ESF student expelled over 'offensive' website
A Sha Tin College student has been expelled for hosting an internet forum which classmates used to post messages criticising the school.
Clive Rand, 15, was expelled from the English Schools Foundation (ESF) school last week after his latest brush with principal David Cottam and teachers over his use of web technology. As Education Post went to press 127 students had signed a petition calling for his re-instatement. Other students have taken over the site.
On Monday, form tutors were instructed to read out a memo from assistant principal Christine Rowlands warning that there would be 'no tolerance' for those bringing the school into disrepute by participating in such forums.
'On Thursday of last week, one student from Year 10 was withdrawn ... because he was responsible for a website posted on the internet which contained offensive references to members of our school and community.' The site contained 'swear words and generally objectionable material designed to distress, offend and target both individuals and groups of people', the message said. 'We will show no tolerance for people who feel that they can bring the respectable name of the college into disrepute, harm and vilify others or use public forums in immoral ways.'Two other boys were suspended for contributing to the forum. 'They were suspended because they could be identified,' said Clive, who agreed to talk to the Post after another boy called to complain about the expulsion.
Clive, who lives in Tai Po, said: 'People don't even get expelled for taking drugs in our school. Have I really done anything worse?' He claims other students posted criticisms of the school. 'People were coming on and bashing the school. They didn't like that so they punished me,' said Clive, who has built and operates his own web server.
He said he set up the forum in response to 'injustices' over the handling of an earlier incident he was involved in. He was accused of sexual harassment by taking 'obscene' and 'indecent' photographs of girls' legs beneath a classroom desk and of posting the pictures on the internet. Although he regrets his involvement, he said two friends took the pictures, a story corroborated by another student.
Clive denies posting the pictures - of girls wearing 'skorts', shorts with skirt fronts - on a website. He said he put them in a protected folder so the girls could access them, after they had asked to see them.