More "fun" at school

Today provided some more school-related drama, courtesy of our friend Loftur. Remember him? If not, you can refresh your memory at: http://toddsdiary.blogspot.com/2010/01/school-daze.html

At lunch today, I watched as Loftur savagely beat his sandwich against the table. He was unhappy that it was... well, whatever it was, he didn't like it. He threw it against his bag, thumped at it a few times, then took it out and slammed it on the table, where he proceeded to bash his fist into it several times, until one of the older kids told him to knock it off. Okay, not really eyebrow-raising, as that type of behavior is pretty much par for the course for this kid.

What happened later was more frustrating, however.

Allan got a call from Todd and Loftur's teacher this evening, informing us that Loftur had hit Todd because Todd apparently told another kid, Johnny, something that Loftur had asked him not to tell. Sounds like Todd told a secret he shouldn't have, right? Still no excuse for Loftur to slap him on the eye, but still something we should discuss with Todd, right? Guess again.

Turns out this is what had really happened:
Johnny, a second-grader, was reading to the class. The teacher slipped out of the classroom while he read, putting him "in charge" of the class. Now, courtesy, common sense and rules dictate that other students do not talk while someone is reading. So what do you suppose happened while Johnny read aloud? Why, the same thing that always happens everyday: Loftur turned and talked to Todd.

Todd, aware of the rules, piped up and told Johnny (who, remember, was "in charge") that Loftur had talked, upon which Johnny did what any teacher would've done: put a check mark next to Loftur's name on the board. This incensed Loftur so much that he slapped Todd in the face, and THAT's evidently when he told Todd that he shouldn't have told Johnny.

When their teacher returned, Todd told her Loftur had slapped him. She turned to Loftur and asked if that was true. He confirmed. She asked why. He replied with exactly what I stated above: that Todd had told Johnny something Loftur had asked him not to tell. In other words, the kid lied to make it sound like Todd did something wrong. (of course, even if that were true, that's still no excuse for slapping him)

So what does the teacher do? Rather than get Todd's side of it, or even ask Johnny what happened, she is satisfied with this version of things and sends Todd to the office to get some ice. And since anytime kids go anywhere outside of class, they are accompanied by a buddy, who do you suppose she sent out with Todd? Why, none other than his affirmed slapper-- Loftur!

So, let's see... she left a room full of 1st and 2nd graders alone at least twice. Strike one. Then she took in only one side of the story. Strike two. Then she pairs Todd and Loftur as they leave the classroom shortly after this incident. Strike three?

While I'm furious that Loftur basically lied to the teacher about what happened, and am thus concerned about the effects such habits/behaviors have on Todd, I'm even more incensed about how their teacher went about all this. It's really hard to have faith in and support (both financially and by word-of-mouth) a school where my son's teacher doesn't keep discipline in the class properly, and even leaves them alone (however brief that period may be). Sigh...