‘We Take Incidents Of This Nature Very Seriously’
Following the circulation of at least two videos showing teenagers fighting, the Department of Education said they “take incidents of this nature very seriously” and “any student found to be involved in any act of violence, or supporting bullying behaviours that bring harm or serious emotional distress to others, and posing a threat will face strong and immediate consequences.”
At least two videos, which appear to have been filmed with camera phones, are circulating via email and social media, both showing young girls being attacked by other girls. One takes place in the streets of Hamilton, while another appears to be in a park.
A spokesperson said, “The Department of Education has today issued a stern warning to students regarding violence during travel to and from schools.
The Department spokesperson stated: “The Department of Education is aware of the recent sharing via social media of public attacks of violence involving students in the public school system. We take incidents of this nature very seriously.
“The Department of Education is committed to providing safe, secure and caring environments for all of our students during school or in the course of travel to and from school.
“Any student found to be involved in any act of violence, or supporting bullying behaviours that bring harm or serious emotional distress to others, and posing a threat will face strong and immediate consequences.
“We seek the collaborative support of parents and ask that they have conversations with their children regarding bullying and violence, and the potential impact on the students themselves.
“The community is encouraged not to share these acts irresponsibly as this often prolongs both the suffering and bullying that is intended. Such acts are and could be deemed aiding and abetting the violence, thus risking one to serious reprimands according to the law.
“It is our hope that the collaborative efforts of parents, the Department of Education and the community at large will help to deter children from any involvement in cheering, participating, videotaping, or inciting fights.”
Will they be banned for 4 home games??? 2 if they go to a meeting??? Doubt anyone knows what being seriously delt with means on this island…
If they don’t ban MP’s for fighting there’s really little hope and the incident you refer to shows the club really has no clue how disgusting that fan’s behaviour really was.
Really! I saw shocking video of grown Man City fans singing disgusting songs about the Busby Babes / plane crash. Been in stadiums where Italian fans openly and loudly make monkey chants whenever a black player touched the ball. There has been / is very little punishment meted out in these circumstances. In short, the issue is world wide….
…………..and what is your point? We should accept this type of primitive behaviour as being acceptable because it happens during football games or in other parts of the world? These were teenage girls trying to inflict serious harm on one another. As a community we should all be disgusted and act accordingly to make sure our daughters, sons, family members know that violence of this nature is not acceptable under any circumstance!
GEORGE YOU MISSED HIS POINT BOUT THE FANS’ BEHAVIOUR NOT THE FIGHT IN EUROPEAN FOOTBALL FANS BEHAVE 1000 TIMES WORSE THEN IN BERMUDA AND THEY HAVE CCTV AROUND ALL STADIUMS AND STREETS AND YET THEY STILL CANT STAMP IT OUT IM NOT SAYING ITS RIGHT BUT WHAT PHC DONE IS A START CREDIT FOR THEM THAT AND MOVE ON. LOOK AT THE CHELSEA FANS WHO, INT OW SEPEARTE OCCASIONS RACIALLY ABUSED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAD NO RELATION TO FOOTBALL. SO CREDIT THEM FOR WHA T THEY DID AND HOPE IT IS A DETERRENT FOR OTHERS.
the incident in the park is over a year old. The girls were punished and now are good friends.
Why so many dislikes? Is this untrue?
I saw someone post one of these on Facebook and it literally brought me to tears – this is disgusting behaviour, the one girl was smashing the other girl’s head on the telephone pole.
Children should not be scared to walk along the streets of Bermuda or in the hallways of their schools, these should be safe places. The parents of these children should be ashamed of the types of children they have raised, as at some point this behaviour was clearly was made ‘acceptable’.
An example should be made of these girls because their identity is clearly visible in these videos.
I’m reasonably certain that they are not proud, but given their age I would like to think that they are supportive and won’t hang them out to dry like some on this blob would have them do.
…………..and what is your point? We should accept this type of primitive behaviour as being acceptable because it happens during football games or in other parts of the world? These were teenage girls trying to inflict serious harm on one another. As a community we should all be disgusted and act accordingly to make sure our daughters, sons, family members know that violence of this nature is not acceptable under any circumstance!
i watched both videos SO i expect to see some type of recourse NOW! All parties involved are easily identifiable, thanks to some one recording this whether to post n boast or just to have concrete evidence for a GBH case. For any “child” to attack with such voracity wreaks of mental instability…some grave underlying issues for sure…needs investigating.
If you physically touch any family member then off with your head, no doubt!!… should your punishment be the same because you stepped on my shoes..?? THINK.
