Disciplinary Action/Disciplinary Office/First Week/Fighting/Alone
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Varano, but as you know I have to handle all students equally. Having said that, I will take their ages and motives in consideration,” you explained to the secretary, who directed you a somewhat dirty look, but not even half what you expected from a worried mother, “Boys! to my office, now!” you ordered the two youngsters. The black-haired kid, Marcus, obeyed at once, while Mrs. Varano’s son, Chester, directed a pleading look towards her mother between his tears, and only moved when she supported your order with a movement of her head.
“Ok, Marcus,” you started once the door to your office closed behind you, “tell me what happened,” you directed to the calmer of the two, since Chester was still weeping a little.
“I didn’t nothing wrong!” started the boy, “I told Chester it was good his mom wasn’t mean anymore, and then he punched me!”
“You said my mom was ugly!” screamed Chester swiping his eyes.
“I said she’s scary when she’s mean!”
“Enough!” you stepped between them, as Chester appeared ready to start another fight, “So, Marcus said something unpleasant about your mother,” you said to the taller boy, “and instead of telling a teacher, you punched him,” Chester slouched over as he nodded, “and you also fought back, right?” you asked the black-haired kid.
“He punched me first!” insisted Marcus.
“You’re both to blame!” you spoke, forcing them into silence, “you should know not to say bad things about other’s,” you scolded Marcus, “how would you feel if someone said your mom is mean or scary?” at this the boy’s face changes, apparently realizing for the first time what he’s been saying, “and you,” you directed your words to Chester, “what made you think it was Ok to answer with a punch? haven’t you heard that sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me?”
“Sorry,” came the reply from both boys in stereo, their eyes downcast.
“It’s not me you should apologize to, but each other,” you explained, taking a step back to let them face each other.
“Sorry,” they repeated, looking at each other.
“Good, you will also have to apologize to your mothers, since your actions and your punishment will reflect on them,” you added, and at the mention of punishment both boys looked at you with fear, “fighting over nothing is not something a man should do, and if you’re going to behave like animals, perhaps I should show you where that would lead,” you started, thinking over what punishment would be appropriate, “do you know what a homosexual is?”
Marcus tilted his head, clearly not recognizing the word, but Chester’s eyes got big at it, so you turned to him for an answer, “Is a… sin?” he asked, and continued when you refused to let him go, “I heard the Deacon and the Headmaster talking… and they said homosexuals go to hell.”
You managed to avoid rolling your eyes, “Ok, what about gay, or queer?”
Marcus giggled a bit, “Those are bad words,” he simply said, while Chester nodded, both kids apparently amused that a teacher would say bad words.
“Why are they bad words?” you answer seriously, but neither boy had an answer. “They are bad words because the refer to the same thing: a man that does things unfitting for a man, just like you fighting each other. And such men have no place in this society,” you added, unable to hide your contempt at describing the town.
“Are we… gay?” asked Marcus, apparently more baffled than scared.
“Not yet,” you continued, “but you will take a step in that direction, and if you don’t be careful, your parents and friend will want nothing to do with you and you’ll end up alone in the streets,” you warned them, keeping to yourself that perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing, if it allowed them to leave town.
As the boys pondered your words, the fear in their faces growing, you focused on the punishment at hand. While you’ve said to Mrs. Varano you wouldn’t show favoritism, you had no intention of getting on her bad side, so you decided to honor her request to keep the punishment private. Lucky for you there were two of them, so you had a lot of options to choose from: