Songbird76
Well-Known Member
Well, I have to admit that I'm a bit fuzzy on the details and I didn't dare ask because of privacy issues. The old school would not tell us who they were considering expelling and we only really figured out the one we DO know by ourselves. When everything happened in October, the school was basically shocked into action. They knew there was an issue, but had NO clue how bad it really was, despite my almost living at the school by that point. (I swear, I was there nearly every day reporting something, having a meeting about it, etc...) So they finally HAD to admit it was out of control and they kind of skapegoated the other school we merged with and said it was because of them, but this problem had been ongoing since long before the merge. But they blamed the kids from the other school, saying that those kids were worse, etc...they told us one kid had been expelled and they were " looking at a couple more". And then we got an email sent to all the parents of kids in DS's class saying this kid would not be coming back, he was was already " staying home" and they were looking for a more suitable placement for him, and as that was one of the big name bullies, we put 2 and 2 together. But because of the kids' privacy, they couldn't tell us who they were expelling or how they were handling each student. But, Christian was not from the other school...he has been in DS's class since 2nd grade and first DS told me they were friends, but then every day, there was something the kid did that wasn't nice and it wasn't long before DS was saying he didn't want to play with this kid anymore. When they were still " friends" the kids were all playing at the playground on our street when DS asked if they could come jump on the trampoline. I said yes, they could, but they had to stay outside and they had to ask their parents if it was ok. They (Christian and his brother, Sammy) told me their mom already knew where they were. Well...how could she when they hadn't been by to ask? So I knew he was lying and told them to go ask. I fully expected a knock on the door to check me out to make sure her kid would be safe, but that never happened. Red flag #1...I wouldn't have allowed my kids to go to someone's home if I didn't know the parents or where they lived, etc. So the kids are playing, but they are being unsafe and I tell them they need to not do what they are doing, give them the rules, and if they can't abide by the rules, they need to go home. Every time I look out, they are doing what they aren't supposed to be doing, and then DS starts crying...Christian told him he's going to come steal his bike and called him some names. I sent the kids packing. When they came and asked the next day if they could come jump on the trampoline, I said no. They refused to follow rules and they were little jerks....not welcome at my house. But obviously this kid has a problem with authority, and aggression, and lying...and DS's new school DOES have kids with Oppositional Defiant disorder, so perhaps that's what this is. But, DS said he thought Christian was in a "special class" for kids who had problems at their old school. I said "Sweetie, EVERY kid at your school is there because they had problems at their old school. That's why they are at this school!" but perhaps they do divide the classes somewhat according to their category of issues. Maybe the class Christian is in is specifically for those kids with similar issues. Again, I didn't dare ask, because they wouldn't have been able to tell me. But just that DS's teacher said their class rarely has contact with Christian's class makes me feel better. If he's been there since December and this is the first I've heard of it, they must not be thrown together much. And he has to have SOME kind of issue or he wouldn't be at this school...my guess is oppositional defiant disorder, and if those kids are separated from the kids who have Autism, then at least DS is safe for the most part. But apparently Christian's behavior in his new class is so common they have a name for it. Literal translation is Rooster...he is loud and aggressive and trying to make himself seem bad and tough so other kids won't mess with him or try to push him around. As the new kid, he's low in the pecking order, so he has to display cocky behavior to show they can't push him around. Once they settle in a bit, that lessens over time. But the school is used to dealing with it because it happens so often with new kids.
But Disney has a way of talking some into the fold that really should not have.
