When my son was in sixth grade, he came home with a rip in his new sneakers. He told me
gym teacher did it during a sneaker check. It sounded like a fib, or at best, an accident on teacher's part, but I needed to clarify things."You mean he tugged on your sneaker and it ripped?" I asked.
"No, he said. It ripped when he threw it across floor and it hit doorway."
"He threw it across floor?" I tried to keep my voice guarded.
"Yeah, if your sneaker comes off, he throws it. My sneaker ripped when it hit doorway and flew into hall. Then I had to go get it."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but I struggled to keep my emotions to myself. If this teacher was so concerned about safety, how does he explain forcing a child to run across slippery gym floor in bare socks to fetch his sneakers? What about embarrassment and humiliation? Isn't that a form of bullying? I thought my son was exaggerating. But what if he wasn't?
I had a hard time accepting my son's explanation, but I couldn't let it go. Either he wasn't telling truth, or this teacher was way out of line. Both scenarios needed to be addressed. I made an appointment to talk with principal next morning.
The principal met my concerns with doubt. When she tired to dismiss me, I told her I wanted to speak to gym teacher in person.
The minute this man walked into her office, I could tell there was a problem. I knew my son had told truth. The gym teacher barely said hello. He didn't reach out to shake my hand, nor did he return my smile. He had a cocky attitude, but he didn't even know why I was there yet.
I bit my tongue, complementing him on his concern for safety. He shrugged his shoulders in response. Then I told him that my son came home with a rip in his new sneakers. Another shrug. Diplomacy wasn't working, so I asked him if he threw my son's sneaker across room. "Yeah, so?" was his reply.
"Yeah, so?" My emotions kicked in. "Who do you think you are? This isn't boot camp and my son is not a Marine. He is a sixth grade student. You mean to tell me you whipped his sneaker across gym, and then made him fetch it like a dog?"
"Hey, they weren't tied," was all he said.
"Don't you ever, I mean ever as much as touch my son again. If his sneakers aren't tied, make his sit out of class, give him demerits, or call me, but if you touch him again, I'll come into that gym and throw you across room. Got it?"
"Hey, whatever," he said. "I have rules. His sneakers weren't tied."
For a brief moment, I floundered. The principal's silence made me uncomfortable and gym teacher's attitude was intimidating. I gathered my thoughts, took a deep breath and said, "Don't you realize how damaging your actions are?
"Is that all?" he said, directing his question to principal. Then he left room.
Two weeks later, gym teacher was gone. I'm not certain what happened, but I believe his attitude aided in his demise. I wasn't looking for his dismissal, just common courtesy and respect for my son and his classmates. I guess that was more than he could offer.
Teachers have a very difficult job. As a whole, I commend their efforts and dedication. However, as with any profession, there are good and there are bad. If my son didn't have physical proof of this teacher's bullying behavior, I would never have known what was going on.
