On December 18th, 2015, Owatonna High School Sophomores Hannah and Paige were suspended for standing up to a group of freshmen for bullying a special education student. The week before, the senior boy was sitting alone at the lunch table that supposedly “belonged” to the group of freshmen students. The group sat at the table with him after planning to tell him that he needed to move tables because he was a “loner who has no friends,” and, therefore, did not need to sit at “their” table. Hannah and Paige overheard this conversation in the lunch line and witnessed the group sit with the senior boy. After witnessing the freshmen laughing and making fun of the boy until he got up and left, Hannah and Paige decided that was enough. They confronted the group of freshman, telling them that it was not right for them to bully this student, especially for something that is beyond his control. As a result, over a week later, Hannah and Paige were suspended for 4 school days. The group of freshmen was simply “talked to” about their bullying. After she was told that she was suspended, Hannah was told that she should wait outside for her mom to pick her up. When she refused because it was cold and snowing outside, and said that she would wait by the door instead, they threatened to handcuff her. The suspension happened about a week and a half after Hannah and Paige reported bullying to this boy happening from the same group of students. Hannah and Paige have both been victims of bullying in the past and nothing was done by the high school as a result, even though the parents were told that the situation would be taken care of. They did not want to see this vicious cycle continue, and, therefore, decided to advocate for this boy, yet ultimately were suspended. Owatonna school district needs to both strengthen their bullying policy as well as enforce it. Hannah and Paige were told the incident would be taken care of, yet the punishment was given to those standing up for the victim rather than those harming the victim. Hannah and Paige should not be punished for the 4 days of school that they missed, and the absences should not appear on their academic record. The boy who was bullied should receive a sincere apology from the group of freshmen, as well as be ensured that he will be protected from this type of bullying in the future. The group of freshmen bullies needs to be accountable for their words and actions, being punished appropriately. Sign this petition to stand with victims of bullying, as well as activists Hannah and Paige.
