Kontan Jou

It’s Friday, and pep-rally day. I don’t even have to wait until tonight to know that it is also a full moon. OMG. Ever have those days that would be great, if not for one defining bad-day making event? Welcome to my Friday.

I teach high school. If you teach/attend high school you will eventually see a fight. Unfortunately this one took place in my classroom. One student mouthing about another’s momma. The other throws a binder, the first throws a backpack and then it’s on. Usually students will challenge up to each other demonstrating their size and machismo, maybe throw a punch if someone doesn’t pull them apart. Eh-eh. These guys tore into each other and were all over the room. The rest of the students weren’t cheering like you have seen or would imagine. They were terrified and trying to stay out of the way. Desks were pushed into each other, a chair or two upside down, and students cowering.

I tried to diffuse it before it started. Students were supposed to be studying for the test that day. The kid who threw his binder was, but he couldn’t help responding to the mouthy kid. Both were warned to get quiet and study. I had no idea what mouthy kid was saying. He wasn’t saying where I could hear. When binder kid stood up I told him to step out of the room…that’s when things went flying. While telling them to back down I hit the call button. They tie up. I call for security and continue to try to talk these guys apart. They both are significantly taller than me and throwing some serious punches. I sent a student for admin and continue to instruct the other students to get to the wall and out of the way. Other teachers hear and step in to either make sure I am not caught under it and to help. The boys are wrestling in the floor. When they stand and separate a little I cautiously grabbed the shirt of binder boy and pull him to me trying to coax him to back down. He started backing toward me as I pulled him. I think he was ready for the fight to stop and saving face while backing down.

We get in the hall and I take him by the elbow to go to admins office. He was still VERY angry, but at least listening to me. I was trying to get him to calm down so he didn’t make it worse for himself when security got there. IMO he is a good kid who just didn’t like someone disrespecting his momma. I won’t comment on the other student, but I will say he was showing a gradual improvement by not totally disrupting class on a daily basis.

Crazy day.