I'm betting that Will is so solidly in the Kids I Don't Like category that he didn't even notice the harassment

When I was half way through the seventh grade my Mother actually talked a teacher out of this. Seriously. I'm not saying its easy or definately doable, but it may well be possible. (and she has my eternal gratitude for that one, I had Mrs. K for two years straight. in English. the heartbreak of hating ENGLISH? It had been unbearable)

Oh, poor Will. What everyone else said. Maybe there's a local group with whom he could play? The arts institute here has programs for children that aren't linked to the school.

(Infant spaces = really hard to find. Also, about as much a month as my mortgage.)

One of the reasons I went for this place is it has an infant room--a lot of the places we toured only take 1-year-olds and up. I figured we should go ahead and get into a place that takes babies, just in case we have another one eventually.

I know she'll be fine. But I expect it'll be a week or two before I can stop constantly wondering if she's OK.

But I expect it'll be a week or two before I can stop constantly wondering if she's OK.

That's about right.

David, it's just forgetting.

However, when Will is in a temper, he is impossible to deal with. He shuts down cold and glares and refuses to talk. I can easily imagine that's what he's been doing in band class after being teased. He's an immovable force, and I can certainly understand why a teacher would say "no more".

I can certainly understand why a teacher would say "no more".

The teacher needs to work with you to find a way to make it work. I'm sorry that Will is having such a rough time. My heart breaks for him.

One of the reasons I went for this place is it has an infant room--a lot of the places we toured only take 1-year-olds and up.

What are their infant rates?

My heart breaks for him.

Mine, too. He's trying hard to turn himself around, and I don't like the teacher telling him he can't.

David, it's just forgetting.

I figured since you said he was enjoying the trumpet.

However, when Will is in a temper, he is impossible to deal with. He shuts down cold and glares and refuses to talk. I can easily imagine that's what he's been doing in band class after being teased. He's an immovable force, and I can certainly understand why a teacher would say "no more".

I'm just worried these issues would crop up again elsewhere in a different band or school. I know you've spent a lot of time and energy and counseling with Will on some of these issues already. It's encouraging that he's found friends and sympatico teachers at this school. I had similar difficulties in changing schools when I was about his age. Not so much the temper as being pegged an outsider and spending most of my middle school years in lonely nerd status. I was able to come out of it in high school.

He's trying hard to turn himself around, and I don't like the teacher telling him he can't.

I hope the teacher can hear that.

I actually heard counseling on how to deal with that situation when I was in High School. It involved a bit of "Oh! Now I get it" performance on the student's part to get the teacher to reconsider his/her bias.

But it was reportedly an effective method for turning things around.