UPDATE: 15 August 2014, 11:30am – Although the report filed by the pupil’s lawyer to the commission stated that he was bullied and victimised for his views on Gaza, the South African Board of Jewish Education said it was a pity that the matter had escalated to the level at which it has.
Falconer said when the pupil reported that he was allegedly being bullied, the pupil also cited that Falconer had not shaken his hand when he was announced as a student leader.
Falconer admitted this happened, because he didn’t “see” the pupil in question. “He [the pupil] also told me that myself and the head of Hebrew had not attended his discussion. At the time of his discussion, we both had commitments that were planned well in advance and I explained this to him,” said Falconer.
According to Falconer, a previous incident involving another King David pupil – namely Joshua Broomberg – could have fuelled this particular pupil and his parents to go public with the story. “I would like to emphasise, however, that the [most recent] incident had nothing to do with the pupil’s views on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, but rather about him addressing his issues on the correct platform,” said Falconer.
Some of the posts on the Facebook page which, according to Falconer, made him address the school read, “Dear grade 10’s, to those of you who are annoyed [by] Grade 11’s stealing the Grade 8 [girls] away from you, you do realize that there are way more than just two hot girls in Grade 8?”
Initial report: 14 August 2014, 3:30pm – Speaking to the North Eastern Tribune on the school’s premises, head of the school, Marc Falconer, said the Grade 12 pupil’s claim that he was victimised for his views on Israel are not true.
The pupil in question has laid a complaint against the school at the South African Human Rights Commission.
He said when a page was created on social networking website, Facebook, he became concerned when most of the posts were targeted at certain individuals. The page, called KD Confessions , allows for students at the school to post about various topics anonymously.
“As a result of some of the posts on the page, we had four pupils that underwent psychiatric treatment as they were on the verge of suicide,” he said.
Falconer said when he noticed that the page had become political [relating to the Middle East conflict] and that the said pupil was posting actively, he suggested to him and his parents that he address his concerns and views in a formal manner.
He said, “I suggested to him that instead of posting his views on the page, he should rather create a constructive platform where discussions could be held and that he was welcome to invite his own speakers. At the time, both he and his parents were happy about the suggestion.”
On 8 October 2013, the pupil resigned from the student representative council.
According to an article on The Times website (14 August 2014), Falconer wrote a school newsletter explaining that the pupil’s leadership role would be “deferred” for a short time as he “had engaged in a debate that was not appropriate in the of forum Facebook and nor bringing anything complimentary for the school”.
The pupil was not named, but his lawyers claim that everyone knew who he was. The Times goes on to say that the complaint at the Commission alleged the pupil was singled out in the newsletter, “humiliated” and that his Constitutional right to freedom of expression was violated.
According to Falconer, after receiving complaints from the pupil and his parents, he offered to make an apology to him. “I drafted an apology letter which his lawyer accepted and I read it during assembly,” said Falconer.
However, the pupil has since lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission, citing cyber bullying due to his so-called ‘anti-Israel’ stance. According to The Times, all student leaders of King David schools have to sign a contract that states their support the State of Israel.
Falconer said he was saddened that the pupil reportedly felt that his right to freedom of expression had been violated. “In the first place I suggested that he organise the forum because I wanted him to discuss his views in a constructive way while exercising his right,” said Falconer.
This is a developing story, more updates will follow as they become available.
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