Facebook case: Punishment to students diluted after parents protest

Earlier,it was stated that all the 16 students have to undertake social service every day after school hours once they join back the school on November 15 till December 24. Now with the recent modification,the students are asked to stay back after school hours only once a week to give presentation in the form of decorating the blackboards in the library. Six different topics have been given to them.

“The parents had a detailed discussion with the school authorities on the pick and choose policy that was adopted by them as three students were spared the punishment. Though the school principal P K Singh chose not to be present in the meeting,the parameters of the punishment were diluted. Also,the parents requested the authorities on considering over reduction in the punishment as the students have already undergone sufficient mental trauma,” shared one of the parents of these 16 students.

As per the previous instructions issued by the school,all the parents were asked to be present after school hours when their wards would be undergoing the activities in the school. Now,with the amendments,all the 16 students have been divided into four groups and an arrangement of inviting parent of only one students from each group (parents of total four students) has been made out.

In addition to this,the students were asked to perform other social service. This would include social service to blind-one hour each week. This would come out to be total of six hours.

Though denying the move of dilution of the punishment,the Chairman of the school H S Mamik commented,“The students have to take the punishment,they are not spared from it. The stand of the school remains highly against the act by the students.”

History

The case pertains to the suspension of 16 students of Class XII on October 6 by the school authorities for three months when it was revealed that the class has started a hate campaign against the Maths teacher when she awarded zero marks to one of the students. Other 15 students joined him when he posted his answer sheet online on Facebook by giving derogatory remarks against the teacher. The students,though initially suspended for a week were later suspended for three months. This was opposed by the students,their parents and a section of society. Later,the school reduced the suspension till November 15 but with three conditions including-the students not to be a part of the week long school Founder’s Day celebrations and the function,to be detained everyday for one hour after school starting from November 15 till December 24 for community and social services programmes and each student to submit a written apology in the form of a 500 word essay on the incident expressing remorse and apology to the entire teaching fraternity. Recently,it was reported by the Newsline that three students were spared from the punishment and allowed to participate in the school activities.