Suspension

Just got a call from my sister - she's on the way up to the school to meet with the principal at my niece's school. Apparently my niece is getting suspended for 2 days for an "altercation" from the band trip this past weekend.

Last school year she was dating this loser - A. And when I say loser, I really mean it (I love my niece but she has horrible taste in boys). He dumped her because of all sorts of reasons that were completely her fault, according to him. He wasn't allowed to do anything and could barely see her since his mom is a bit freaky, but even that was her fault. And stupid boy - he did this when they were on the band trip to Busch Gardens. And this was a week before prom, and he knew she had gone out shopping for a prom dress. Great place to do this, right?? Anyway, she was coping, but then he would text her and imply that if she made all these changes, then he would take her back. She finally realized that he wasn't good for her and asked him to stop talking to her. My sister even talked to his mom and asked that A not talk to my niece anymore.

At the beginning of the school year, she started dating M (another total psycho). I don't think A was too thrilled with that and he started texting her again. And he started spreading lies about her, that was causing all sorts of problems with their mutual friends. Again my sister stepped in and he finally stopped.

Well, they were in Boston for this band trip and apparently he kept goading her until she finally pushed him up against a wall. Someone had to pull her off of him. The band teacher wasn't in school yesterday, so the principal didn't find out about it until today. They were going to make it a 5-day suspension but because of her behavior and grades, dropped it to a 2-day suspension. If it was a 5-day suspension, she would have to miss prom, so thankfully she can go this time and A hopefully won't ruin it for her again.

And A - well, he got nothing. No detention or anything.

So my sister is pissed off, and she and her DH are heading to the school. I told my sister to find out why she was not told until today that something happened. The chaperone should have called her as soon as this happened (it was either Friday or Saturday). Not wait until today. And that A needs to be punished as well, since he did start it. My niece has been going out of her way not to have any contact with A, and she wouldn't be so violent with anyone unless extremely provoked. She goes to counseling on a weekly basis to deal with her issues with A (and M), so it's not like she's not trying to get away from this mess.

My sister looked into having a restraining order put against A, but since he's not 18, they can't do that. They can send a letter to the sheriff, school and his family that states that if he comes near my niece, my sister will call the police. But my sister if afraid if they do that, then A will sue my niece for this stupid altercation.

I think my sister is going to pull my niece out of band for the rest of the year. There are too many issues that the band director won't deal with. And he won't talk to my sister - he will only deal with men (how archaic is that!).

I asked my sister to see if they can do an in-school suspension instead - maybe that won't get put on her record. So she's going to check into that as well.

At least they won't report this to the colleges.