sigh...I hestitate to post this to a room full of homeschoolers. But, Luke was attacked on the playground today. Shoved down and kicked. He’s not seriously hurt but was in the clinic (and calmed down) when the school reached the Mrs.
He’d already told us he was being bullied (short, smart kid with glasses - he’s an easy target). And he listed the names of the three. When he told us that I spoke with the guidance counselor and didn’t even have to name the kid. She knew because that same kid had just returned from a suspension after slamming a kid’s head into a desk during art class.
It was the same kid today. He’s not coming back to school. Sadly, he’s an emotionally disturbed special ed kid, so it’s pretty obvious this behavior is coming from ~somewhere~. But as we told the school, we’ll teach Luke to deal with name calling, but we expect the school to watch out for his physical safety.
I miss the days when you could say to your kid if someone touches you beat the crap out of them. But not in today’s environment.
We know Luke’s not going to public middle school (at least not if they don’t change the district lines). But we’re also considering what we can do in the fall. The private schools we’re interested in are quite spendy. But we may have to find a way.
What would you do if someone at work shoved you down and kicked you?
I often wonder that. When my neighbor’s daughter was attacked on the school bus, I wondered what would “I” do, if someone attacked me, strangled me to the point I had red marks on my neck, pulled out chunks of my hair and blackened my eyes?
‘Cause that’s what happened to her.
Her mother complained to the school and kept her off the bus for a week or so.
I’m not being sarcastic or anything...I really wonder this.
I hope you can figure something out Corin. I had one brother - the one who’s training in the Army right now - who would have had that same sort of crap happen. We even had one or two incidents with kids we knew, he was just so small, had glasses, and didn’t really like being treated like a baby by kids who weren’t half as smart as he was.
At least they got the other kid out of there... a lot of the horror stories I hear about they won’t even do that.
That’s just how the gov’t school system is, but you know what’s best for him and in the end, you know you’ll do the right thing. I went to public school through the sixth grade until some personal problems arose, back when things were different than today.
Aw... I’m sorry. I can’t really advise Corin... I mean, it sounds like the school had a good level of response. Personally, I don’t think it’s a reason to homeschool or change schools unless you don’t like the response. I think there will be stuff like this wherever a lot of kids gather, even siblings and friends on the street can get into it like that.
You don't think so? Granted... I have no first-hand knowledge of what goes on in schools these days, but it surprises me that a kid getting punched is expected to just lie there and take it.
I've probably told the story too many times already, but my last fight was in seventh grade. I finally went medieval on the bully that had been picking on me. Blood everywhere. It was magnificent. Life-changing for me. After that not only did he leave me alone but so did all the other bullies.
And nobody got in trouble.
But I guess I see your point in that even then whenever we had told a teacher or counselor or somebody about the bully beating on me or somebody else... even then they just said to not fight back and go get an adult. But that didn't fix the problem. Fighting back fixes the problem.
I wasn't a big kid either. Not much of a fighter. But it doesn't take much, really. And yes... I fully recognize that its easy to say and harder to do. But when that perfect opening comes along, even one really well timed punch to the nose might be just the thing, and change things for good.
IMHO.
Bless Luke’s heart. Since the kid is gone, I sure hope none of the other kids takes his place!
I know you're not asking for advice, but a friend of mine from work's son faced a similar situation. They enrolled him in karate. He hasn't had to fight, but he walks tall enough now that no one bothers him. Worth a thought, mebbe.