Honestly, this whole system is just so fucked up that there's really little telling where the problem lies. Fact is, it's a fucking jail for kids that's designed (consciously or unconsciously) to churn out either wage-slaves or recidivist prison workers, and the classroom is basically a cage for gangs of adolescent members of a species that are really not all that far off from baboons in the great scheme of things.
I'm a big advocate of going underground. While the term "dropping out" may not be the most apropos, there's an important thing to consider: that while Tristan is forced to go to school, he will likely not find himself there, and he isn't lost. He's just lost to a place where the best conformists are tacitly allowed to beat up on those who are different.
Oh, honey! You are NOT a shitty mother! I have watched you love and raise this boy child for close to a decade now. The first year of high school has been such a struggle for Max, and I felt so judged and so much the cause of every one of his problems. You need no tweaking, dear friend. You will get through this with the same sort of earnest and endearing grace you have shown in all this time I've known you. Your son will be loved through his journey, no matter how difficult it may be. Of that, I have no doubt.
I would have probably nailed the kid too. I had a horrible time in middle and high school. I was never so glad as when I graduated and got the fuck out.
I grew up without a cell phone so maybe I am out of touch, but if it is a problem, why not take it away?
My mom teaches jr. high and she has told me about the waves of drama that texting causes. I suppose the simple and short term solution is to remove the cell phone. But I am not a parent.
I did nail the kid. I had to be pulled out of the school where I was and put into another one because I was so heavily bullied, and the teachers etc. blamed ME because all these kids were assaulting me and mocking me. Clearly I had to be a troublemaker. And yeah I had a mouth on me.
I still don't really like or trust people and have a hard time in groups larger than about four.
As someone who spent nearly a month from school suspended in the eighth grade due to fights with other people, and then had to move cross-country right when high school started, putting me squarely in that everybody-knows-everybody-else-and-they're-all-laughing-at-me camp, I can safely say it's possible to make it to the other side of high school reasonably intact. Admittedly, it was still a struggle at certain points, and both my gpa and my relationship with my mom suffered from time to time, but ultimately the end result was more or less the person you first met a lot of years ago
( ... )
I tend to agree with the activity suggestion. My youngest daughter had been bullied in her old school. When we moved, her brother forced her to pick (I think that it was three) activities, in order to make friends, and have a group to hang out with in the lunch room etc. The idea worked, they aren't at the "popular" table at lunch, but she is surrounded by friends and not picked on.
Good god, Teri, reading this reminds me SO MUCH of my brother's seventh grade year that it isn't even funny. I don't think it would be appropriate to go too deep into it here without his permission, as he was dealing with some serious crap, but I will say that he got suspended for defending himself when a ninth grader came and started shoving him against the lockers.
Add to that a vice-principal who had it out for us (yeah, me too, even though my idea of rebellion was swearing sometimes and playing crazy eights in the lunchroom), and... well, you get the idea.
You've met my brother, yeah? I'd say - and I know I'm a bit biased - that he came out to be a pretty amazing guy.
The big turnaround point for him was going to an alternative junior high for eighth and ninth grade... unfortunately, I know that he was DAMN LUCKY to get that opportunity. :/
Also, my mom? I don't think anyone could possibly THINK to describe her as a shitty mom. And yet this shit also happened to her son. You are not a shitty mom.
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I'm a big advocate of going underground. While the term "dropping out" may not be the most apropos, there's an important thing to consider: that while Tristan is forced to go to school, he will likely not find himself there, and he isn't lost. He's just lost to a place where the best conformists are tacitly allowed to beat up on those who are different.
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I grew up without a cell phone so maybe I am out of touch, but if it is a problem, why not take it away?
My mom teaches jr. high and she has told me about the waves of drama that texting causes. I suppose the simple and short term solution is to remove the cell phone. But I am not a parent.
Life still totally bewilders me.
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I still don't really like or trust people and have a hard time in groups larger than about four.
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Add to that a vice-principal who had it out for us (yeah, me too, even though my idea of rebellion was swearing sometimes and playing crazy eights in the lunchroom), and... well, you get the idea.
You've met my brother, yeah? I'd say - and I know I'm a bit biased - that he came out to be a pretty amazing guy.
The big turnaround point for him was going to an alternative junior high for eighth and ninth grade... unfortunately, I know that he was DAMN LUCKY to get that opportunity. :/
Also, my mom? I don't think anyone could possibly THINK to describe her as a shitty mom. And yet this shit also happened to her son. You are not a shitty mom.
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