AFTER THE SUN RISES

This afternoon, after a long day at work and on the verge of recovery from a week-long illness for both me and my son, I dared to answer the phone flashing the numbers ending in 3700. Unfortunately, I have come to learn whenever there is a call from this number, it usually is not good. 

Such was the case today when the teacher in question turned out to be Sage's Cross Country coach. Seeing how he already called last week to inform me that Sage was not allowed to participate in the team's first meet last Wednesday, I thought he might have better news for me this week for the second meet. He did not.

Coach Murray started out by telling me he got a referral from a teacher. To me, a referral is a something I consider a good thing. In this case, it was anything but good. He continued to let me know that his teacher from Technology Applications class heard my son say something to the effect of 'my porn' and that this was grounds for Sage being banned from participating at the meet since the Athletics program holds their athletes to higher standards. He even went on to give me an example of a volleyball student who was banned from competition due to cheating on an exam.

When I asked Coach Murray for clarification, he stated that the teacher heard Sage something about not being able to access a site that was restricted 'like my porn'. When I later asked my son what he actually said, it was not as described by the teacher. My son was talking with another student and told him that the site they were trying to access is restricted 'like porn' would be. Clearly a misunderstanding blown completely out of proportion and to the extreme which makes me seriously believe there is a vendetta against my son to either completely break him or to force us to leave the school altogether.

The phone call went on for close to 17 minutes. Halfway through the call I walked outside to see what was taking Sage so long to return from cross country practise as we live across the street from school and Sage was walking. I found him in tears, climbing the stairs as he dragged his saxophone case and heavy backpack.

He was broken, devastated, and confused. I had suggested to him last week to perhaps play the game and just stay quiet at school. But what kind of a lesson is that for a child? Should we simply teach children to be like soldiers taking orders and not talking back lest they suffer the consequences of speaking their minds? Are we teaching children that they should always be fearful of institutions which are there to educate and protect them?

My son explained to me later, after our kickboxing class, that Coach Murray pulled him aside after making him run two and a half miles in 38C weather to let him know he would not be competing in Wednesday’s meet. Why then make him do all the work of practise if he wouldn’t be allowed to compete? Why should he get up at 6,00 most mornings to get to practise before the sun rises? There is no reason other than continued psychological abuse.

This is not the army. This is an educational institution which we as parents entrust teachers to educate and guide our children. Instead, our children are being traumatised and alienated. They no longer feel as if they belong.

As a child who has already been traumatised by the ongoing family drama where my son now feels like an only child being raised by a single mother, my son needs a place where he feels he belongs. A place where he feels safe to be a child, to express his feelings without fear of punishment. A place where he feels whole and not broken into pieces which are scattered about.

Coach Murray ended the call by letting me know he wants me to meet with him and the school administrators this week. I am writing to let you know that this is no longer necessary as I will not allow your institution to treat my child in such a manner and to rob me of precious time I could be spending with my son as well as putting unnecessary strain on my physical and mental health.

In conclusion, let this letter serve as official notification that my son will no longer be a part of the FPMS Cross Country team or the Track and Field team next season. He will return the uniform to the front office tomorrow morning when he arrives at school, after the sun rises.