The five of them were convened in a small room next to the school library, seated at a square table in the middle of the room and Lloyd Crowder, the principal, was presiding. Russell Beckman sat opposite him with his parents on either side. His mother was a short heavy woman who wore a pink sweater that was too tight on her arms and chest, and his father was a big dark-haired man in a shiny white-satin athletic jacket that had HOLT HAWKS lettered across the back. Off to the side of the Beckmans sat Tom Guthrie. He had looked at the Beckmans once when they came in and had then sat waiting silently for the meeting to begin. On the table in front of him were the duplicates of the forms he’d signed, and more forms and more papers were spread out in front of the principal. It was late in the afternoon, two hours after school had been let out for the day.
I believe you already know one another, Lloyd Crowder said. So I’m going to begin without introductions. And we’ll have this over with. He put his big meaty hands out on the table on top of the papers and leaned forward. What we’re doing here today, as you have been duly informed of, is because a discipline referral has been filed in regard to your son—he looked across the table at the Beckmans—and once that happens, when a referral has been filled out, I’m required by statute to do something about it and I’m going to do that. He surveyed the four faces watching him. I’ll just put it simple. Russell here, the other day in school during the hours that school was in session, acted wrongful and inappropriate, and so we’re here to discuss what all he’s done and to decide what the consequences should be.
You can stop right there, Mrs. Beckman said, interrupting him. What you just said, that’s a bunch of crap. Her cheeks had turned pink and her sweater was starting to inch upward. Because that’s like you already convicted him without a trial. What’s he done? He never did nothing. What do you say he did?
I’m going to get to that, Lloyd Crowder said. In due time. If you will let me proceed. He spoke evenly to her, looking directly at her. He held up a small pamphlet and went on: But first, I’m going to read to you from the Student Handbook. On page nine. Where it reads, Following are the behaviors that may result in suspension or other disciplinary action. Then I skip down to Level Three Violation. Where it says, Repeat of any Level Two Violation. Use of or possession of tobacco or drugs on school grounds. Fireworks in school. Harassment. Insubordination. Fighting. Physical and or verbal assault on a staff member. Intimidation or confrontation of a student. Theft. Damage or destruction of school property. Possession or use of weapons. And so on. He looked up. That’s the pertinent regulation. The one Russell here violated.
How come it is? Mrs. Beckman said. Russell never had his weapons at school. What damage did he ever do to school property?
Wait, the principal said. You haven’t let me finish. I’m not done yet. Now then, you will want to look at this. He handed her a copy of the discipline referral. She looked at it suspiciously and spread it before her on the table. Her husband and son leaned forward with her to look at it.
Look it over with me, Lloyd Crowder said. That’s his name at the top and the date of the occurrence. Under that it reads in detail what he did and said. Under that you can read what the recommended punishment is and the consequences for what he did. Which in a case like this one here is a period of suspension up to five days. What it says in so many words, it states that Russell has said something injurious and profane to one of his classmates which caused her public harm and humiliation, and after that, when he was called out into the hallway to discuss it, he cursed and acted in a violent manner against his teacher. Which refers us back to the paragraph in the Student Handbook I just read you. Intimidation and confrontation of a student. Physical and or verbal assault on a staff member.
Who wrote this? Mrs. Beckman said.
The secretary made it out, based on the information provided by Mr. Guthrie. She applied the necessary language.
Then I can tell you what this is, Mrs. Beckman said. This is a pile of shit.
Guthrie looked across the corner of the table at her. Do you think so? he said.
Yes, I think so, she said, glaring at him. It is to me. He told us about you. You just don’t appreciate him. That’s what this is about. You got your favorites and he’s not one of them. You haven’t never been fair to Russell since the first day of school. This paper here with these fancy words on it is a pack of lies, and if you want to know what I think, I think you are too.