The Fight.

Inner-city is intense.

Hands down, this is extremely difficult stuff and it is very hard for me not to get involved emotionally as a teacher.  Yesterday challenged me in ways I never have been before.  I had to fill out a witness report form---for what you ask? The worst fight that the teachers of Everett have seen.

 It all started in my 2nd period class between a male and a female, let's call them "D" and "M" for professionalism's sake.  D and M started getting into some words (which happens every other second normally), and the boy started really provoking her about "losing a fight on Friday", and she already has a bad reputation with all the teachers for fighting.  I was between them trying to calm them down but it kept escalating to a point where Ms. Olguin had to step in and separated them by sending D to the hall.  This made him absolutely livid because he was thought he was being punished and so he said offensive things to her all the way out---this pushed M over the edge and so she ran out to him fists swinging.  He, being stronger, punched her first in the face and then knocked her down, pinned her, and pummeled her.

By the time I got out there, he was on her and M's face was gushing blood.  Luckily another teacher was there to pull them off (I would have, which I would've been BAD because I'm not trained and I would be liable! ah!), and the security guards and police were there quickly.  I had to keep the gawking class back, but I was extremely shocked as well.  Some of the girls in my class were so upset that they were hysterically crying and so they had to leave to go see the counselors. To my teacher, this was not a big deal, but to me it was absolutely horrifying---especially because it was a boy beating up a girl. The responses of everyone were varied: some kids were mad at the teacher for not intervening, some were scared, some shocked, some disgusted.

These kids are 12 and 13. Kids. And this is what that have to experience.  Nobody should see that, let alone impressionable and vulnerable middle schoolers.

My heart breaks for these kids in ways that I can never describe.  That they have to see this violence at school, which is supposed to be a safe place for them, and that when they go home each day they may see the same thing from people who are supposed to be protecting them from the world.  Today we had a "Community Circle" time where the principal, vice principal and counselors directed a dialogue about what happened yesterday and turned it into a constructive learning experience.  They passed around a stuffed animal and had each kid talk about what happened, how they felt about it, and what the school could do to better create a safe and healthy environment.

I might have to testify in juvy court because M's mom is pressing charges against the boy.  It's hard for me to see him go to juvenile detention because it takes him away from his education and gives him a permanent record---but kids have to see the consequences for their actions.  And the heartbreaking ending to this story?  My friend was passing back his test the same day and he got an A-.

If I wasn't too tired, I would cry.