Expulsion

This week, I had to sit in on a meeting where a student (who I have worked closely with for three years) was asked to leave. This 17 year old boy is no angel. He can be rude and crude, he suffers seriously from ADHD (the real kind, not the kind made up by bad parents) and he has been trouble for years, his pediatrician thinks that he's a 14 or 15 year old behaviour-wise. A few years ago I took him on excursions in the city and as we were travelling around by tram, he would run from one window to another and turning around to say "Look at that!", then "Look at that". His head would hang out the window with his tongue lolling, just like a puppy. On these occasions he was also completely obedient and did whatever I asked.

However, at school he would disappear from class, rarely do any work, swear at teachers, refuse to wear uniform, lie continually, jump over tables, climb fences (or anything climable), run around the room and do stupid dangerous things, the latest being throwing an egg at a kid's head in food technology. I don't think he has ever beaten anyone to a pulp, which is usually what gets most students kicked out. He is a smart arse through and through and lives for football (not surprisingly, he is a really fast runner too!), but he also has an endearing quality that makes him hard to dislike. He adores his girlfriend, walks her to school and to class (even though it usually makes him late) and once he trusts and likes you, he will do anything for you.

Having worked with the kid for years, I have seen a huge improvement in his behaviour, his attitude and his respect for teachers - he even opens doors for them now (only the teachers he likes, mind you), not many other kids will do that. But the powers that be decided that the egg incident, and the fact that he's probably failing half his subjects, combined with a number of smaller incidents, meant his time at school was up. Alternative programs are the way to go.

When he was told, he bawled like a baby for at least half an hour. It was heartbreaking seeing this tough, fully grown kid react that way. When the meeting was over he told me that he "just wanted to die" and that his heart hurt. It was awful. His mum told me that he will go home and kick everything in sight, probably breaking everything that he hasn't already broken.

I don't know what he will do. He wants to be at school and in his stubbornness he is refusing to think about any other options. He's already been in trouble with the police for some car stealing shenanigans and he's apparently been pretty violent at home towards his (single) mum. I only hope that his heart will overcome the impulses of his mind eventually. It is sad that after all these years of supporting him, there is not much more I can do. I guess now I can give that attention to someone else who needs it.