Barb Jernigan wrote:

> It was very interesting to see what the kids, including mine, came up
> with as images in their art class on the 9/11 anniversary.
> 
> [Reid: "I couldn't show the buildings fallen down, that would upset
> people." And he had people gathered together around these burning ruins,
> singing.....]

Wow--quite the observant and compassionate young man.
But then, as someone noted on another thread, the apple never
falls far from the tree, does it? :)
 
> > Lissa TheyHaveToLearn Wingling
> 
> and must be taught.....

Yes--which is falling more and more on us as teachers.
 
> Interesting/disturbing/but vindicating (in a perverse way) conversation
> with Debbie, the Crossing Guard this morning. Her son is a year or two
> older than Reid, but a fish from the same odd school. And his experience
> with the local kids is very, very like Reid's. She was commenting, though
> her hubby is Troop leader, how the local boy scouts seem to be, well,
> mean.

These kids are how old?

> Now we could be responding defensively re: our kids being the picked at
> outsiders, still....

Could be, but, as you say, still.

> And I REALLY believe in the Boy Scout setting the darn leaders need to
> come down on that kind of behavior. This isn't boys/guys night out, this
> is supposed to be teaching the kids "right" behavior. =grrrrrr=

Yes. No matter what they think or feel or want to do, when an
adult puts him/herself in the position of being a role model,
there are responsibilities that go along with that. My kids don't
get to be discourteous in my class, period. They can be
opinionated, but may not be discourteous.  Now, that doesn't go
beyond my classroom door, and I know that; but at least it's
going on somewhere.

> And one wonders, is it something in the neighborhood? Or what.

Something developmental, p'raps.
 
> However, since he's gone back after Christmas break, he seems to be "out
> of the crosshairs" -- hopefully he'll be one of those kids not worth the
> bullying effort (as I was). He did have an epiphany of sorts as we were
> walking back to school the first morning: it wasn't that the Colorado
> kids didn't tease him, but he'd gotten used to it, so didn't react.....
> so there could be a sea change in himself as well as those around???

Probably some combination thereof; when the attacked no longer
reacts, what's the fun?  That's how I got through a lot of
school, myself.
 
> Doesn't mean there won't be slings and arrows of outrageous behavior, but
> so long as he isn't a Target. I don't want ANY kid to be the target,
> mind, but I especially (and selfishly, but I'm a mother, and can't help
> it) don't want it of MINE.

No, not *selfishly*. This is your job, after all.
 
> tail twitching, dangerously alert re: her cub, tygress

Far be it from me to get between *any* mother and her cub. :)
 
> sorry, back to your previously scheduled reminiscence.....

No worries, sweetie. *Hug*

--- Rachel's Little NET2FIDO Gate v 0.9.9.8 Alpha