As an Emergency Room nurse, I’m accustomed to keeping my phone in my locker while on duty. However, I received a call on the hospital’s private line from my daughter’s school. Caller: “This is [Teacher] from [School]. There has been an incident involving [Daughter]. We need you to come in. ”Me: “Is she sick or injured? Can it wait until my shift ends in two hours?” Caller: “[Daughter] has been involved in an altercation with another student. We’ve been trying to reach you for the past 45 minutes. It’s quite serious. ”I rush to the school and am directed to the Principal’s office, where I find my daughter, her advisor, a male teacher, the principal, a boy with a bloody nose, and his parents. Principal: “Mrs. [My Name], thank you for joining us. ”Me: “Yes, things can get hectic in the ER. I’ve just spent the past hour stitching up a seven-year-old who was injured, followed by a police report. My apologies for the delay. ”(After listening to the Principal’s explanation, it seemed they were more upset with my daughter than the boy.)
Me: “So, you’re asking if I plan to address this incident legally? ”(They become flustered when I mention legal action.) Teacher: “I don’t think it was that serious. ”Advisor: “Let’s not make it bigger than it is.” Principal: “I believe you’re missing the point. ”(The boy’s mother starts crying. I turn to my daughter to hear her side of the story.) Daughter: “He kept snapping my bra. I asked him to stop, but he didn’t listen. I reported it to Mr. [Teacher], but he told me to ‘ignore it.’ When the boy did it again and undid my bra, I hit him. That’s when he stopped. ”(I address the teacher.) Me: “You allowed this behavior? Why didn’t you intervene? Do you find it acceptable because they’re kids? ”Principal: “Mrs. [My Name], despite everything, your daughter still physically assaulted another student. ”Me: “No, she defended herself against a sexual attack from a fellow student. Look at them; he’s almost 6 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. She’s much smaller. How many times should she have tolerated his behavior? If the person responsible for maintaining order in the classroom couldn’t be bothered, what choice did she have? He pulled her bra so forcefully it came undone. ”(The boy’s mother is still crying, and his father looks both angry and ashamed. The teacher avoids eye contact. I turn to the Principal.) Me: “I’m taking my daughter home. I believe the boy has learned his lesson. I sincerely hope this never happens again, not just to my daughter but to any girl in this school. I will be reporting this to the school authorities. And if you,” addressing the boy, “ever touch my daughter again, I will have you disciplined. Do you understand? ”Filled with anger, I gather my daughter’s belongings and leave. I report the incident to the School Board, some of whom I know personally, and they assure me that it will be addressed promptly. My daughter is transferred to a different class for that subject, away from the teacher and the boy.