1st grade - school of hard knocks

Ok so I know I'm Calvin's Momma but gosh 1st Grade has been a little rough for him. Let me clarify rough....not rough in comprehension or being able to do his homework or anything like that rough in kids being rough. One day about 2 weeks ago Calvin forgot some of his supplies and somehow a couple of kids made fun of him for forgetting calling him names. It spread to the playground time and he was called names and flipped off even.

A little boy who was in his class last year and was extremely ill-behaved to say it nicely has been putting Calvin in headlocks, threatening him and our family saying he is going to "kill us & break in our house & steal my jewelry" etc. So of course I reported this to his teacher last week. So his teacher said that the boy apologized and that now they have teachers on the playground to monitor the recesses better because the aides weren't doing the best of jobs. Really the aides told Calvin and his friends that were also being put in headlocks or half nelson's in wrestling terms...to "shut your mouth and go play" when they told on him. So this week 9/2/08 he hasn't wanted to go school every morning for some silly reason or the other such as my tummy hurts or I think I have a fever etc. He has also complained about a little girl that is very mean to him but I didn't really think too much of it....until yesterday! Yesterday I get home from work and Will tells me that the school nurse had just called and said that Calvin got hurt at recess that a little girl (same little girl Calvin tells me is mean to him) pushed his head into the drinking fountain as he was getting a drink and busted his skin next to his eye. So I decided enough was enough...I went to the school to talk to the vice principal who handles behavior problems and waited for a long time which I expected not having an appointment. He was on the phone for a long time and then came out finally to speak to me by then it was 6 minutes until school was due to be out and he said that I needed to speak to the principal because she knew more about the situation. I know her fairly well on a first name basis due to all of my volunteering last year and now working for the school district doing payroll. She explained the situation and that the girl said it was an accident but Calvin said it wasn't the two witnesses said she got impatient for the water and shoved him...I wanted to know her punishment because she has been mean for weeks now and the principal told me she couldn't discuss that with me! I think that is absurd! So after about 4 minutes of talking saying that this little girl who has a parent who works there hasn't ever been in trouble before would have an individual punishment, but she couldn't share it with me but it sounded like nothing would happen at all. So not thrilled about that I proceeded to tell her that I was also sick and tired of telling my children that it is a "Hands off Campus" when Andre is constantly putting my son in head locks and none of the aides do a darn thing about it. I also told her of the threats and that I wanted it noted and supervised more closely on the playground. She told me that they have a ton of boys in 1st grade and that they are rowdy boys that are considering dividing the 1st graders onto two different playgrounds. So next thing I knew the bell rang and I needed to get my kids. I know the school does everything possible to protect our kids but I just feel bad that Calvin is having a bit of a rough year.

My first day of first grade a 5th grader pushed me down and I had to have stitches in my forehead and skinned up my entire face just in time for school pictures that were only once a year and the first week of school. Calvin is alot like me I was outgoing, happy go lucky, trying to be every one's friend and didn't stick up for myself very well so I got bullied a lot and beat up a lot even by cousins. My parents had to teach me how to be tough but I didn't get that concept until I was in junior high and had been in a few fights. I told Will that if anything else happens I'm going to go volunteer at the school and give out a few spankings at recess if either one of them gets within 10 feet of him but that probably wouldn't go over very well. ha ha ha

Calvin's daddy showed him how to get out of a half nelson and head lock and showed him some defense moves. Calvin isn't a wimp like I was but he is just a friendly little guy who wouldn't want to hurt anyone...we are going to have to rough him up a little so he can at least protect himself. :o) He wrestles with Will all of the time and can hit super hard I've felt because of playing or misses dad by mistake and hits me...I don't want him to hit anyone but I don't want him to stand there and be hurt either. Such a tough call. We've told him to walk away so hopefully that works.

He came home today and said that he had to go to the principals office for Andre to apologize to him but no one called me or sent home anything. Will didn't want me to take any pictures but I might take one tomorrow just because. :o) Kids can be so mean!