The first of our semester parent/teacher conferences went really well. The two teens are thriving and keeping their grades way up. Their teachers all love them and claim they're active, bright students. Which has saddened me a great deal. Why? Because if my son is still the straight A, bright, respectful student he has always been, why is he suddenly being singled out while walking down the hall from class to class? Why did his second period teacher have him called into the office on suspicion of skipping his class?
Maybe because he no longer wears Abercrombie but has opted for band t-shirts and a lip ring? Possibly because his second period teacher is his disgruntled former football coach who is still pissed he's not playing this year? I know I warned him this might happen, but to be honest with you, I never really expected it to go this way. I honestly thought we've progressed more than this.
Nothing he wears is offensive, his jeans fit him properly, he ties his shoes. He showers daily. So what is the freaking problem? They made him go into the bathroom and wash his hair because they said it was spiked, and spiked hair isn't allowed. It appears gang oriented. First, there are no gangs in that small school, and second, he has a flipping military haircut. Those spikes were all of about half an inch high.
All accounts are that my man child was very respectful during the confrontation and did what he was told without question or attitude. The accusation of skipping class? During first period, the senior superlatives were called out for a meeting and yearbook photos, so he did arrive late to second period. However, after being questioned, the coach had to admit that he suddenly did remember seeing him come into the room shortly after the bell because the kid asked him a question on his way to his seat!
Yes, I warned him he might be treated differently once he started down this "punk" road, but you know what, that just isn't good enough for me. My claws are sharpened, and I'm more than ready to take on the entire district if he's singled out one more time without proper cause. I've agreed to let it ride for now only because nothing has happened. He hasn't been written up or had any sort of punishments unfairly handed to him. I'm studying up on the student handbook. So far, I can't find a single rule he's broken. Several other really minor things have happened, but they're all adding up to one big thing.
He doesn't want me stepping in just yet, but I can tell he's about to lose his temper with the situation. His tone carried a definite bite when he told me if he wore a baseball cap backwards and had a Skoal ring on his jean pocket, this stuff wouldn't be happening. Before I let close minded rednecks ruin his senior year of high school, I will bare my teeth and make a complete fool of myself.
I don't think our children are perfect, but as I said, no one complained during the conferences. He even has a couple teachers that he had last year. According to them, he's still the same sweet guy he has always been.
Apparently this is mostly coming from this new female vice-principal. I've been in a bad mood for about a month now. She really doesn't want to take me down this road. One of us won't be walking back.
