By ALESHA CAPONE
A SHOCKING video clip of a fight between Hoppers Crossing Secondary College students has been posted – and removed from – YouTube.
The video, discovered in a special Star investigation, was uploaded onto the website just over two weeks ago.
However, after Star contacted the school and the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (VDEECD) about the film clip, the students involved were suspended and the footage was removed from the internet.
The film clip was viewed almost 40 times before it was deleted.
The video featured a crowded school corridor, with a young male pupil seemingly running away from an older student.
The younger student hits out after being caught by the older boy, who strikes back.
The camera showed the younger boy falling onto the ground, before other students step in to stop the fight.
YouTube said they took down the footage because its content violated their terms of service.
Hoppers Crossing Secondary College principal Wayne Terrill said the school was “very vigilant when it comes to dealing with issues of bullying and cyber bullying” and taught pupils about online safety.
“Our school is a safe and caring school and it is very upsetting when an isolated incident like this occurs and has the potential to affect our good reputation, where the overwhelming majority of our 1250 students do the right thing,” he said.
“The school has been in contact with the families of the students involved and those students – including the student who filmed the fight and uploaded it online – were suspended in line with our school’s Student Engagement Policy
“I am taking this incident very seriously.
“This incident is not in the spirit of our school at all.
“We teach tolerance and respect and responsible behaviour – both online and off – in classes to all students at every year level.”
A VDEECD spokeswoman said the department “has zero tolerance for any form of bullying or violence, is aware of this incident, and supports the action taken by the school”.
