Not many days go by in my job that I wonder if I did the right thing when it comes to how I handled the discipline of a student. Today I am feeling torn about a decision I made to recommend expulsion for a thirteen-year-old female student who threatened me with bodily harm last Wednesday.
In our district, it is policy that a student who commits assault and/or battery on an employee is automatically subject to expulsion. Threats are considered assault. I did what policy dictates. I recommended her for expulsion. I did not press charges against her because I did not “feel” threatened; however, I do “feel” like I must send a strong message to a number of aggressive females on our campus who think it is justified on their parts to “speak their minds.” The female student in question said it best: “Yes, I said it, but I didn’t mean it.”
But … did I do the right thing? Students are not truly “expelled” in our district. They do their time in a court continuation school for 18-36 weeks. This female student will not be allowed to return to our school after her time is served for both her own and my protection.
Not one time in my own schooling nor in my early years as an educator did I ever think I would have a student threaten me.
I’m disheartened and puzzled.
Bummer. And you’re right… tough call. Sounds like you made a good decision. Whether it was exactly right in this particular instance, you’ll probably never know. So you do your best, get on with it, and stay open and perceptive to your gut reactions. I say Bravo for decision making. Period.
Whew! I think you made the right choice. Knowing the neighborhood your school is in and the population surrounding it, I think you did what was right. I hope the student learns from this experience and that it sends a very powerful message to her peers that disrespect and aggression will not be tolerated.
I’m sorry you had to make such a tough call so early in the year!