HS Students suspended for blogging
By yoj118
@yoj118 (346)
Philippines
January 16, 2009 10:01am CST
As I watched the evening news the other day, I was shocked by the report where some High School students in a public school here in the Philippines have been suspended because of criticizing their school principal and other officials through their blog. The principal suspended the 4 HS students for 10 days as disciplinary action because according to her the blog was detrimental not only to her but to the entire school reputation as well.
Of course, the parents reacted to such action as "too harsh". It even made one of the kids suffered depression and the other showed signs of fear and humiliation according to them.
Though the suspension was approved by some of the DepEd Officials as just and necessary, some people and even myself still believe that it isn't right as we have the right to freedom of speech and expression and that these students are only expressing their opinions about the irregularities in their school.
Therefore, if the students have really proofs of such irregularities of their school head then it should also be laid down on the higher department and undergo proper investigation and probing. The school officials should also respect that students have their rights as well to be heard for their own opinions and explanations about the matter before reacting and giving sanctions or punishment.
2 people like this
10 responses
@paid2write (5201)
•
16 Jan 09
They still have the right to express their opinion, but everyone needs to understand the consequences of doing this. If a worker criticizes their employer on a blog, even if what they say is true, they will most likely lose their job. If what they post is not true, they could be sued.
Those students will know in future that any remarks they make about another person, or of an institution, on the internet will be reported back to that person or institution. Disciplinary or legal action may be taken against the blogger.
1 person likes this
@tkleyr (406)
• Philippines
17 Jan 09
Yes I agree with you for even we our absolute freedom we are responsible with this. Responsibility really matters when we practice our freedom.
It is against the rules of the school to disgrace whoever they are which affect the credibility of the school. It is normal that even if you do good and somebody makes you bad, the people around you will somehow think of something which is bad. So the proper way of addressing to this one is to have thorough investigation. Even media men were being sued for their writings.
@ethansmommy06 (401)
• United States
16 Jan 09
thats crazy. my question is what what was the harm? Those kids had an opinion and stated them. Didnt make it facts. Schools all over are getting ridiculas in my opinion. The teachers and staff spend too much time tending to nonsense instead of doing their job and teaching. The blogs posted is a very stupid reason to even approach these kids let along suspend them. 10 days geesh i hate to think what would happen if they got caught chewing gum!
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
17 Jan 09
i don't think the school is doing the right thing by straight away suspending the students straight away... the principal should do the investigations first and questioned the students why they are saying bad things about the school... i am also interested to know how the principal is able to get hold of these students' blog... i feel pity for the students... hopefully the matter can be sorted out soon... take care and have a nice day...
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
18 Jan 09
i think people who have a problem with internet blogging have nothing better to do. people are just being creative and expressing themselves, no matter what they write. i have read all kinds of things on the internet, and i take it as a form of entertainment, no matter what is written. i dont take internet blogging seriously. i just surf, explore and read all kinds of stuff for fun when i am bored. i see it as an internet adventure tour, trying to see what comes up this time.
@reichiru (748)
• Canada
17 Jan 09
I personally think they're being too harsh on the students. Those who have blogs and tend to complain are those who really value their education. Heck, even I've bashed a teacher once or twice on my own blog. I don't see anything wrong in expressing their opinion (of course, there's always consequences for anything you say), I just think they got unlucky that the school board found out and punished them for it.
@tholitz (1127)
• Philippines
17 Jan 09
Hi yoj118!
This issue have become a very hot topic in the news today. It had make a new twist when the Education Undersecretary have openly suggested that the students could filed a petition regarding their suspension.
I think there's nothing wrong with what the students have done unless what they have said in their blog was all false accusation and intended only to demeaning their principal.
We should thoroughly look into this matter before we jumped into any conclusion, since this involves not only the rights of the students but also the reputation of the principal.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
16 Jan 09
This is crazy. It makes me think if there was something that the principal is trying to hide. If this was the United States, there is no way that the school officials would have gotten away with suspending these students. It would be all over the news on how these students' First Amendment rights were trampled. I think an investigation should be started, because this wouldn't have started such an uproar unless there was something disclosed in that blog that the principal didn't want found out. I mean come on, all students dislike school, and say bad things about it. it doesn't raise any causes for alarm, unless there is some truth to what was said.
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
16 Jan 09
I absolutely agree with you. Blogging is a sort of self-expression and this should be allowed by a school. if they did not do anything wrong, then why not just let it go, In time truth will always come out. This also shows that bloggers are powerful and they could expose wrongdoings in the government. Poor students. 
@bing28 (3795)
• Philippines
17 Jan 09
If the blog of the students mainly to express their opinion on how they see the wrongdoings of the principal, it's alright they have the freedom of speech. accusing however or saying bad things about their principal and other school officials thru their blogs true or not can be held them liable. First student must have their respect to the principal. Should there are irregularities they can go to the Dept of Educ. or higher departments assigned to handle this issues. The pricipal can impose disciplinary action against these students but maybe lighter than a ten day suspension. We know thant even one day of absence from the school affects the student's grade. How much more the ten days.
