Catch 22...

[Kjs]

First day of new quarter. Gfg seems to be in quite a pickle.
He is very sensitive when people say things to/about him.
He has a cool off pass he is to use BEFORE he has an outburst. he is to use his pass, leave the class to cool off.
New seating arrangements today. he goes to sit down and the girl next to him says, "ewwww...I'm not sitting my you" and proceeds to say things about him. So, he leaves and goes to see the principal. (as instructed) She calls me at work and says he won't go to class. She tells me he refuses to sit where the teacher has assigned him. Gives him the phone. he is still upset, so quite loud. He explains what the other student was doing and says he can't sit there he will get in trouble.
(he often complains that everyone talks, but HE gets singled out. Teachers admit they allow talking at times, but only identify HIS voice)

Ok. I tell gfg he needs to go to class. He tells me that he will get angry and in trouble if he has to sit next to this student.

Principal wants to know what to do???? She said he needs to sit in the assigned place.

OK. I understand he needs to sit where he is assigned. He should not be allowed to pick his seat (which would be by his friends) That could cause disruptions due to talking. But, on the otherhand he is doing what he is instructed to do. On a third hand/foot...gfg would certainly be talked to/punished if HE were to talk mean/negative to anyone, but as usual others don't seem to be seen/heard.

[Big Bad Kitty]

Sheesh!

I think that the snotty girl should get a detention!! What a little twit.

What if SHE had to move...? After all, she was the one who started it.

[I'm going crazy!!!]

i understand he can't pick his own seat but the teacher can assign him another seat and i would certainly been sure to tell him how proud i was of him following the rules and understanding his own limitations heck he's not even mine and my eyes are full proud of tears and my chest feels all swollen he's sounds like a fine young man [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/9-07bravo.gif[/img]

[Hope]

I would ask the teacher and/or principal to assign him another seat. I would approach it by saying something like, "GFG is known to be anxious and having a hard time coping at school. No one would like to sit next to someone who openly says mean things to them. I know GFG needs to learn to cope with such things and is overly sensitive but right now, we are struggling to be able to stay in class without being too talkative. Why add another struggle for him which will get in the way of his learning?"

I may not have all of the details right in your case but I would definitely ask them to change the seats. Hopefully, they would speak to the girl but I wouldn't really care if they did. Maybe he could agree to sit there a few days and then be moved. It wouldn't be good if any of the students thought they could just complain about someone and then not have to sit with them.

[Jules71]

I agree with BBK. You should ask to have the girl moved. He can sit where he was assigned and she can be moved somewhere else for her unkind comment.

[Lothlorien]

I don't think he should be punished. The girl should be made an example of. After all, the schools are supposed to be teaching tolerance and all, right? He did the right thing. Good for him.

[bby31288]

What the girl did is a form of bullying. She should have been made to apologize, and keep her trap shut! I am pi**ed at the school for not handling that well. Good job BBK, she is a twit. I can tell you if that was one of my daughters GFG or not and I heard that story, I would demand they apologize in front of the class and keep their trap shut!

Well sorry for the rant, I wasn't much help!

[Marguerite]

I'm with the others. He did a good thing and should have this positively reinforced. He certainly should not be put straight back into the situation from which he so sensibly removed himself.

Why are we all so thoroughly in agreement, and the school (supposedly trained professionals) cannot see what to do?

In what cereal box did they get their qualifications?

Marg

[susiestar]

First off, take the kid out for ice cream!!! He did what he was supposed to and it was HARD b/c the school was not supportive!!

Second, is there a bullying policy? What the girl said is BULLYING. It should NOT be allowed at school. Have your son ask to file a bully report or whatever the policy is on bullying.

I see sitting next to this horrid girl as a punishment that he has NOT earned. Even if he has to sit separately, he should be able to get AWAY from this child.

Goooo!! GFG!!!!!!! Good Job!!!!

I really think if you can approach it as bullying you might get somewhere. Most schools are really working on this with the kids. Even if you have to call the counselor, give it a shot.

Hugs,

Susie

[Kjs]

Just had to let you know what happened. Or, maybe to smile on how gfg handled this.

The next day he went to class and spoke to the teacher. He told her he would like to "TRY TO MAKE IT WORK, without having to move". (big smile here)

Now if he would just DO his WORK. Ok..I must appreciate one thing at a time.