to the regular teacher to see if theres any.alternative in your area, maybe an afterschool program at another school.

Is it fair to punish all for the actions of some?

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