Students at York Community High School are planning a walkout on Friday after videos of a special needs student being bullied by teenagers in a school bathroom went viral on social media.
The school stated that it handled the situation appropriately, but some parents and students believe the school should have done more.
“A lot of parents are upset because the school tried to downplay the incident,” Emma Gurecki, a junior at the high school, said. “This is a big deal, and it needs to be known.”
Officials at the school said in a statement:
“We are deeply disappointed and saddened by the actions of this small group of students. Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Such behaviors are not tolerated in Elmhurst District 205, and any student who chooses to engage in these behaviors will face the appropriate consequences. Throughout the day on Friday, students involved in the situation were interviewed and significant school consequences were issued. The investigation continued throughout the weekend and remains ongoing.”
Students at the school have organized a change.org petition calling for an immediate change in school disciplinary policies as well as punishment for the students featured in the videos.
The walkout is scheduled for around 1 p.m. at York High School during lunch.
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