Posted on 01/11/2022 3:56:24 PM PST by MAGA2017
I got a call from my wife a short while ago. She got a phone call from the principal at my son's elementary school. He got into a "fight". All I know so far is that during recess he was playing basketball with some other kids and something happened. Evidently one kid kept swiping the ball from my son and he got frustrated and he shoved the other kid.
I doubt this was an actual fight with punches thrown. My son is a good kid but I know he sometimes gets frustrated easily. He's competitive when it comes to sports. This other kid or kids may have been doing something to really bug him. I'll learn more get he gets home later.
This has got me thinking about today's environment of "toxic masculinity" and how often boys get mixed messages about conduct and being a male. I got into fights at his age. It happens. I don't recall starting a fight but my personal policy growing up was not to take crap from anyone. Don't start a fight but be prepared to end one.
One time in junior high school I punched a kid in the face in the school yard because he was running around spiting on the other kids. When "my turn" for that came up I punched him and he got a bloody nose. I don't remember that kid bothering anyone else again after that. I don't even remember the school contacting my parents about it. Just part of life then.
I don't want my son to get into fights but at the same time I want him ready and able to defend himself if he has too.
I'm actually more concerned at the moment about whatever PC progressive "violence is bad" lecture he might have gotten from the school.
Anyway, I'm curious what you guys think.
Is this a private school ?
He’s YOUR kid. Raise him as YOU see fit. :)
Steer him to baseball. A fiery personality and the ability to corral ground balls will get him a career in MLB. Even a bench player can make millions.
Did he win?
Consider the general inclination of the school toward the CRT/Woke/LGBTQ mandated curriculum that many states have in place and therein will probably be your answer how they are going to respond to the incident.
One thing I learned a long time ago is that schools tend to punish the victims and not the bullies.
Teach him to only get into fights for just reasons and then back him to the hilt if he has done that. He has the unquestionable right to defend himself from harm.
If the school wants to suspend him, remind them of their responsibility for loca parentis through a lawyer’s letter and let them know that they failed their responsibility.
Depends on the circumstances. Is the other kid just a better basketball player?
I don’t know how old you are - I’m 64 - but we both know it is a different world than what we grew up in. Like you, I did not start fights but was taught not to be intimidated by anyone and to stand your ground. From watching videos on YouTube these days, I have observed that most kids today do not know how to fight. Mostly it is round-houses and flailing of arms. Back in the day, yoiu squared off, jabs, uppercuts, and such. As I grew older, I was taught you do what you had to do to win. The majority of those today who talk the violence is bad crap, never got in a fistfight in their lives. You know your son and I am sure by now you have the full story. I suppose the only advice I can give is to prepare him for the worse that can happen. Teach him to box and scrabble, teach him to stand his ground, to defend himself and others. I hope the best for you and yours.
No, it’s public but we’ve had a good experience with it so far.
I was in grade school a long time ago.
I think it was 4th grade but maybe 5th
I got in a fight with another kid, I pinned him to the ground and all the other kids at recess wanted me to punch him in the face and bloody his nose, I know I gave him a punch or two.
Anyway for punishment the principle made us hold hands and pick up all the garbage on campus (with supervision)
there was no suspension and I don’t remember parents being called
P.S. the kid was the son of the former state governor
LOL. That was actually my first thought.
“Did he win?”
My first question too. Act like a woke, concerned, parent, but once clear of the indoctrination zone, help him with his form, particularly his footwork.
My Dad’s only response was, “If I see blood on you, it better not be your own...”
You may have just hit the wall.
I’m 50 but not so apart from you. Thank you. I agree with your comments. I watched Clint Eastwood films as a kid and I punched this kid like Clint would in a movie like in “FireFox” or “Any Which Way You Can”. That’s what I was thinking when I punched him.
Boy today are generally not taught how to be a man or how to make use of their God-given abilities the right way.
See #7. Way too true.
See #8. Great advice.
(and I’m a mom of girls!)
He’ll be in his fourth year of Little League this year.
I really don’t know yet. It’s possible he’s in the wrong here. But I’ve never seen him go out of his way to hurt someone or be rough.
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