Billy came home from school today having been in a fight yet again.  He's in the 8th grade that nice early puperty age.  This is the second this year.  The first was when another kid stole his drink then hit the kid after he tried to retreave it.  Many people on this site know Billy.  He is both honest and easy going, however dad is a skeptic so asked so many questions I have little doubt his story is truthful.  His last half truth cost him a month without TV or video games.  

This time Billy was shooting hoops in gym when another kid came over and asked to play HORSE.  After Billy took the first shot the other kid ran off with the ball.  Billy pursued like in a basketball game like mode trying to steal the ball back.  A third kid comes up and pushes Billy saying "Hey leave my main man alone." in a wannabe ghetto type accent.  Billy shoves the wannabe back who promptly gives Billy a bonk on the nose with his fist bringing the blood.  Billy returns the favor with a fist to the eye.  The other boy doesn't retaliate a second time and the two of them walk off towards the bathroom to freshen up one holding their eye the other one their nose.  The teacher setting up halloween decorations doesn't see a thing till they walk by then sends them both to the office.  

They are separated and write out there stories and BOTH get a five day suspension for violating the no tolerance violence rule.

It gets better, turns out that the prettiest girl in school is in the gym class and boy one and two both have a crush on her.  I asked my son if he liked the girl but he just shrugged and said not really she talks like a MTV video and its a turnoff.  

Although Billy didn't want to go to the fall festaval tonight he felt he must make a showing or lose face so he pays his five bucks and goes.  He's promptly kicked out for being suspended but they keep his money.  My wife goes in to fetch the money and tells the principle that we want a meeting on Monday.  She just shrugs and says one more and he gets a 10 day suspension.

Well I'm certainly not tiffed at my son, nor am I even at the other kids.  The school I have serious issues with and the principle is going to get her first and hopefully last taste of a in person Tj meeting on Monday.  I'm afraid her fat ass is going to hear not everyone is a sheep or a wolf and I hold her personaly responsible for my sons safety and in my mind her policies and enforcement of those policies are not contusive to his safety nor the well being of the other children to include co-ed gym during puperty.

Conservative with an attitude meets liberal!

Tj

What was the half truth last time?

Tell the little rocker... next time... [cartman]kick em squaw in da nutz![/cartman]

i USED to be a school teacher....

this sounds like the typical bullshit Am3rikan udjucashun has learned from the Am3rikan injustice system.

welcome to A3rika, comrade! where everyone is a criminal! innocent! guilty! makes no difference to us! you are ALL criminals and will will receive the same punishment!

the party welcomes you to express your thought in a meeting of the local komsomol!

Quoted: What was the half truth last time?

The half truth was regarding a homework assignment that  he got a bad grade on. He said he did, it led me to think he did it in study hall.  He actually tried to cram it at the beginning of the class instead of study hall.  Didn't quite lie but wasn't quite honest either.

I have no doubt he wouldn't lie about anything he perceives as so important as this.  Still kids are kids and getting the whole story is like playing lawyer for you have to ask the right questions down to the most minute detail.  Then ask them again and compare.  Tis an old technique that works.

This policy of punishing the starter of a fight the same as someone defending themself is pretty much against everything I believe in.  In this case, we have a A's and B's student that was hit first being given the same punishment as the D's and F's student that started the fight.  My son's education is being impacted by the actions of others and the only recourse the school is giving him is to become a victim by allowing such action to continue.  

What's sad is that these were the type incidents I felt public education could give him experience with.  I hold no grudge against the other kid for I counted on his sort.  I didn't count on the school undermining the lifes lesson by encouraging a victim mentality.  The policy sucks.

Hell I know I can't win but its just not in my nature to not fight.

Letter to the editor, school board, and state representative goes out this weekend.  

Tj

BTW, totally agree Campy

Enroll him in a martial art so that he'll wax anyone at the next fight so that he'll learn discipline and how to avoid conflict.

Sensei Wave has spoken.

Guilt and innocence are equally punished ... makes a whole lot of liberal sense. I probably don't need to tell you this but make sure your boy knows what you expect him to do and that he needs to follow your rules not the socialist assembly line called a school he attends.

The country needs more fathers like you raising more sons like yours!

Quoted: Enroll him in a martial art so that he'll wax anyone at the next fight so that he'll learn discipline and how to avoid conflict. Sensei Wave has spoken.

LOL, He's actually a red belt in TKD.  The other kid turned his back then sucker punched him.  He's been holding back.  I told him that ends today for if he's going to get suspended anyway might as well be a foot in the face as a fist.

Quoted: Enroll him in a martial art so that he'll wax anyone at the next fight so that he'll learn discipline and how to avoid conflict. Sensei Wave has spoken.

I think he has, the pictures of his cellar have funny mats so it's either that or father and son gymnastics.

Maybe this is just an inevitable part of 7-9th grade. I think everyone got in mild scraps at that age when I was a kid. The schools are nuts now, though. Couple of fights like that around here and they have social services involved. I can't imagine being a teacher in public school these days.

Quoted: TJ I work in a local school as a special education aide. I have worked in "the system" in several capacities starting as a custodian, subtitute teacher, maintenance, and kindergarden aide. Probably the only reason I don't go into to teaching full time is the "socialist BS." Good for you, checking up on, and backing Billy. If the principal gets too radical, they really hate it when you go to school board meetings and/or bring it to the superintendents attention. "Been there, done that, got a really nice T-shirt" After all, they/we work for you, the taxpayer/parents. (but I'm not your "usual school employee" I'll do most anything to help a kid learn, can't stand "holier than thou educators" that think they are Gods gift to the "system!") Stand your ground! We had a Dr.'s son that was in a similar situation. He was an honor student, active in the community, church, sports, etc. Some wanna-be "gangster" attacked him. He throughly trounced him and they both got suspended. Long story short, Dad goes to school board meeting, a few letters to the editor, got the other parents in the community involved and now kids don't get suspended for protecting themselves.  It's high time we take back our country and our schools from the so called liberal experts! As usual JMHO and YMMV, Hessian-1out!

