DS12 told me about an incident in his class, and I almost had a heart attack!

[Disney1fan2002]

Mind you, he was telling me what happened, and at first I thought he was saying his friend dared HIM to do it......

He started the story by telling me his Dr. was right, middle school kids are morons. LOL (His pediatrician has been telling him not to concern himself with kids that pick on him, because 7th grade is condidered the year of the morons)

He said he has two friends in one of his classes. Friend A is Jewish. Ds said one day last week, they were finished with their assigment early, so they were talking quietly. Friend B told another kid he would give him $5 is he went up to friend A and say "All hail to Hitler"

OMG! OMG! When DS was telling me this, I thought he was the one being dared, but he said it was the other kid, and HE DID IT!!!

OMG! I got a sick feeling in my stomach. It turned out DS told on both of them. As bad as it was, I explained to DS it should of been up to friend A to say something to the teacher. DS was as horrified as I was, so I am glad he understand how wrong this was. I think I would die if my kid ever did something like this to another person, nevermind a friend!

 

[Kath2003]

Yeah, kids are stupid.

 

[Planogirl]

Kids around that age will say such things. Just the fact that it took a dare shows that they know it's wrong. I remember quite a few incidents back when I was that age and even up until today with DS and nephews and nieces and so on. It's good to address it but they usually outgrow it.

 

[clh2]

to the OP - Why do you think it wasn't your son's responsibilty to inform the teacher? He clearly witnessed something that was just plain wrong on many levels, and while person A would have been the offended person, I bet person A appreciated to know that he can count on your son to stick up for him.

I personally think your son did the right thing!

 

[Stacerita]

Peer pressure

 

[sunnyday123]

you should be proud of you DS for sticking up for someone who was treated so badly.

 

[december]

AGREED! I would hope my son (who is in 5th grade) would tell if he witnessed something this stupid.

 

[luvmy3]

Did they go up to the Jewish student and say that, or were they just talking amongst themselves?

 

[daisax]

I'm not crazy about ratting them out to the teacher, but simply saying "Not cool!" and standing by the kid who was about to be harassed would have been a brave thing to do.

But 7th grade is right on the cusp of when kids are torn between going to adults for help and standing up on their own, so it's good that he at least did SOMETHING.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm not crazy about ratting them out to the teacher, but simply saying "Not cool!" and standing by the kid who was about to be harassed would have been a brave thing to do.

But 7th grade is right on the cusp of when kids are torn between going to adults for help and standing up on their own, so it's good that he at least did SOMETHING.

I agree, if they didn't approach the Jewish student, IMHO there is nothing to tell the teacher. If we start telling on every little stupid thing middle schoolers say to eachother, there would be no time for actual teaching.
I think it is commendable that the OP's ds felt the need to do something, though.

 

[MushyMushy]

Yep, 7th grade is the year of the morons. They can be the sweetest kids on the planet, but then do the dumbest things that make you wonder if they have a brain in their heads.

Good for your DS for speaking up!

 

[goofyernmost]

I'm not crazy about ratting them out to the teacher, but simply saying "Not cool!" and standing by the kid who was about to be harassed would have been a brave thing to do.

But 7th grade is right on the cusp of when kids are torn between going to adults for help and standing up on their own, so it's good that he at least did SOMETHING.

That attitude is exactly why people like Hitler get to do whatever they want. No one wants to be a rat. They stood by and watched millions die...in some cases killed them...later saying hey I told them it wasn't cool, but they surprisingly, didn't stop.

When stupid moronic stuff like that happens it needs to be stopped, not just frowned upon. The message that someone is an idiot for even thinking it up, needs to be strongly stated. If it is something that they are afraid to brag about the message eventually gets through the thickest of skulls.

I agree and want to point out that the courage it took for your son to report this, is not very common in kids his age. You should be very proud of him. Make sure he knows that, please!

 

[december]

Mind you, he was telling me what happened, and at first I thought he was saying his friend dared HIM to do it......

