Apparently three 2nd Graders have been entertaining themselves by tearing up a dandelion patch. Marty, the eco-warrior, took offense to this. He, Ashlyn, and Ryder (the shortest, roundest boy in Marty's class) banded together and told the bigger kids to stop, they were hurting nature. Ashlyn had a ball in her hands, which "Mr. Green Money" (the boy had on a shirt with money and the words "I should get paid to be this awesome") took and used to hit Ryder in the eye. Marty shielded Ashyln and the bigger boy used the ball to hit Marty in the stomach. He then punched Marty in the stomach twice. He grabbed Marty by the throat and choked him "really hard." Marty was very proud that he didn't cry.
At dismissal, the same boy grabbed Marty and said that he and his friends were going to "beat [Marty] up tomorrow at the corner."
I asked Marty if he fought back, and he said he didn't even think about hitting back. He was too surprised to be hit in the first place. We talked about fighting not being the answer, and I expressed how much more important he was than a dandelion patch. He said, "Picking nature is against school rules, and we have to defend the school rules." He is insistent that he must "defend nature," which apparently consists of as many 1st Graders as he can gather forming a human shield (i.e. punching bag) between the sacred yellow blossoms and the evil destructors from the 2nd Grade.
If he were hurt, I would be upset. Since he's not hurt, I can be tongue-in-cheek. This is the boy who didn't want to check out the wrestling club because "don't they know they could hurt each other?" He is also the same boy who separated two roughhousing Webelos twice his size because he thought they were fighting. And here he is, ready to sacrifice himself for a patch of dandelions.
My boy, my joy. Looks like it's time for martial arts.
I asked Marty if he fought back, and he said he didn't even think about hitting back. He was too surprised to be hit in the first place. We talked about fighting not being the answer, and I expressed how much more important he was than a dandelion patch. He said, "Picking nature is against school rules, and we have to defend the school rules." He is insistent that he must "defend nature," which apparently consists of as many 1st Graders as he can gather forming a human shield (i.e. punching bag) between the sacred yellow blossoms and the evil destructors from the 2nd Grade.
If he were hurt, I would be upset. Since he's not hurt, I can be tongue-in-cheek. This is the boy who didn't want to check out the wrestling club because "don't they know they could hurt each other?" He is also the same boy who separated two roughhousing Webelos twice his size because he thought they were fighting. And here he is, ready to sacrifice himself for a patch of dandelions.
My boy, my joy. Looks like it's time for martial arts.
Ju-Jitsu and Aikido are both good. They emphasize reaction more than aggression and striking, so it's more likely to be used to defend oneself than hurt someone else. Joint locks, armbars, and chokes aren't very good ways to attack someone else.
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