Annapolis Valley student who publicized rape-themed shirt has suspension revoked
The Annapolis Valley student who was suspended after she publicized a photo of a rapethemed shirt worn by another student at her school has had her punishment revoked.
Kenzie Thornhill said on April 10 that West Kings District High School principal Donna Baker, who had been off for the previous week, asked her to come to school the previous morning.
“The school board revoked it, but Ms. Baker was the one who told me it was revoked,” Kenzie said. “It's going to be removed from my permanent record.”
Kenzie, 17, took a picture of the back of the shirt on April 1, the day before the Easter long weekend. The shirt had screen-printed lyrics on the back in the fashion of the Christmas song Deck the Halls, but included the line "'Tis the season to be rapey.”
Kenzie showed the picture to a teacher and hall monitor, who said it would be dealt with. Because she was so offended by the shirt and personally knows people who are victims of sexual violence, she also posted the image on social media.
When she came to school on the following Tuesday, she said, she was told by a viceprincipal that the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education told the school to suspend her for sharing the picture, although it only showed the shirt and the student wearing it was unidentifiable in the image.
The student wearing the shirt, which violated the school's code of conduct policy, wasn't punished.
Kenzie called the AVRCE to appeal the suspension but said it was suggested to her that if she didn't stop sharing what had happened on social media, her graduation could be at risk. There was also a suggestion that she could be
Icharged with cyber-bullying, even though she didn't name or show the student.
It all led students to walk out of class in the afternoon on April 8 in protest and support, with a number of girls wearing spaghetti straps and short shorts and skirts, and exposing their bras to violate the code of conduct.
Kenzie said there was no reason given for the revocation of the suspension, just the notice that it had happened.
“I didn't get an apology or anything,” she said.
“I should have got one and I don't understand why I didn't.”
She told the principal that she wants one from the AVRCE, the employee who she said suggested her graduation could be in jeopardy, and the vice-principal who enforced the suspension.
“I would like those to be public but, if not public, just to me is fine,” she said. "Ms. Baker said that she would talk to those three levels and see what she could do.” Kenzie went back to her studies in school right after the meeting with the principal. “(Students) saw me in the halls and at lunch and recess, and everyone was glad that I was back in,” she said.
Kenzie said she was told by a staff member that the student who wore the shirt has since had some consequences, but that they couldn't be disclosed.
She said she's not sure about that, but she does know that he had been seen in school in the days after the picture was taken.
“I've heard some people say that he didn't have any consequences, and that the most he might be doing is online school for his own protection.”
Kenzie said last week that she didn't want people to harass the student.
She said would be relieved if there was, in fact, some kind of punishment, “because that was the point we were trying to make.”
But, she said, “at this point, this has grown to so much more than just someone wearing the shirt. It's about always being told to keep quiet in these situations, and the school board trying to keep things hush-hush.”
She said she's received messages from around the world on social media offering support and saying the AVRCE was in the wrong. But, she said, some people are also sharing their own stories of incidents they experienced - including at West Kings in the past - or telling her they have been victims of sexual violence.
“My messenger is flooded. I wish I could respond to every single person, but it's blown up to the point now that I can't get back to everyone. I've been trying to,” she said. “It's been amazing... It's just overwhelming.”
She said she's glad that she and the students of the school were able to bring attention to the larger issue.
The AVRCE provided a statement on April 9 from Dave Jones, the regional executive director.
“The school has revisited the decisions made in recent days related to discipline and we are having positive dialogue with students and staff on the issue of sexual violence,” Jones said. “This is an opportunity to engage with students on important topics. We want all students to feel safe and supported and we want all students to feel they can report any incident at their school or within their school community.”
He said any language that promotes sexual violence “is never acceptable or tolerated at our schools, and it was not acceptable in this instance.”
The statement said specific details about this incident will not be shared because of privacy reasons.
The statement didn't respond to questions about why it was the AVRCE and not the school that issued the suspension, or Kenzie's allegation that she was told she was damaging the school's reputation, and that it was suggested to her by an AVRCE employee that her graduation could be at risk if she continued to share the photo.
The centre also didn't respond to what kind of discipline had been handed out in the past at the school for shirts that violate the school's code of conduct, or if any action had been taken against the student.
In an email on April 9, Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development spokeswoman Violet MacLeod said the department was made aware of the situation.
“There’s no place for language or behaviour that promotes sexual violence in our schools,” she wrote. “We are thankful that the student came forward, we want all students to feel safe and supported to report any incidents at their schools or within their school community.”
MacLeod said that Education Minister Derek Mombourquette asked his deputy minister, Cathy Montreuil, and senior staff to contact the AVRCE about the issue.
“We’ve been assured the school has reached out to the student who reported the incident and will be working with them to make sure they feel heard and supported.”