Re: I couldn't believe this

From: Maureen Galvin (maureen.galvin_at_comcastdotnet)
Date: 11/13/04 

Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 16:59:36 -0600

"JulieW8" <seemysig@netscape.net> wrote in message >
> I'm not sure why everyone seems to think I used it as an excuse. The
> principal told me spraying water on kids is against the rules. I thought
> a day of suspension for a kid who'd never even done detention before was
> a bit much and she disagreed. My son took his day of suspension because
> in our house - boys or girls - you break the rules, you take the
> punishment.

And I am very glad that your son did the punishment. I dont know how things
are done at your schools, but at our school you get a handbook which shows
the types of infractions and the punishments that go along with them and you
and your child have to sign an acknowledgement that you reviewed them and
understood.

My situation is not everyone's, but my son who was a good student for the
most part, not a trouble maker and definitely not part of the "in-crowd" and
his friends were always the ones who caught the brunt of the bullying and
downright nasty behavior of a crew whose parents lived by the "boys will be
boys" rule. These were also the parents on the school board, the holy name
group, the mothers club, etc. and staunch supporters of the school so their
kids got to run the place carte blanc (sp). When you went to the school to
complain you got the same crap about how they would talk to the kids and you
just have to understand that this is how boys are - bull crap. The
principal who also did not allow fighting on school grounds would tell me
that my son and his friends would have to "stand up" for themselves. This
began in the 4th grade. One day he did stand up for himself and he was
suspended for fighting a boy who had been bullying him for 3 years now. At
first they wanted to only suspend my son because he threw the first punch.
I agreed he needed to be disciplined and had no trouble with the suspension,
but it takes two to fight and the kid he finally fought had been the
instigator for years. All of a sudden this kids parents thought my son was
the monster because he should have been able to take a little ribbing and
suck it up. Finally they both ended up with suspensions.

They would hold those self-esteem pep rallies in the school. The kids who
needed the self esteem boost were the ones cowering in the corners
afterwards because the other kids were bouncing off the walls.

When two of my son's classmates decided to begin picking on his little
sister and her friend at the park and came home crying, I went up there and
gave these kids a piece of my mind and told them that whatever their issue
was with my son it was between them and they had best leave his sister
alone. These boy's parents said to me, "well you know how boys are. We try
to stay out of their problems and let them work it out themselves." Again,
all well and good for the boys, but why is it okay for them to drag his
little sister (who was only 10) into the mix.

So sorry, it's a sore spot with me and when I hear it said aloud I just
cringe.

Maureen

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