Welcome Back to School

Today I received a personal phone call... from Caden's teacher. It's only a matter of time before I receive one from each of their teachers. They start out all sweet and kind, and really ease into whatever they are calling for. Parents must really get defensive, because they are so gentle at first. Then when they realize that I am very aware, but not ok with their behavior, they get to the meat of the problem. Carson served in ISS, also known as In School Suspension today. He had a choice to either serve 4 recesses, or ISS for one half day. The teacher that he had to sit with was the PE teacher. Not the brightest move on the school's part. Cars was happy as a clam. He loves the male teacher, who really didn't think Cars should be in trouble (he was playing a mercy game of sorts. He went first, and the kid got mad and told on him. We weren't too upset with him either. I know the kid since I go into the school to volunteer, and so I think his story is legit too, but the school had to report and discipline. Military schools I tell ya!) Cars got to hang out with Mr Muran and watch PE class all afternoon and do his work in the gym. Not really a punishment for him, but whatever! So onto Caden's call. His teacher started out by telling me that he has one of the highest scores in the class. It surprised me! Caden is in it WAY more for the social aspect. He could care less about school. He told me today, "I haven't missed one math problem, and I hurry through because I just want to play. They are just so easy." So he gets to go out of the class for "enrichment". He thinks the people in there aren't fun, he'd rather be with his friends. Then she tells me there are some issues. Nice way to put it. He told some kids they could pay him a handful of money and then be in his "club". The sad part is that kids were trying to get money to give him! What a punk. We told him if a kid with 5 eyes wants to play, they will get to play. We hear one more time that he isn't including everyone and he will not play when he gets home. He'd rather us pull out all his hair, one at a time. Next, he was telling people, "If your name is Bridger (or any other name in his class) then I get to ..." Then all the kids would laugh, but usually hurting the one kids feelings. She said he told her that's a game Cars taught him and it's cool. Um... not so cool! She said that he was far and away the leader of the class. He can get the kids to do almost anything, and all seem to follow whatever he does. She wants me to help that be in a good way, not bad, like she feels it has been so far this year. He is too cool for his own britches!!! He needs to be knocked back to reality, where people don't worship the ground he walks on. We'll see what the future holds. Chet and I have some work ahead of us with this one...