Senior student slams his school in graduation speech then is BANNED from walking at ceremony

A Washington state high school senior has been banned from walking at his own graduation ceremony after he gave a speech slamming the school for ignoring sexual assault and bullying on campus. 

Charles Chandler delivered the speech at an annual ‘Moving Up’ ceremony at Heritage High School on Wednesday in Vancouver and shocked staff with his poignant message, criticizing the school for ignoring problems among their students. 

‘And to you, underclassmen, who have to endure all the things the school throws at you for two or three more years. A school where the administration closes their eyes to everything that happens at the school. Their school,’ he said dressed in a purple robe and graduation cap as attendants started to murmur in shock. 

‘The sexual assault, the bullying, the depression, the outcasts. They do nothing to fix it. They just cast it aside like it’s nothing. And if they do take notice they take the side of the accused and not the victim. And I feel sorry for them,’ he added. 

Charles Chandler, a senior at Heritage High School in Washington state, shocked his school when he delivered a speech on Wednesday slamming the administration for allegedly ignoring sexual assault and bullying on campus 

'A school where the administration closes their eyes to everything that happens at the school,' he said

The sexual assault, the bullying, the depression, the outcasts. They do nothing to fix it,' he said in his speech as students burst into uproarious applause

‘A school where the administration closes their eyes to everything that happens at the school….The sexual assault, the bullying, the depression, the outcasts. They do nothing to fix it,’ he said in his speech as students burst into uproarious applause

As he dropped his bombshell statements, the crowd was heard reacting with shock and offense that was overshadowed by uproarious applause. 

His speech is going viral after it was posted online by Instagram user @spacebeespam. 

But the school administration was less admiring of his speech and banned him from walking at his graduation ceremony on Saturday.  

Chandler’s speech had been pre-approved by staff but he went off script and spoke his mind. 

Chandler said that he heard from his friends about sexual assault and bullying at the school and the administration failed to address those complaints – and felt compelled to call the school out as he took to the podium. 

‘I’ve been going to this school for four years, and I’ve seen these problems, and I’ve seen nothing done about them, and I felt like it was a great place to bring it to light,’ he said to KATU2.

When asked if it was worth changing the script he said, ‘Yes. I feel like I have definitely sparked change.’  

'I've been going to this school for four years, and I've seen these problems, and I've seen nothing done about them, and I felt like it was a great place to bring it to light,' he said

‘I’ve been going to this school for four years, and I’ve seen these problems, and I’ve seen nothing done about them, and I felt like it was a great place to bring it to light,’ he said

Heritage High School officials subsequently banned him from walking at graduation on Saturday for his criticism on Wednesday

Heritage High School officials subsequently banned him from walking at graduation on Saturday for his criticism on Wednesday

However, the school says that his comments are inaccurate. 

Evergreen Public Schools shared a statement saying he heard of the allegations indirectly through another student.  

Spokesperson Gail Spolar tells DailyMail.com that the school and district did investigate the incidents of bullying and sexual assault. 

‘The statements made during yesterday’s speech are not reflective of what the investigations found. Due to confidentiality and privacy policies, the district cannot provide information on what actions taken with individual students may or may not have resulted due to the investigation,’ she said. 

Heritage High Principal Derek Garrison sent a letter home to students and parents following the incident saying Chandler’s statements weren’t wholly truthful. 

‘Yesterday, during our traditional “Moving Up” assembly, a student speaker departed from his pre-approved comments. He referenced a number of perceived negative aspects of the school, telling underclassmen they will deal with these issues during high school.

‘As the speech went on, the student referenced his perspective of a story heard which involved another student. His comments had many inaccuracies, inflammatory statements and unsubstantiated accusations,’ the letter said.    

The school said it had a duty to quell any untruthful comments to protect victims.  

Students have taken to social media to rally behind Chandler and seniors are planning a walkout for Friday

Students are planning a walk out for Friday

Students have taken to social media to rally behind Chandler and seniors are planning a walkout for Friday 

The video has gone viral after it was posted on social media

The video has gone viral after it was posted on social media

He said that administrators then met with the student to discuss ‘restorative solutions’ and if the student didn’t want to work towards a resolution he’d be banned from walking at the graduation ceremony. Chandler ultimately decided on not walking. 

He’s also banned from participating in other senior activities leading up to graduation. 

‘The staff at Heritage High School is dedicated to ensuring the physical and emotional safety of our students. Depression, mental health, bullying, sexual assault, and the right to not be falsely accused of such, are all very valid concerns. We work hard at ensuring our students are physically and emotionally safe every day,’ the letter added. 

The school also met with Chandler’s parents who were left heartbroken that he’d be banned from participating in the milestone ceremony. 

‘I think Charles is learning 100 times more from his stand, and looking out for other people. Hopefully, this will cause a little change,’ his father Shane Chandler said. 

Despite the punishment he says, ‘I don’t think they should be capable of stopping me from walking at graduation for expressing my First Amendment rights.’

Chandler’s peers have his back and are planning a walkout in his name for Friday. 

Ethan Wheeler says that Chandler’s claims are true and he was bullied at the school.

‘I tried getting help and there wasn’t really much help given,’ Wheeler said to KATU2.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk