Bullying in high school is an enduring problem all over the world and affects millions of teens every year. Despite the many initiatives which have tried to curtail abusive behaviour in the classroom, the issue is still pertinent. In fact, evidence suggests that the rate of bullying has actually increased. The National Education Association reports that approximately 83 per cent of girls and 79 per cent of boys surveyed claimed that they experienced some form of verbal or physical harassment on a daily basis at high school, and furthermore, that an estimated 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students.
Furthermore, cyberbullying has become even more pressing now that social media has become so widespread. The Cyberbullying Research Centre reports that around 23 per cent of the teens surveyed stated that they had been cyberbullied at some point during their school career, while 13 per cent admitted that they had cyberbullied others at some point in their lives. Bearing all this in mind, one would think that a viral video designed to spread awareness of bullying would be welcomed by school authorities. Yet recently a teenage girl was suspended from high school, apparently because the YouTube video she made to spread awareness of bullying ended up seriously upsetting her principal.
Emily Gipson is a student at Lebanon High School in the town of Lebanon, Tennessee. Outraged over the bullying-provoked suicide of a classmate in October of 2017, Gipson created a YouTube video entitled: "Welcome to Lebanon High School" where she used poetry to rail against bullying in the school and sharply criticised the school administration's attitude towards the issue.
"Posters say ‘Smile’ and ‘Be happy,’" Gipson stated, "but how am I supposed to be happy in a world -no, in a community - where creativity is put down, where the people who make fun of others never get punished because ‘There’s no proof,’ or ‘There’s nothing we can do about it,’ or, my favourite, ‘Kids will be kids?' So let’s summarise: We’re expected to come to this emotional prison every day, and we’re expected to forgive the bullies because the authorities are sure they didn’t mean it. Sometimes I wonder how many kids it takes dying to make a difference."
The video quickly went viral, and now boasts over 900,000 views. However, a few days after the video was uploaded, 16-year-old Gipson found herself suspended from school for two days after her principal took offence.
In an interview with local newspaper The Lebanon Democrat, Gipson stated: "I got a lot of positive feedback from students, but I was called out of class by my principal and vice principal. They sat me down and had a really long talk with me about it. They sent me back to class, but they pulled me out of class again fifth block, and that was when they told me about my punishment. They gave me in-school suspension because they said I was trying to incite violence while on the school campus. I didn’t have any intentions to incite any kind of violence. Everyone sees my message their own way, and if that’s how they see it, then so be it."
However, Lebanon High School Principal Scott Walter has defended his administration's decision to suspend Gipson, stating that her video hurt the feelings of teachers and parents alike, and was filmed on school campus without permission. Walter claims that he has received feedback from parents and students who disagreed with Gipson's video and applauded his disciplinary measures, as well as the school's response to the issue of classroom bullying.
In an interview with The Lebanon Democrat, Walter claimed: "I can appreciate the perspective of the video ... She’s 16, and her perspective is going to be different from mine. Of course, she does have her right to free speech. What I did have a problem with was that it was videoed on school campus in a classroom without the teacher’s permission. It would have been better if she had done it at home and away from school."
Emily's grandfather and guardian Kenneth Gipson states that he is proud of his granddaughter's awareness-raising video and for her eloquence, stating: "I applaud her for taking a stance. She’s speaking against something that is obviously an issue in today’s society - today’s schools especially. I don’t have a problem with the videos at all. I wish she hadn’t of done the first one the way she did it inside the classroom, but as far as the message goes, I’m all for the message. I think she’s done a great job in bringing to light a very sensitive and needed subject."
As for Emily herself? She just seems proud to have inspired others. In a follow-up YouTube video, entitled: "Have I Made a Difference Yet?”, she stated: "I never knew that it would get this big, and through it getting this big I’ve learned a lesson: This is not my school, this is everyone’s school, this is a national problem."
If you or anyone else you know has been affected by the issues raised by Emily's video, then please don't hesitate to visit the National Bullying Helpline for advice and relevant resources.
