Perhaps you might suggest that the super need be present at that meeting.... I'd say outright to the principal that, because of the lack of consequences and commuinication, that you don't trust him (let's be blunt, lol!), that the only reason he's responding now is because he's been told he had to. And as such, you would like the super there, and that you plan on recording the conversation so there is no misunderstanding at a later date about what was or was not said.
I have to say that I agree with you there Jackie. Had the whole thing been addressed from day one, I wouldn't have had to go to the district in the first place. I am going to spend some time reviewing Policy 703 ( http://www.gnb.ca/0000/pol/e/703A.pdf ) before I go so that I can quote it and be armed with all the information I can have with me. I've been so wrapped up in my own schooling I kind of put this on the back burner for a bit but I've just finished my labs and testing so I have some time to move forward on this. Andrew deserves this from me and so does the child who is bullied at school who doesn't have the support of someone who will fight for him because he's afraid to speak up.
I'm heading out to the meeting with the principal in a couple minutes and I'm not the least bit worried or even upset about it (not like I was the other day). I had called someone who I have worked with in the past and asked if she would go with me but Andrew declined any counseling from her so she closed the request file. There wasn't enough time to re-open it (and because he's now 16, it's a choice he can make for himself :roll: ). HOWEVER, we talked in great detail on the phone yesterday (she has had many battles with this same principal in the past) and she gave me some ideas to go with so I'm heading in there with the education act and safe learning policy in hand ready to go! WATCH OUT here I come !! Life is about making choices and the consequences that result from making poor choices. Andrew is living with the result of a choice he made when he chose to turn back and engage in the fight, the principal and his staff live with the consequences of their lack of care for this (by dealing with a very upset mother). I can't change the fact that their irresponsible choices result in the other child not being discplined... I have to trust that the justice system will not fail us. BUT I can focus on the very fact that Andrew is 8 weeks behind and what do they plan to do to catch him up so that this year is successful for him and he can continue into grade 11 next year and I have every intentions of asking what they plan to do to keep him safe (since they've proven that they were incapable of doing that before). I continue to covet your prayers as I prepare to go to the school. I'll update when I get home
Wooooooooooohoooooooooo !! :lol: I'm home and everyone present lived to talk about it lol Much to my surprise, the principal accepted 100% ownership for his irresponsibility with the whole matter leading up to me having to go there at all. Suspensions have been given out (Andrew was given three days for his part in it, which I accept and the other child 5 days). No, it isn't fair for the damage that happened but this is where the justice system needs to right the wrong that happened as a result (more prayer needed). I stood my ground when I said that his inactions in the immediate aftermath only sent a message to the student body as a whole that the behaviours that took place were acceptable to which he couldn't respond because as much as he may not like it, I was right. As I was about to leave, I left the principal and vice principal with this thought: convince me that I'm sending Andrew into a safe environment when you've proven otherwise...
Just out of curiousity, will Andrew's penalty be considered already served, with all the days he had to miss?
Andrew's penalty has already been served because he has missed 8 weeks of school, I'm not sure when the other child will serve his (or if he has since I've been to the district office). As for the time he missed and how they plan to catch him up, he will continue to receive tutoring (up to 12 hours a week now... double from what it was before). Andrew really enjoys the tutor he has been working with and is really liking math now "I didn't know math could be so fun" so I'm hopeful he's going to benefit from it and catch up with the rest of his material.
Kudos to mom for standing strong for Andrew and seeing not only to his needs but to the future needs of all the other students in that school! You are an inspiration!