It is my hope that the Department of Education really does administer ‘strong and immediate consequences’ to those who engaged in this type of behavior. For too long, we have pacified our community, and given false understandings to our young people, by excusing bad behavior as the fault of education, home environments, or economic struggles. When will we hold them accountable for their actions. Our young people make decisions daily and sometimes see that their actions do not have consequences. So they continue to engage in behavior that, had it been addressed earlier, would not be so extreme now. This is an opportunity to state LOUD and CLEAR that as a community, this kind of activity is unacceptable, and will have a ‘natural’ consequence, more than the proverbial ‘slap on the wrist’.
DOE? So some vacation time and a don’t do that again speech? I’m certain a lengthy community service sentence and mediation sessions won’t be on the table.
No clear punishment outlined. No mention of expulsion, banning from school premises, or as PP noted, mandatory counseling sessions.
Another ghost written speech, delivered by another sheep of the DOE.
I saw both videos today! This is ridiculous behavior! These kids need to be thrown in boot camp!!
they need a cut a**
Sad but expect more, especially with this year’s pic of kids going to one school in September. I swear every one that said im going that school got in even the the ones failing middle school.i know of 4 personally that are the biggest bullie, disruptive in class and school always picking fights and they all got in. All I can say is wow education gone to the pits these particular childrens parents dont give a crap, so everyone else’s children as to suffer. Getting expelled for them is a game so what punishment does government have in mind. I would love to know.
My daughter was the victim of the assault.I immediately contacted the police and it was dealt with in the courts.Illegal behavior dealt with by Bermuda’s legal forces – To Serve and Protect the Public. I was made aware of the post last night and sent out my own asking that the video be deleted if shared. The original poster contacted me and stated it was deleted. My questions to all human beings is why do we view and share the pain and suffering of other humans? It broke my heart that we had to go through this traumatic event again but on facebook, a year later ! Have we become so hardened that viewing someone child , their baby, being beaten is entertainment? I also ask what are the adults doing to help and support our youth / community? Do you volunteer with Big Brothers / Big Sisters? Mirrors Programme? Do you attend PTSA Meetings? or do we click through facebook and Bernews and share and comment thinking “I done my part, I am outraged!!” The girls are not friends with my daughter but they are not enemies either , I have supported my daughter to move past this event , let it go. I respectfully ask that the community help her do this by not sharing this video anymore. Thank you , a Heart Broken Mum
I think if anything should come out of the sharing of these abhorrent videos – is that we as a community should now be disgusted/shocked enough to act to try and prevent this ever happening again!
What does “strong and immediate consequences” mean? Sounds like hot air, with no strength behind it.
So well said!!!!!
They are so quick to film everything these days. So desperate for excitement in their lives. Why don’t they put them in the stocks for a day or even better, put them in the ducking stool at let tourists film them. Hey this might even help with our tourist arrivals………
Type Bermuda fights in youtube…surprising how many have been filmed for fun. Loads taking place in victoria park…
Sick part is how excited the onlookers get. The one at the beach fest finished with these three females getting almost ecstatic when they learn it is two brothers fighting – no wonder younger kids think this is alright
There is NO real discipline anymore – like there used to be years ago!! The bar has been “dropped” very low these days – that most of the youth have NO respect for their parents, teachers and elders-in-general like the good old days of the past!!
People in authority are generally laughed at these days – NOT by everyone but the % figure has certainly increased over the years!!
And there will be a price-to-pay for this as well – there always is!!
no daddys
I am a single mother and my children have never and will never act like this. Their father has not been involved in raising them. They are well-mannered, hard-working, considerate, helpful. They also volunteer at various charities. It is all about how you raise them from when they are young. I never had any issues with temper tantrums as well when they were toddlers. My whole focus has been on my children. I have sacrificed so that they always come first in everything – whether it is to spend time with them or to ensure that they are clothed and fed before I am.
Unfortunately, some parents – whether single parent homes or married couples do not take the time to teach their children, set schedules, limits etc. Take the time to explain how things should be. What they learn when they are small will carry on when they are adults.
Unfortunately this isn’t unique to Bermuda, it’s a cultural issue. People now love to see other people fighting and/or making a fool of themselves. The Department can comment as much as they like but the issue is BEYOND them. Let’s be realistic it’s nothing that the Dept can do as far as the filming is concerned whether we like it or not
everyone knows that the BDA court system and their judges are WEAK
I was on the bus yesterday heading home and I could hear young girls talking about this particular fight… These kids really don’t understand the effects of bullying… I don’t know if this helps but from what I could hear, the girl who issued the beating goes to Whitney Middle School in M3, and the victim supposedly attends Berkeley in either S2 or S3. All these kids running around with a chip on their shoulder… What are you trying to prove… Think about it, in 10 years will these “Fights” actually matter? Wake up…