Friday, March 02, 2007
Under Deconstruction
Tomorrow is the start of another three day weekend for local schooligans. These long weekends usually play havoc with my ability to do things that require concentration, which means I get piddly stuff done, but not usually any of the Big Things on my plate.
This weekend will also be interrupted because I am catching a ride to Denver to attend the Colorado statewide Central Committee meeting for the Democrats. There's a dinner that evening where Nancy Pelosi will speak, and although it is way past sold out, I may have a chance at attending anyway. Which would be cool. We'll see.
I'd been wondering if I even OUGHT to go, because Mike had been having a rough week. Just moderate incidents of acting out, but then Wednesday he was playing floor hockey, and got smacked pretty hard on the calf during a scrimmage. The gym teacher happened to have been watching Mike, because he doesn't always want to take part in games and she was pleased he was participating so enthusiastically.
Mike jumped to the conclusion that someone had hurt him on purpose. We have had a number of talks about when a person can and cannot hit, and I do think he felt this was a case where he was justified in defending himself. Unfortunately, the kid he came unglued on was not even the one who had accidentally smacked him.
We are lucky to have a school where the principal and staff are genuinely trying to prevent violence and teasing, but who also make allowances for circumstances. So Mike was not suspended, as he could have been. The principal consulted with Caro as to what sorts of consequences we use at home, then called Mike in to see him. He used his background as a coach to explain to Mike that these things happen in contact sports, and then told Mike he was suspended from his computer at home!
He did tell Caro it was okay to adjust the decree. So Mike has spent the ensuing time earning his computer back by doing a LOT of extra chores, and also HAND-writing three letters of apology, one to the boy he attacked, one to the gym teacher and one to the principal. Sentence duly served, he will now be free to redeem the 'free playing game days' he still has coming from his birthday over the long weekend.
I will keep working on my task of sorting old stuff, answering old and new mail, and all that sort of thing. More...I hope...tomorrow!
This weekend will also be interrupted because I am catching a ride to Denver to attend the Colorado statewide Central Committee meeting for the Democrats. There's a dinner that evening where Nancy Pelosi will speak, and although it is way past sold out, I may have a chance at attending anyway. Which would be cool. We'll see.
I'd been wondering if I even OUGHT to go, because Mike had been having a rough week. Just moderate incidents of acting out, but then Wednesday he was playing floor hockey, and got smacked pretty hard on the calf during a scrimmage. The gym teacher happened to have been watching Mike, because he doesn't always want to take part in games and she was pleased he was participating so enthusiastically.
Mike jumped to the conclusion that someone had hurt him on purpose. We have had a number of talks about when a person can and cannot hit, and I do think he felt this was a case where he was justified in defending himself. Unfortunately, the kid he came unglued on was not even the one who had accidentally smacked him.
We are lucky to have a school where the principal and staff are genuinely trying to prevent violence and teasing, but who also make allowances for circumstances. So Mike was not suspended, as he could have been. The principal consulted with Caro as to what sorts of consequences we use at home, then called Mike in to see him. He used his background as a coach to explain to Mike that these things happen in contact sports, and then told Mike he was suspended from his computer at home!
He did tell Caro it was okay to adjust the decree. So Mike has spent the ensuing time earning his computer back by doing a LOT of extra chores, and also HAND-writing three letters of apology, one to the boy he attacked, one to the gym teacher and one to the principal. Sentence duly served, he will now be free to redeem the 'free playing game days' he still has coming from his birthday over the long weekend.
I will keep working on my task of sorting old stuff, answering old and new mail, and all that sort of thing. More...I hope...tomorrow!
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