In a discussion yesterday with people I work with, there was an interesting insight into attitudes about students and behavior. It was obvious to everyone the behavior of the kid who grabbed me the other day, had it occurred 'on the outside', in public, he would have been liable for criminal prosecution.
If someone had dropped a grocery list on the floor of the WalMart, and saw me pick it up and put it in my pocket, and then walked over and fought with me over possession of the note, they would have been arrested for battery, or something similar. Because it happened in a school setting, there will be no charges of any kind, and while I know the kid will have some sort of administrative review, and face possible expulsion, or at least a lengthy suspension, nothing more than that will happen.
So why is that? That was part of our discussion yesterday: why, exactly, are the rules different inside than on the outside? Teachers are constantly threatened, verbally abused, and physically assaulted (I had another kid last week swagger into class late, and on his way up the aisle to reach his seat, rather than politely asking me to step aside, he simply pushed me out of his way with his hand. I chose to not make a case out of that one).
The general agreement was that it's ridiculous that students can get away with criminal behavior with no real fear of consequence. Because it's school, and the rules are different there. We have to show caring, and love, and restraint, and apparently Christ-like patience and virtues. Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm saying here, but I'm kind of annoyed with that kid and his stupid note, and particularly annoyed at having to put up with this kid's messed-up behavior.
In discussing the incident with a co-worker, they carefully broached the subject that the kid 'had problems', and that he was 'troubled'. This co-worker told me this in a sympathetic voice, explaining his behavior in the context of a greater range of problems that weren't really his fault, and indicated to me that I needed to 'show some understanding' of his behavior and, I guess, feel sorry for him rather than callously making sure he's prosecuted for his actions.
Unfortunately, I don't feel sorry for him. I tried to, but... nope. He can go to hell.
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It will bw interesting to learn what happens to him.
ReplyDeleteI think whatever the school says, that you could choose to prosecute if a kid attacks you. I know we always had that option on the psych wards. You do it as a private citizen who gets assaulted. I never had to use the option but I kept it in mind always.
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