He started the story by telling me his Dr. was right, middle school kids are morons. LOL (His pediatrician has been telling him not to concern himself with kids that pick on him, because 7th grade is condidered the year of the morons)

He said he has two friends in one of his classes. Friend A is Jewish. Ds said one day last week, they were finished with their assigment early, so they were talking quietly. Friend B told another kid he would give him $5 is he went up to friend A and say "All hail to Hitler"

OMG! OMG! When DS was telling me this, I thought he was the one being dared, but he said it was the other kid, and HE DID IT!!!

OMG! I got a sick feeling in my stomach. It turned out DS told on both of them. As bad as it was, I explained to DS it should of been up to friend A to say something to the teacher. DS was as horrified as I was, so I am glad he understand how wrong this was. I think I would die if my kid ever did something like this to another person, nevermind a friend!

I'm reading this as the kid following through on the dare. If he just overheard them talking, I agree telling the kids what he thought of it would be the best thing. But if I'm undertanding correctly that the other kid followed through with the dare, the teacher needed to know.

 

[luvmy3]

That attitude is exactly why people like Hitler get to do whatever they want. No one wants to be a rat. They stood by and watched millions die...in some cases killed them...later saying hey I told them it wasn't cool, but they surprisingly, didn't stop.

Are you serious? You are equating not ratting out a middle schooler stupid thoughts with genocide.

 

[Bluestars]

Good for your son for telling the teacher. Hopefully the teacher informed the parents of those kids so they could talk to their sons about why what they did was wrong. If my son ever did something like that, I would want to know about it.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Are you serious? You are equating not ratting out a middle schooler stupid thoughts with genocide.

not defending goofeyernmost, I am sure she (i think-about the she part) is more than capable, but I have made similar comparisons to prove a point.

Remember 99% of people who cheat while playing golf - also cheat in their business life.

I think the point was more like "if hitler was reprimanded in 7th grade he might not have turned out to be hitler".

I wonder what Bernie Madoff did, in 7th grade, that no one bothered to mention to the authorities? That you would have been shocked to hear compared to his stealing billions later in life.... from innocent people?

Mikeeee

 

[daisax]

That attitude is exactly why people like Hitler get to do whatever they want. No one wants to be a rat. They stood by and watched millions die...in some cases killed them...later saying hey I told them it wasn't cool, but they surprisingly, didn't stop.

You're right. Going up to a bully and telling him to knock it off, and standing by the person about to be targeted in a show of solidarity to deter the bullying is JUST like endorsing genocide.

 

[Graeme]

to the OP - Why do you think it wasn't your son's responsibilty to inform the teacher? He clearly witnessed something that was just plain wrong on many levels, and while person A would have been the offended person, I bet person A appreciated to know that he can count on your son to stick up for him.

I personally think your son did the right thing!

I agree with this, I think you should be proud of him. At that age it's a lot easier to do nothing.

 

[manning]

not defending goofeyernmost, I am sure she (i think-about the she part) is more than capable, but I have made similar comparisons to prove a point.

Remember 99% of people who cheat while playing golf - also cheat in their business life.

I think the point was more like "if hitler was reprimanded in 7th grade he might not have turned out to be hitler".

I wonder what Bernie Madoff did, in 7th grade, that no one bothered to mention to the authorities? That you would have been shocked to hear compared to his stealing billions later in life.... from innocent people?

Mikeeee

Did you know that Hitler and Stalin had the same childhood type of experiences?

 

[Shelton123]

No offense, but you almost had a heart attack just cause someone said they liked Hitler as a joke? Maybe you're overreacting a little bit. If someone came up to me and they said they supported Hitler, and I'm Jewish, I would just be like "Ok, then..." and walk away and think he was weird. To me it's not that big of a deal, and it's not something to joke about, but it's not something to have a heart attack over either. Maybe if I was in the situation I would, though.