Destructive. On many levels.

I don't even know where to begin today's post. At the beginning you say? Yes, that is normally a good place to start.

Levi is home from school. Today, tomorrow, who knows how long. This is a decision that has been in the making for quite some time and after yesterday, was made final.

Levi is a parrot. Everything he learns is by observing and copying. For a long time he could speak but not communicate. There's a difference because when Levi speaks, he is repeating words and phrases that he's heard. Over time, he has learned enough that he can now communicate. Sort of.

Along with everything else Levi learns and parrots is behavior. A behavior problem has never been a word that Levi has been called.......until this year. With the changing of school teachers, what was never a problem, has now become a huge problem. As other children in his class act out, Levi joins in the "fun".

Yesterday was the last straw and as I try to figure out what in the world happened, and what went wrong, trying to understand the public educations lack of being able to discipline students I realize that in a lot of ways they have their hands tied behind their backs. They are not allowed to touch students. I get that and although I don't agree, sadly I understand why.

In the case of yesterdays disaster lack of control is not something I am willing to mess with. I can not allow Levi to be in danger because when there is no control, that is exactly what it is. Danger. A dangerous situation. Especially when children are displaying violent behavior.

Yesterday I received a phone call from Levi's teacher. Before I go on, may I just say that I truly appreciate and love Levi's teacher. I place no blame on her, she is victim to a institution that forces her to stay within certain rules and when children cross certain lines the teachers really do have their hands tied behind their backs.

Anyway, the phone call. Levi is out of control. Having behavior issues, will I please talk to him on the phone to calm him down. Knowing Levi doesn't understand the phone I jumped in the truck and ran over to the school. Something I've been asked to do more and more lately. As I walked into the school I was met by Levi running down the halls in his socks with several teachers and aids running after him and another student who had escaped the classroom. When Levi saw me he stopped. He knew he was in doo doo. I took his hand and marched him back to his classroom as the teachers continued to chase the other perpetrator.

When I came to the classroom I could not believe my eyes and the destruction that had taken place. To say Levi and this other child had ransacked the room is an understatement. Chairs thrown and over turned, crayons thrown across the room, papers, a gazillion games thrown from their containers across the room. It was unreal and as I sat and looked at the mess I was puzzled. Puzzled at how this had been allowed to take place in the first place and secondly to go on for such an amount of time as it obviously had been!

Levi and the other student eventually cleaned up the mess.

I still sit here quite puzzled today. Behavior specialists were in the classroom yesterday along with the teachers and aids and yet....

What took place yesterday and has been taking place this school year is destructive. On many levels. And I won't allow Levi to be a victim of it.