BULLIES SUSPENDED FOR FACEBOOK TAUNTS PRINCIPAL SAYS HE’S TAKING A STAND - The Gold Coast Bulletin

BULLIES SUSPENDED FOR FACEBOOK TAUNTS PRINCIPAL SAYS HE’S TAKING A STAND

A GOLD Coast principal is taking a stand against cyber bullies by suspending students who post abusive messages on Facebook. Steve McLuckie of Southport High School has already banned teenagers who have attacked the school, teachers and fellow students online. “I am not backing away from this,” Mr McLuckie said. “This type of bullying and harassment should not be tolerated.” A GOLD Coast principal has launched an unprecedented crackdown on cyber bullying, suspending any student who posts abusive messages on a school Facebook page. Southport High School principal Steve McLuckie has suspended a number of students behind a series of vicious cyber attacks on the public school meme page. The bold move has divided education heavyweights and the school community. Some parents say the principal is going too far and limiting their children’s right to free speech, but supporters praise Mr McLuckie for taking on ‘‘trolls’’ on the social network giant. ‘‘I am not backing away from this,’’ Mr McLuckie said. ‘‘ We are taking a stand. This type of bullying and harassment should not be tolerated.’’ The offensive messages have been posted on Facebook page Souhtport High Memes – with Southport spelled incorrectly – which has more than 500 likes. Yesterday the page was updated with comments including: ‘‘The only problem with this time of year is that I’m nt sure if it’s a Halloween costume or just another southport whore.’’ ‘‘All the Sputhport girls wear more make up then they do clothes.’’ Other posts ask students to name their least favourite teacher, sparking a tirade of abuse from past and present students. The page was created on August 23 and Mr McLuckie yesterday confirmed a number of students had been suspended. ‘‘It is not a private page, this is a public page. The comments are inappropriate and will not be tolerated,’’ he said. Mr McLuckie said the students were posting highly offensive material on a public page and had to understand it was unacceptable. ‘‘We, as a society, do not put up with anyone putting people down and belittling them,’’ he said. Parents have had a mixed reaction to the school’s tough stand, with some completely unaware their children were posting offensive material. Mr McLuckie said a number of parents and students had apologised, but not everyone was supportive. One mother, who asked not to be named, had two students at the Southport school and said they had a right to free speech. ‘‘They haven’t done anything wrong. They have posted on a Facebook site – so what?’’ she said.