At Park View Middle School (PVMS), students are told to stand up for themselves and others, to report bullying, and to speak out against injustice. But what happens when a student does exactly that—and ends up being punished for it?

Ava Brown is currently facing pre-expulsion, not because she bullied anyone, but because she stood up to someone who has been bullying others for months. Multiple students have come forward with similar stories about this particular student’s harmful behavior—yet instead of holding the bully accountable, the school has focused its discipline on Ava.

The accusations against Ava are based on one person’s account, with no clear evidence to support claims that she was the aggressor. Ava, on the other hand, reported not only the bullying she witnessed and experienced, but also racist comments that were allegedly made toward her. Despite the seriousness of these claims, they were quickly dismissed by the Dean of Students, Ms. Shultz, without a proper investigation.

Sadly, this is part of a larger pattern at PVMS. Students have expressed concern that the administration—particularly the Dean—often listens to only one side of the story and rarely holds bullies accountable. Instead, when a student finally speaks up, they become the target of disciplinary action. This discourages others from reporting problems and allows harmful behavior to go unchecked.

Even more troubling, this isn’t the first time Ms. Shultz has been criticized by students for failing to treat them fairly. There have been instances where students’ voices were ignored, their concerns invalidated, and in one case, a 504 Plan—a legal protection for students with disabilities—was not properly followed. That’s not just a violation of policy; it’s a violation of trust and students’ rights.

Expelling Ava Brown would not solve the problem—it would reinforce it. It would send the message that standing up against bullying is more punishable than bullying itself. That telling the truth doesn’t matter if it challenges the wrong person. And that fairness at PVMS is conditional, not consistent.

This issue goes beyond one student. It’s about the way discipline is applied in our school, and whether students feel safe and supported when they speak out. PVMS has the opportunity to correct this—by giving Ava a fair chance, by investigating all claims thoroughly, and by making sure that every student is treated with dignity and respect.

Ava Brown should not be expelled. She should be heard. And if we truly want PVMS to be a safe and inclusive school, then all students—especially those who speak out—deserve to be protected, not punished.