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Her ire was not restricted to students, however. Perhaps the harshest words in Gipson’s free-verse speech were reserved for school administration.

“Posters say ‘Smile’ and ‘Be happy,’ but how am I supposed to be happy in a world — no, in a community — where creativity is put down, where the people who make fun of others never get punished because ‘There’s no proof,’ or ‘There’s nothing we can do about it,’ or, my favourite, ‘Kids will be kids,”‘ she says in the video.

“So let’s summarize: We’re expected to come to this emotional prison every day, and we’re expected to forgive the bullies because the authorities are sure they didn’t mean it. Sometimes I wonder how many kids it takes dying to make a difference.”

Principal Scott Walters told The Lebanon Democrat he can’t discuss the 16-year-old’s punishment, but said he took issue with the fact that the free-verse speech was recorded in a classroom without a teacher’s permission. Gipson disputed that, saying she had two coaches’ permission.

Walters also said the video hurt his feelings, and those of teachers, too.

We're expected to forgive the bullies because the authorities are sure they didn't mean it

He said he’s received feedback from parents and students who didn’t agree with the video, including a gift from a student who told him he was doing a good job. He also said people could learn from Gipson’s viewpoint.

“I can appreciate the perspective of the video,” Walters said. “Of course, she’s 16, and her perspective is going to be different from mine.”

Kenneth Gipson, her grandfather and guardian, said the principal told him the only reason the teen was punished was because she didn’t have permission to take the video on school grounds. “I don’t have a problem with that. She violated their policies,” he told The Associated Press