Students suspended for 'Harlem Shake'

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BROWNSVILLE, Pa., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania parent said her daughter and 12 other high school students should not have been suspended for their take on the "Harlem Shake" viral video craze.

Kathleen Broadwater said the "Harlem Shake" -- a video craze involving one person dancing while a room full of people stays still, then the entire room suddenly joins in the chaotic dance -- created by her daughter, Alyssa, and classmates in Brownsville Area High School's photography class was not adequate grounds for the students being suspended for two days, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, reported Thursday.

"It is a little odd," Broadwater said.

She said the students told her the substitute teacher gave them permission to make the video.

"What I'm upset about is the punishment seems a little extreme for the actions the kids were involved in," Broadwater said.

Solicitor James Davis said the school district "can't comment on student discipline without parent authorization."

Alyssa Broadwater said she doesn't understand the punishment.

"I could see if we got in a little bit of trouble, since it was in school and a little chaotic, but it was taken too far," she said.

"I got called out of homeroom and told I'm suspended," the student said. "I said, 'For what?,' and I never got an answer."