Eleven Erasers and a Glue Stick

Steven went to school this morning as planned, to his assigned class with the child who has been so cruel to him. Although we had told him we didn't know how things would pan out, I think he assumed a classroom change was in his immediate future.

After we dropped him off, Doug and I met with the principal to speak with him about Steven's class assignment.

The principal said that they had decided to place Steven in the same class with his tormentor in the hopes that his tormentor would stop tormenting him. They said that this child had improved, and that they had spoken to him after hearing what had happened with him and Steven.

In the past, this child hasn't ever targeted anyone in his class, only kids that are in other classes. The idea is that if Steven is in his class, maybe the tormenting would stop altogether, in and outside of class. He said the teacher was aware of the situation and they'd take action immediately if any more incidents occurred.

The principal told us that if Steven was still uncomfortable or if there was any more harrassment or cruelty, they'd make a change.

So, we decided to give things a chance. I returned to the school at lunch to bring Steven his ritalin and he came over to see me with a very unhappy look on his face. We sat and talked.

I told him about the conversation with the principal, and that we wanted him to think about whether or not he'd be willing to give things a chance. I told him to think about it for the rest of the day and we'd talk more when he got home.

Steven came home looking decidedly happier. We talked about his day, and he told me that this boy had glued eleven pencil erasers to his own face with a glue stick during their writing period.

So we'll wait to see how things pan out...

- Kathleen