Thanks Hessian, this is exactly what I have in mind.  I know the principle will just hide behind policy which often I believe is just a shield from parents.  I may not win but the whole county will know about it.

Not only has the school system by policy denied students the fundamental right to defend themself but also has a policy to force written confessions that could possibly be used in court without legal representation.

This country may turn communistic one day but not without a fight.

Tj

The Socialist Republic of Blount County

Dear Editor,

I write this letter today in hopes that you will have the courage to publish it for I’m afraid it may not be what many want to hear.

My son is in the 8th grade at William Blount Middle School.  I get a call Friday from him advising me that he is in the principles office and had been in a fight.  Worried at first, he tells me he is all right and all it involved was a couple shoves and a couple blows.  The usual parent questions followed who shoved whom first and who hit whom first that my son reassures me the other kid did.  OK, so far just a kid scuffle and soon to be forgotten.  After all, one of the reasons we parents send our children to public school is learning how to interface with others good or bad.  Still a parent must do what a responsible parent must and the obligatory scolding and promise of punishment follows.

None of this really surprises me much since my son is a bit of a loner, easy going, good school grades, and in the band, which has always been a target for being picked on.  This wasn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last but as I have said kids will be kids and how one handles these issues is a character building experience.  Many of his band friends are going through similar experiences and some even refuse to use the bathroom at school for fear of being beaten or head dunked.  Things haven’t changed much in 30 years I think to myself but boy was I wrong.

Well upon his return home, he hands me a fill in the blank form from the school with checked boxes including 5 day suspension, fighting or threatening violence, and signed confession.  Now, my suspicion is peaked and I probe my son for details.

Even though the other boy started the fight he got the same punishment.  Mind you that I hold absolutely no malice towards the other boy and am certain that he is probably one really great kid for most are at age 13 but one has to wonder why the same punishment.  The answer became quite clear as my son tells me and later confirmed by the principle that the no violence policy does not allow a child to defend themselves and they are deemed just as guilty as the child who starts a fight.   My head is spinning at this point as I try to figure how this discourages violence. The more I think on it the more I am convinced, it does not but instead establishes social behavior of either predators or victims with no in-between.  I’m sorry I may have sent my child to public school to learn how to deal with others but not to have the school to alter his behavior pattern to a victim or predator for I don’t want him to be either no parent should.

The right for self defense from attack is fundamental to the American way of life.  It is protected by not only states law but also fundamental to the constitution of the United States.  The Supreme Court recently ruled that police officers are not obligated to protect the public yet our schools by policy direct behavior to expect just that in life.  This led me to ask where was the teacher and did she see this.  No was the reply for she was busy putting up decorations and sent us to the principle after she saw us heading to the bathroom him holding his eye and me my bloody nose.  Is the teacher obligated to protect your children?  Well, I guess not if police officers aren’t obligated to protect you why would a teacher be obligated to protect your child.  Now comes the rub, you child isn’t allowed to protect himself.  

The plot thickens as I question the signed confessions.  Apparently this is policy too under threat of additional punishment if not completed.   So now we have a school mandating that a child sign a document that can be used in both civil and criminal courts without being advised of their legal rights nor the right to legal council.  I immediately think, “Where the hell is this Communist Russia?”    

All right my son will take his punishment for as a father it is our responsibility to teach our sons to be a man and a man lives up to his responsibilities in life.  What I submit to you, the reader, that both these boys’ civil rights were violated by school policy.  This policy violates our way of life and encourages social behavior contrary to productive society.  It is a policy that teaches the government will take care of me and the victim is as guilty as the criminal.  This impacts our future social programs and thus your tax burden.  I don’t recall voting for anyone of any party that encourages this yet we as citizens of Blount County are expected to tolerate it.  

Yes this school board policy left as is and in the long run will impact you the average Blount County citizen through your tax burden and way of life by adding to the social burden of our society.  Yes, ours, not the school boards but the citizens of this great county.  Many of my friends who do not have children in school already complain about helping to fund them.  I would expect they would even be more shocked to learn their money is being spent teaching a socialistic behavior that will do nothing but increase their burden even more in the future.

You see it is not only these two boys who’s civil rights were violated by equal punishment for differing offenses and forced signed confessions with no legal representation but you the citizen of Blount County as well.  It is you the tax paying citizen that will eventually pay the bill for the social behavior being taught in our schools in the form of more police and additional social welfare programs.   It simply angers me that we as parents must not only teach ethics and morals but work to undo what the schools by policy does to insure our children become productive members of society and not a burden on society.  

I ask you to take pen in hand or phone to ear and voice your opposition to this policy of equal punishment for victim and attacker as well as signed confessions without representation.  It is you that will eventually pay the ultimate price.

I believe we all would rather see this policy changed by the public will rather than in our courts which ultimately we the taxpayer will pay the cost.  

Blount County School District
XXXXXX
XXXXXX

I thank you for your time and support on this issue.

Stupid as some laws or rules are one must try to obey the laws or rules.  The problem I have is that the equal punishment for each party.  If Billy had received a five day in school suspension and the boy who started it a 5 day out of school suspension it would be alot different than both getting the same punishment.  Breaking a rule and starting a fight are two different things.

Thanks for the adivce guys.

Tj

EXCELLENT LETTER TJ!!!

Tell BTK Hi for me.   Do we need to send TequilaBob down there and have a "chat" with the principle over this?