Yesterday afternoon a friend's husband was attacked by a student at his school. Originally, they thought he had a few broken ribs, but did not appear so on the x-ray. Apparently, he is still hurting and they are headed back to the doctor this afternoon.
Obviously, I am concerned about the friend and I worry about the state of our schools, but part of me hurts for this student. What is going on in his life? What was he thinking? Was he thinking? What would his parents say? Do they even know?
To attack a teacher is to act outside of one's self. He was acting beyond what was rational and expected. Many people act beyond themselves at various points in life. Glen Beck and George W. Bush both admit to having acted beyond themselves in their use of alcohol. Lindsay Lohan may have almost forgotten what it means to act within herself over the last several years. Even St. Peter acted outside of himself as he denied even knowing Jesus.
I know the pain acting outside of one's self can bring. I have experienced it in my own life. I almost threw away the best things in my life as my family and marriage were slipping out of my fingers and my career eventually flew out the window. Beck, Bush, and Lohan got help to get back on track. Peter ended up being the rock on which the Church was built. I have had help pulling myself together and establishing and reestablishing my own boundaries.
What about this kid? Who will help him? Who is helping in our schools? I have to admit I am a fence rider, literally, on this subject. I serve on a PTA for one son's local public elementary school, and am a passive parent at my other son's private middle school. I hope this kid finds a way to establish his own self in a positive way.
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