Pupil’s war crime claim goes viral
Ava says teacher broke Geneva Conventions
An 11-year-old girl from Cambuslang has become an internet sensation after claiming her school had committed a war crime.
Ava Bell made the claim on a teacher feedback form which her dad Gavin photographed and posted on Twitter.
“Not sure if I should ground her or buy her ice cream,” Gavin mused on the tweet, which has been liked by 531,000 people.
Ava’s complaint was that a teacher had issued a collective punishment when only one person had misbehaved.
This, she said, broke the 1949 Geneva Convention and was a war crime.
Her author dad Gavin, who writes as Mason Cross, said: “I should clarify that she thinks her teacher is awesome.
“It’s just this aspect of the educational justice system she has an issue with.”
Explaining that he came across the feedback form in a folder at a parent teacher evening, Gavin said he was not at all surprised by her response.
Stating she was 11 going on 47, he said: “It was completely in character. It’s the sort of thing she does, she will always Google things. She does have a Google habit, she likes finding out about new things. She has obviously heard of the Geneva Conventions and looked it up.” Commenting on the online attention, Gavin said he was blown away by the 164,000 people who shared it on social media.
He said: “I thought it was quite funny. I thought it would get some retweets with our friends and family.
“I posted it and went into a meeting. When I came out it went up to 3,000 likes, It was very unexpected. Ava is taking it all in her stride.”
Commenting on the Gavin’s tweet @PattyArquette wrote: “There will be a time soon when she leaves the nest and you will be very happy that she is strong and won’t take any grief.”
@GenStans added: “Ava for Prime Minister!”
And presented with the choice between ice cream or punishment, Twitter users overwhelmingly voted in favour of the sweet treat.