Can we appeal a decision based on collective punishment?

Yes—and sometimes, we should.

Collective punishment is never fair. Whether it’s a cancelled field trip, lost recess, or a group consequence that quietly targets one child, it’s a form of institutional harm that shifts responsibility away from adults and onto children—especially those already struggling.

If your child was punished as part of a group, even though they did nothing wrong—or because they were having a hard time—you can appeal the decision.

In BC, public school families have the right to file an education appeal when a decision negatively affects their child’s education, safety, or well-being. That includes decisions that:

• Deny support or accommodations
• Impose exclusion through group discipline
• Blame a child for behaviours rooted in unmet needs

Appealing won’t always change the outcome. But it puts your objections on record. It tells the district: we see what happened—and we don’t accept it.

Even if you’re exhausted. Even if you doubt it will make a difference. An appeal is more than paperwork—it’s a form of resistance.