Etowah Middle School in Attalla, Alabama, is under fire after a viral Facebook post by Samantha Nunn accused school administrators of unfair discipline practices and selective punishment.
Nunn, whose younger brother is a student at EMS, claims the school suspended him for defending himself during an altercation, while ignoring repeated instances of violence and misconduct involving other students, including fights at basketball games and locker rooms.
In her detailed post, Nunn wrote,
“My brother has been suspended for something that happened in the library with another kid, but the school is refusing to show the video. I was told there were no cameras yesterday—but suddenly today, there’s a video the school refuses to show me.”
Samantha Nunn
She expressed deep frustration over what she calls “a pattern of favoritism” within the school system.
According to Nunn, her brother has been an exemplary student throughout his nine years in Atalla City Schools, maintaining good grades and avoiding any prior disciplinary issues.
Despite this, she says the administration treated him the same as the aggressor, ignoring the context that he was acting in self-defense.
What especially angered Nunn and other parents was the inconsistency in how the school responds to more visible incidents. She wrote,
“Meanwhile, there have been fights at basketball games, in locker rooms, even coaches getting thrown out—and no real punishment,”
Samantha Nunn
Samantha also recalled a serious incident from two years earlier, when her brother was “knocked out, had a concussion, and needed stitches.” Still, the attacker received only a minor consequence, Saturday school.
Her post grabbed attention and comments from dozens of parents and community members, many of whom echoed her concerns about unequal treatment and poor accountability at both Etowah Middle and Etowah High School.
One commenter, Hannah Bullard, responded:
ems and ehs are a complete joke!!! I said it once and will say it again this school is going to shit bc of this reason here!!! They decide who they want to punish and what situations are irrelevant!
Hannah Bullard
Don’t stop fighting for him! Get to the bottom of it
Another parent, Jodi Brogdon, shared a disturbing story of her own daughter’s experience:
I had to move addy from her school because of this . Addy was locked in a bathroom stall & had her head kicked against a toilet & then she was slammed into the lockers & they called it horse play & not a damn thing got done even after I showed my ass
Jodi Brogdon
Other parents confirmed that cameras are installed “in every nook and cranny” of the school, contradicting the administration’s initial claim that no footage existed.
Commenter Melanie Clayton Thompson explained that while the school can record incidents for safety, privacy laws limit what footage can be shared with parents.
She said,
“Maybe it would help to request that the principal, counselor, and SRO review the footage together and assess the situation.”
Melanie Clayton Thompson
Thompson also described a recent basketball game where tensions flared. She alleged that referees lost control and that opposing teams provoked EMS players. She said,
“The coach stood up for his players calmly,” “The officials were the problem, not the coach. It was pretty sickening for middle school athletics.”
Melanie Clayton Thompson
Other commenters described similar frustration with selective discipline and alleged favoritism toward certain families or athletes.
Nunn added,
“Etowah Middle School rewards children for bad behavior because they are better at sports or their families are well-known in the community. Punishment is based on who you are and who your parents are.”
Samantha Nunn
Xavier Jordan Caldwell replied,
I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily true. My son is decent at sports I would say and he literally gets in trouble all of the time so to label it like that I would say is unfair
Xavier Jordan Caldwell
Another parent, Sandy Dedmon Niamon, praised the school, saying her son has had a great experience:
I guess everyone has there own opinion but my son goes to EMS and we absolutely love it!!’ We moved him there last year when he was in the 6th grade and it’s been the best decision we made! He excels academically and in sports!!
Sandy Dedmon Niamon
Several parents urged Nunn to escalate her concerns, and she confirmed later that she did:
“The Board of Education handled everything today, unlike the middle school. I am upset with how the school picks and chooses who gets punished and who doesn’t.”
Samantha Nunn
Nunn described her brother, Parker, as “a strict rule follower with all As and Bs, involved in multiple sports, a great kiddo.”
Teacher, she added, still tells her family how much they admire him years later.
For many parents, the incident reflects a broader issue of transparency, consistency, and fairness within the Attalla City Schools system.
As one commenter put it, “This is why bullying keeps happening. Schools keep punishing the kids who are being bullied, while the real troublemakers face no real consequences.”
Whether the school district will publicly address the allegations remains to be seen.
Still, the outpouring of frustration online suggests a community divided, and a growing call for change in how Etowah Middle School handles discipline and student protection.
