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Noblesville principal debunks teen suicide rumors, calls on students to THINK before posting online

Principal debunks rumors about teen in video
Posted at 10:15 PM, Jan 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-23 22:16:45-05

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. -- After a rumor that a Noblesville student involved in an inappropriate social media post had committed suicide began circulating on social media, the teen's principal sent a message to parents and students debuking the claim and condemning them for their actions toward the student and his family. 

The video shows a 17-year-old student draped in a Nazi flag while shouting racial slurs. 

That student told RTV6 that he did it as a "dare" and he's ashamed of himself for doing it, but since that post became public, the teen and his family have been at the center of intense criticism from the community. 

READ | Noblesville teen 'ashamed' after video of him chanting racial slurs & wearing Nazi flag goes viral

Tuesday morning, a rumor spread on Facebook that the student involved had committed suicide.

"Thankfully, I can say that this was just a rumor and is completely fake," Noblesville High School Principal Jeff Bryant said in his email.  "On one hand, we have a 17-year-old kid who made a terrible decision and is paying the personal consequences for his decision."

Principal Bryant called what the student said "completely disgusting and inappropriate" but he also criticized the adults for publicly bashing the child, his family and his friends. 

"On the other hand, I am appalled by the reaction from some adults in our community," he said. "you can be outraged... but I do not understand how publicly bashing this 17-year-old child, his family, and his friends does anything other than perpetuate the same language, thinking and views that were in the original posting."

The email goes on to talk about the dangers of spreading rumors and using social media. 

Bryant has challenged his students to think before they post and has this "Think" poster as a reminder. 

You can read Principal Bryant's full email to students and parents below. 

Dear Parents,

This morning an awful rumor was spread about the passing of the student who was in the inappropriate social media post from ten days ago.  Thankfully, I can say that this was just a rumor and is completely false. 

On the one hand, we have a 17-year old kid who made a terrible decision and is paying the personal consequences for his decision.  His comments were completely disgusting and inappropriate.  As a school, we in no way support or excuse his actions. 

On the other hand, I am appalled by the reaction from some adults in our community.  You can be outraged and, as a community, we should be disturbed and concerned by the comments.  But, I do not understand how publicly bashing this 17-year old child, his family, and his friends does anything other than perpetuate the same language, thinking, and views that were in the original posting.  Attacking a wrong with more wrongs will never make a right. 

I’m asking for you to have serious conversations with your child, your neighbors, family, and friends about the type of hate shared in the original social media post and others like it that we see or hear far too often.  Make it a priority to help your children understand empathy, not as a word, but as a feeling that deeply relates to the person sitting next to them on the bus, in the cafeteria, in a classroom, at a ballgame, or in the community. 

At the beginning of this block, all teachers shared with students that this rumor was not true.  In addition, teachers spoke about the dangers of spreading rumors and social media.  Attached to this email is a poster that some teachers referred to in their conversation with students.  I share it with you all so that you can have the conversation with your child at home about the THINK poster. 

Thank-you for taking the time to read this email and choosing to become part of the solution and not adding to the problem.

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