Students suspended, expelled from Vancouver private school for boys after ‘offensive behaviour online’
Posted October 18, 2019 7:10 am.
Last Updated October 18, 2019 1:30 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A number of students have been either suspended or expelled from a private school for boys in Vancouver because of what is being described as “deeply offensive behaviour online.”
St. George’s School isn’t revealing exactly how many kids have been disciplined, but in an e-mailed statement it says “a number of our students were involved in deeply offensive behaviour online” and “a number of boys have been suspended and several have been expelled” after an investigation.
The school doesn’t expand on what kind of offensive content came to light, but students outside the school on Thursday told Postmedia the incident happened last week and relates to a private social media messaging group.
Apparently up to 15 students, most of them in Grade 10, were in the group, which was used to share posts and pictures offensive to certain races, cultures, and religions.
In the e-mailed statement, the school says the online behaviour contravened the Student Code of Conduct and Core Values, and that its investigation involved contacting the Vancouver Police Department school liaison officer. The school had said an officer confirmed this wasn’t a criminal matter, however the VPD says it is still investigating.
The school says confidentiality obligations prevent it from providing any more information.
The Ministry of Education says it will be conducting an inspection of St. George’s School next month in light of the incident, to ensure the school’s “policies and operations are in line with the Independent School Act.”
In a statement to NEWS 1130, the ministry says schools are places of learning, and that racism is unacceptable and not tolerated.
“Any report of racist behaviour is very concerning. As soon as the ministry became aware of this incident it immediately contacted the school,” it says. “Government has ensured that all of B.C.’s independent schools have Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policies in line with the BC Human Rights Code that foster the protection of students from all forms of bullying, regardless of their gender, race, culture, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include that the VPD is still investigating, despite the school saying an officer had confirmed it was not a criminal matter.
