EAST NAPLES, Fla. — One Naples parent is voicing her anger and frustration over her son's suspension following a fight caught on-camera.
The student's mom says the video of the brawl at East Naples Middle School clearly shows her 13-year old son was not the aggressor.
It happened earlier this week inside one of the school's bathrooms.
The parent says she first found out about the fight when the school called her to inform her on Wednesday.
She says she was initially okay with the five-day suspension until her son, who is legally blind, explained why the fight happened, and she found the video of the fight in her son's phone.
“Someone sent him the video as bullying, saying look at what happened to you,” said the mom, who wishes to remain anonymous.
“I spoke with my son this morning, and he tells me that this is not the first time a fight happens in the boys' bathroom while other boys film and they’ll bully whoever backs out of a fight, calling them names like chicken."
After watching the video and learning about the bullying, the mom says she went to talk to the school about changing her son's punishment but didn't get the answer she was looking for.
“The school says that if he agreed to fight, then he’s also responsible for the fight,” said the mom.
In a statement a spokesperson for Collier School District said:
"The incident was investigated by Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) administrators in cooperation with the Youth Relations Bureau deputy from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. Disciplinary action was dispensed in accordance with the CCPS Code of Student Conduct. Details regarding individual student discipline are part of a student’s academic record under FERPA and therefore, confidential and exempt from public disclosure."
“As a mom, it’s painful to watch that video, and I think it’s unfair,” said the mom.
