Twenty-six senior students at a Punta Arenas public high school have been sanctioned for participating in a Facebook “attack” on a physics and mathematic teacher.

The Facebook page, entitled “Let’s Shoot (professor) Marlen Diaz,” had 200 followers, half of whom wrote disparaging remarks about the professor. The “let’s shoot” slang (“pitéate”) employed on the page was first popularized in Chilean youth jargon in reference to “let’s shoot a flaite (low-class street kid),” and is a good reflection of class-based attitudes that permeate much of Chile’s culture.

Principal Ana Maria Orellana kicked four students out of the school, prohibited seven were from attending graduation ceremonies and has sanctions “pending” against15 more subject to a determination about their involvement in the Face Book page.

The students are appealing to national student organizations for help in reverting the sanctions.

SOURCE:  EL MERCURIO
By Santiago Times Staff ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )