When eleven-year-old Brianna Cooper from Florida, was the victim of bullying from her science teacher, the fifth grader decided to take justice in her own hands and record the teacher’s abuse on her mobile phone.

She thought she was doing the right thing – gathering evidence of the bullying taking place.

The audio recording caught the teacher berating the student with taunts “Biggest kid in 5th grade and you’re acting like the smallest one,” or “Don’t let the size fool you. I will drop you.”

The bullying turned to horrifying threats towards Brianna.

Brianna gave the recording to another teacher in the hope that the bullying would stop. Instead she was instructed to go to the Principal’s office.

The teacher in question got fired for the abuse, but Brianna got her own punishment – 5 days suspension for recording the bullying on her phone.

It’s illegal in Florida to secretly record a teacher as teachers have the expectation of privacy in the classroom. Brianna’s mum, Cassie, insists Brianna was too young to understand the law or know of its existence.

It seems unfair that Brianna was punished even though she was the victim of the bullying. It doesn’t seem right that students are encouraged to keep their mouths shut when something is wrong.

This story is just another reason why kids need to have YOU CAN SIT WITH ME initiated at their school. It’s also important for kids to know that abuse and bullying from anyone within school should not be tolerated.

What do you think? Should Brianna have recorded the teacher bullying her? Was it right for the school to suspend Brianna for gathering evidence of the threats made towards her? We’d love to hear what you think.