Today Bryson called me from school to tell me that a 9th grader stabbed his arm with a mechanical pencil. And the skin around it was swelling.
I asked what the people in the office were doing about getting that kid in there, and he said NOTHING!!!!!
That was it.
Now, this is the first time this boy has done anything to Bryson, and it was a very bad reaction/decision on his part to a stupid thing (bryson had taken his folder off his desk to hand it to the boy behind him who had asked for it). But I couldn't believe the office was doing nothing!
Even though this is the first time Bryson's had a problem with THIS kid, he HAS been having chronic problems with this other boy in the same class since last year. The other boy (the chronic bully) has been shoving Bryson in the hall, crushing his hand, yanking on the neck of his shirt... those types of things. Bryson has endured this in silence. Not telling the kid off, not shoving him back, nothing. He just comes home and tells me about what happens every now and then.
But when he called me... I lost it. I went up to the school and spoke to the guidance counselor about these problems.
We decided that yes, he should take action against these boys. A severe warning and apology for the 9th grader, and a no contact order for the other boy. This means he's not supposed to talk to Bryson or touch him.
I am sick.
I am so worried that there will be friends of these boys that will start in on Bryson. I am heartbroken that he didn't feel like he could stand up for himself, and I am terrified that this is going to make it worse.
I know that we couldn't just let it continue. I know that. And part of me wishes Bryson would have just hauled off and leveled this kid. I know that's wrong too.
But I just need to know that I did the right thing.
I will be glad when tomorrow is over and he's back home. I'll be sick to my stomach until then.
Jr. High Sucks.
**happy to say that today went fine at school for bryson. Thanks for all the reassurances. WHEW!
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