This afternoon with my last class of the day, something happened that I'd been concerned about since starting working here. Two boys got into a fight over a computer, and the first inkling I had of it was when one of them screamed in pain.
The layout of the library is NOT conducive to being able to have eyes on everyone at all times to say the least. If I'm helping a kid at the catalog computers, I pretty much only have a view of the E fiction section, and nothing else. If I'm back in the older kids section helping a kid find something (like today), I have extremely limited vision (as in only the aisle I'm in, unless I'm standing on the side of the shelving.) If I'm in either of the E sections, then I can see into the computer area and the E sections, but have no to little knowledge of what's happening in the stacks (older kids section.)
This particular group of students have given me NO problems whatsoever this year, and so I am not as vigilant with them as say the ... 7th or 8th grade groups. The two boys in particular have NEVER shown aggression towards each other either (I spoke to their teacher, and he agreed.)
Essentially, both boys wanted to use the same computer to look up books. One pushed the other out of the chair, and the other preceded to pinch, twist, and pull the other's ear. The other one then retaliated by *biting* the other boys hand. (which resulted in the scream of pain)
So... for the second time in my 3 years here, I had to bring students to the principal. They both were very forthright in describing what had happened. As we headed to the nurses office to have their wounds checked out, I asked them what they could have done differently. They both had good answers.
Neither of their wounds were serious thankfully, although both will have bruises from it. I just hope their parents don't go ballistic and blame me for not supervising. Beyond not allowing either of them to use the computers for looking up books the remainder of the year, I really do not know what I could do differently. My principal suggested maybe we need 4 parent volunteers to stand in each blind spot area - that could work ...
--
I had my first soda since sometime in September tonight. This incident was so upsetting to me, I'm not sure I can even explain why. I hate having kids in my care hurt, and I kind of feel like it's a failure on my part to not have been more on top of the situation ... even though I know there really was nothing I could do.
(The teacher assistant was at the circulation computer checking in books - which also is not in line sight of the catalog computers, but much closer in proximity than where I was. She didn't notice/hear anything either!)
Bad Day
April 1st, 2014 at 01:28 am
April 1st, 2014 at 02:28 am 1396319321
April 1st, 2014 at 04:15 am 1396325727
April 1st, 2014 at 09:38 am 1396345113
April 1st, 2014 at 11:16 am 1396350976
April 1st, 2014 at 12:48 pm 1396356518
April 1st, 2014 at 01:00 pm 1396357230
April 3rd, 2014 at 06:08 pm 1396548485
(I have to admit I laughed a little when I read that one bit the other.)