Bullied student gets apology / School recognizes problem, but victim asked to leave over 'anxiety'
News On Japan via Yomiuri -- Sep 18

A private high school in Sendai has apologized to a second-year student who suffered cigarette burns and other bullying by his classmates, but was asked to leave school because his scars might make other students feel "anxiety," according to sources.

According to the victim's mother and the school, a reinvestigation committee set up by the school has determined the boy suffered acts of physical violence inflicted by several students. It added the school should recognize that using a cigarette to leave burns was an act of bullying, and it "defied common sense" to think that leaving 22 burns on the victim's arm was acceptable.

The school admitted it had been "inconsiderate" to ask the bullied student to voluntarily leave before it had fully grasped the extent of the bullying. School officials apologized to him and his family Saturday night.

Source: Yomiuri


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