[3124] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: Remind me again why I didn't go Course VI...
sethg@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (sethg@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Mon Jun 15 22:50:13 1992
Follow-up file #3: OK, I met with the counselor, then went out for
ice cream while Fred's parents met with the *other* counseling
staff. Then I, the counselor, and the principal met with Fred,
who had apparently believed that a three-day suspension would
be the end of his trouble.
First, as a condition of remaining a student at the Learning
Center, Fred had to sign a contract with the principal. One
term of the contract: the next time he even *threatens* to
falsely accuse someone of abuse, he will be suspended and his
parents will be notified.
Then I explained to Fred the pain I had gone through in the
past week due to his accusation. Fred is responsible for
writing a report on what I had told him, and giving it to
me and the principal, so that we can be sure he understands
the gravity of what he did.
I also told him that *if* his accusation had reached beyond
the school and into the Deaf community at large, nothing
could keep that nasty rumor from spreading, my reputation
in that community--and hence, my potential to learn more
ASL--would be down the toilet, and my ability to get *any*
education job would be impaired. I warned him that if such
a thing happened, I would have a right to compensation, so
if my Deaf friends told me that people were gossiping that
way about me, I would call a lawyer, and being my student
does not protect Fred from a defamation-of-character suit.
I confess, I deliberately made one low blow: I told Fred
that I wasn't personally mad at him, because I knew that he
was mentally ill. This is basically true, but I probably
should have phrased it in a way that focused more on the
behavior than the person. Oh, well. Under the circum-
stances, "I displayed good professional restraint" is
equivalent to "I did not threaten to tear the boy limb from
limb."
I guess I'll be ready to go back to work tomorrow night.
Thursday night is the last night of work before the kids
go home for summer vacation. Quite a year I've had....
