Confessions of an Urban Principal/ “My son didn’t assault anyone.”

by Frank Murphy

Installment 6 of 8

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Today I finally heard from the regional superintendent. He sent me a warning memo for failing to fax a sign-in sheet to his office.

Each school in the Central Region is required to keep a sign-in register on the office counter for the use of visiting school personnel.  Every Friday, it is expected that this document will be faxed to the regional office. This is how the regional attempts to monitor the whereabouts of his staff.  There is only one centrally assigned employee who spends any time at Meade.  This is the school psychologist.

The hectic nature of events over the last few days has distracted me.  Suffering through another flu like illness while recovering from my injuries made it difficult to stay focused.  Completing the extensive paper work that was required for Phillip’s disciplinary transfer request occupied most of my attention.   In this distracted state I had forgotten to fax the register.  Failing to make a deadline is something I rarely do.

After opening the sealed confidential envelope and reading this memo, I was angry. What a silly little thing this was.  Why the fuss?  Didn’t the super have any important work to occupy his attention?  Instead of sending me a petty chastisement; he could have inquired about my well being.   It has been more than a week since I went to the hospital.  He has yet to reply to the messages I left for him on the day I was assaulted by Phillip.

Neither he nor anyone from his office has bothered to check to determine if I was all right.  I haven’t seen a get-well card.   The only contact he chooses to have with me is this petty warning memo.  I have never received a disciplinary warning in all of the years I have been an administrator.  The lack of sensitivity he has demonstrated offends me.  Perhaps I should send him a warning memo.

While I was stewing over this rebuke in the privacy of my office, the mother of the party of five was waiting to see me.  It has been five-days since the start of her son’s suspension.  He was due to return today.

The Regional Office should have placed him in an interim placement at another location until a disciplinary hearing could be scheduled.  This is a typical practice when a student has committed a particularly egregious action, such as an assault on a school staff member that has resulted in an injury.  Despite the serious nature of Phillip’s infraction the regional office has yet to take any action on his case.  Therefore, I have to readmit him into the school.

She came into my office.  I explained to her that I had submitted a request  for her son to be placed in an alternative school.  After hearing this news she immediately demonstrated that she was as aggressive as her son.

“My son didn’t assault anyone. That man had no right putting his hands on my son.  He threw my son against the wall and choked him.  I have a witnesses.”

I replied, “You have it backwards. Your son threw the police officer against the wall.  Your son tried to choke the officer. I saw it.  I am a witness. When I went to help the officer, your son punched me several times in the shoulder and chest.  He assaulted me.  I will readmit him today.  You will be notified of a hearing at the Regional Office, which will determine what actions will be taken.  He will remain here for the time being.  I am warning you that if he touches anyone again, he will be arrested.”

She started to curse.  I told her it was time for her to leave and that I would take care of putting her son back in class.  While I was attempting to guide her out of the office, she started to scream.

“Don’t you touch me? Get away from me.  You touch me and you will get it.  Fuck you.  Fuck this school.”

In the hallway she told her son, “You go up to your class.”

I stopped him. “Wait over there on the bench until I send you back to class.”

Her daughter, was sitting on the bench in her usual spot.  To the mother I said,  “Your daughter has to go to class.  She cannot sit here all day.”

To the girl I said, “Go to class.”

The child replied, “No.”

The mother screamed, “Don’t you talk to my children.”

Addressing them, she said, “Come on we are getting out of here.”

They moved in the direction of the front door.  I followed behind them.  The mother turned and said, “Get away from us before I put my foot up your ass.”

Several other parents were entering the building as she made this threat.  They seemingly were taken aback by the rudeness of this woman.  If looks could kill, the head of the party of five would have been dead.

As soon as the door closed behind her, I went back to my office.  Once there I placed another call to the regional office.  I wanted to inquire as to the status of Phillip’s transfer request.  The regional superintendent was in a meeting with his staff.  No one was available who might provide me with some information.  A secretary took a message.