A call from my son's guidance counselor/Prin

[skinnyman]

TweetMy wife recieved a call from scholl regarding my son's behavior.

As a background he is a small, very agile, athletic and coordinated 8 yr old. He is one of three schoolmates that are inseperable. all about the same size as well.

Apparently on the school bus on the way to school a 5th grader was picking on my son in an attempt to get a laugh from the 5th graders friends. This 5th grader was much bigger than my son and put his knee right into my son's groin area. As the 5th grader was heading back to his seat, my son stood on top of the bench seat and punched in the back of the head. The driver only saw this part of the confrontation and reported him. However, my son did tell his side of the story to school admins. In addition, there were other witnesses to vouch for my son. Either case, the school called and said they were going to take action on punishment.

I will tell you now, if my son does get any punishment, i will be at the school for a discussion.

What do you guys think of not only your child defending himself, but also being the butt of a joke in front of his own friends?

[Klash]

TweetI say good for your son! I bet that 5th grader and any of the 5th graders that saw it think twice before messing with your son again.

I'm with you. I hate this zero tolerance b.s.! I told my boy just the other day he could punch someone if they tried giving him a wedgie! I have zero tolerance for kids picking on and trying to humiliate other kids.

I tell him all the time if he gets in trouble at school for standing up for himself - I'll reward him at home with a new game or something and I will talk with his teachers and tell them I approve of self-defense.

[Dzone]

TweetGeez, definitely a talk with the school admin would be in order. No kid should have to put up with getting kneed in the groin.

[Doink the clown]

TweetGotta let his mates know who's boss...good for him

[deepsouth]

TweetI wouldn't wait on the school- I'd already be up there bending some ears now

[diablo]

TweetWell being that I have been taking/teaching Taekwondo for about 14yrs and teach hand to hand combat in the military, Im very PRO-ass kicking! Punk def deserved what he got for kicking a man in the jiggle daddy. I for one am happy to hear justice was served on some dip sets!

[daved150]

Tweet

I wouldn't wait on the school- I'd already be up there bending some ears now

i agree!!! i'd be all over this!! and, i'd tell the school, "you punishing my kid for defending himself is WAAAAY easier than how i'd punish him if he didnt defend himself, and next time, he better loosen up a tooth or 2!!"

[skinnyman]

TweetWell, i did have to make a call to the school but it was to let me know my son will not be punished however the fifth grader was.

Another quick story. i told you my son had two other real good friends about the same size and caliber. Last year when my son was in second grade, one of my sons friends got a wedgie from a 5th grader in the bathroom. So, during recess, the 3 boys knocked the fifth grader doown and gave it back to him.

got to tell you, no one picked on those boys again.

great to hear we are all on the same page.

[IronpumpedLady]

TweetI'm with DS, I'd be at that school, I assure you they'd be seeing a not so nice side of me!! I don't like to see fighting, but I can't stand Bully's!!! You notice he was picking on someone smaller!! They always do!! So if your son gets punished, that child should also, only I think his should be just a bit more for instigating the whole ordeal!
I'd be teaching him how to defend himself as well!!

I always say "Don't go starting fights, but if one comes your way, make sure you finish it!" Actually thats what My Daddy used to tell me!! LOL



Stay Strong~~!!!
IPL

[dixiechick]

TweetGood to hear your son didn't get in trouble for standing up for himself.

Something is up with my nephew. He's always been a good kid with no trouble. He's always made good grades up until just recently. He has quite doing his school work and is now getting terrible grades My brother and his wife are pulling their hair out trying to get him to straight out. They have him on restriction until he brings his grades up. My mom said he didn't even take a pen or pencil to class all week and didn't take any notes. He ended up failing his test. I think some kids are picking or bulling him. This was his favorite class. He is 11 years old and just started middle school. My brother thinks he is just being lazy.

[BigDawg]

Tweeti had similar discussion with my son's teacher and principal back when he was in 3rd grade. (he's 16 now). he got punched in the face by the class bully who's dad was also a big contributor to the catholic school. my son drilled him back with a body punch and jacked him up. they were going to suspend my son but not the other kid. i said i am not only my son;s dad but also his karate teacher and i teach him not to start fights and avoid them in school but if someone invades his personal space or puts hands on him that he has my blessing to defend himself and strike back and if taht was an issue i would be happy to take my son and the $5K we paid in tuition each year and go to public school. and also if bully boy's dad had an issue with my son defending hinself against his son that i would be happy to take it up personally with him. they saw the light =) good for your son standing up to a punk a$$ who would pick on smaller kids like that. nice job =)

[Waterboy]

TweetGlad he stood up to the punk. Bet he will think twice before messing with your son again.
I woould ave definately been on the school steps the next morning in defense of his actions. Good to hear he wasn't punished by the school

[horsepwr]

Tweetvery good to hear the outcome of both the incident and punishment. Being a smaller kid, he's probably gonna get that all through school. I was a little guy though all my school days. Even when I finally grew taller between 10th and 11th grade, I only weighed 120lbs. But I don't remember 1 year that I didn't get into a fight. I think I got messed with for more than just being a small kid. My girlfriends were always a grade or 2 over me. until high school where it went the other way. But, I remember an instance on the bus ride home with the big smelly jean-jacket wearing tough guy when he decided to pick on me that day. We knew each other, had rode the bus for a couple years without problem, but he picked me out one afternoon. I pulled his card. I can remember my friend Larry, that was older also, same grade as the Marlboro smellin jean jacket bully. Larry laughed at him the rest of the ride. But all I remember right when I made my way over to the bully's seat was my friend Larry say, "uh oh Jess, horsepwr's got your number" laughing...and I did. That was like 4th, 5th grade. Big Jess was cool with me forever after that. They always are.

A little scrap at school wasn't such a big deal back then though. I got paddled a time or 5, but it was worth the respect. School can be absolute hell for a kid that gets picked on. It's heartwrenching to think about a little boy, or little girl, that only has her parents to go home and cry to about how bad her day was, because kids can be so cruel.

It sounds like you don't have to worry about that with your son, so that's great. Good for him. I would never punish him for teaching a bully a lesson. Zero tolerance is what I'll teach my kids. "zero tolerance"...but they let that cruel verbal shyt go on like they don't know it's happening. I remember. Teachers don't do shyt to help a bullied child. Good for your boy.

[skinnyman]

TweetPeople tend to forget just how much stress is placed on kids now a days just in going to school. There is so much pyschological influence when attempting to fit in that, at times, can create some strange or different behavior by our kids.

Dixie, this something your nephew may be going through.

It is at these times that we, as parents, need to provide support and guidance. This guidance is instrumental in that, with out it, the kids can go the wrong direction and pick up negative attributes (drugs, alcohol, etc). i'll be honest, my son and daughter are only 8 and 6 and i am a bit scared of what the future may bring for them if not influenced properly.

[horsepwr]

Tweetskinnyman, I feel ya all the way on that. My daughter is only 4yrs old. She just started pre-k and I get a kick out of some of the things she'll say, or how shje'll say them, because she's picked up a new lingo from her little girlfriends. Then a little boy already gave her flowers, a week ago last monday. But they do have alot of pressure to fit in. That's something I'm sure that worries us all. Like you said, we just have to do our best in guidance ad keeping them honest. I've had some unfortunate downtime with work that's really been a huge blessing for me and my daughter's relationship. We've had quality time that not many dads get with their children now-days. I just always let her know that she can tell me anything, and that the truth will always be easier. always! Some folks would probably think I've went overboard on trying to teach her the best qualities of life, and how to achieve them at such an early age. And I know she doesn't care, or understand some of the things that I talk to her about, but I guarantee they'll be in her mind as solid foundation for the rest of her life, and those attrinbutes are set in place to build on. That's why you instill fundamentals in children. They don't happen overnight, or in one sitting.