Upset about a school incident today: WWYD?

This afternoon my son's school had a fair and he bought himself an angry bird keychain that he has been dreaming about for a while and then the whole class went into recess outside. After recess the bag the keychain was in was ripped and Ben thought that it was lost on the playground. Someone's dad who was helping out during recess helped his look everywhere but it was gone. Ben was crying, someone gave him a cookie, there was drama... He told me this as soon as I picked him up from school.

Then tonight, after I read to him before bed, more info came out. To make a long story shot, the class went upstairs and it turns out another boy, I will call him Garry, has the exact same keychain. Benjamin thinks that it is his and Garry took it out of his bag during recess. Garry claims it is his! Benjamin told me that another boy, I will call him Nathan, was present during that whole conversation and told Ben that he thinks that Garry was lying because he mentioned before the fair that he only had $1 and the keychain cost $3. Ben and Garry argue, go up to the teacher who doesn't listen to the story and tells them that there is no time to talk about this right now. She then mentions nothing about it to me and doesn't try to talk to the boys...

I am really at a loss for a number of reasons. First, the possibility of my son's classmates stealing something from him is weighing heavily on my mind. I can only hope that this is some kind of misunderstanding... Secondly, the fact that the teacher just completely dismissed the matter, but perhaps she didn't understand that happened...

I told Ben that we don't really know exactly what happened, but I will do my best to get to the bottom of it. And that also, i will get him that keychain. However, the fact that I had to find a way to explain to a 6 year old that sometimes people do the wrong thing and teachers are not always there for you when you need them is what bothers me the most! Well, i did take that opportunity to point out how bad it made him feel to have something possibly taken from him and how this is exactly why we NEVER take something that doesn't belong to us!

What do you advise I should even do about this? My first thought was to contact the teacher and ask her to talk to Garry, which is what I think she should have done in the first place, after listening to the story... G'd, I really just hope this is all some kind of misunderstanding!!!

Message edited 2/10/2012 9:31:40 PM.

Re: Upset about a school incident today: WWYD?

As a mom, I would feel the same way as you. Disappointed in the fact that a friend may have stole from your son and the fact that the teacher didn't solve the problem there and then. I could imagine how sad your son was.

As a teacher I also understand how hectic and crunched for time some days get. There are often times that I have to put kids off until a later time to get to the bottom of situations like this. i do however try to get back to it when time allows. I can also see the day getting away from her. I can also tell you that sadly, I would not be surprised if the other boy did take it. I've seen it many times in my first grade class throughout the years.

I'd just contact the teacher and let her know he was upset and ask for her help in finding out what happened. Good luck!

Re: Upset about a school incident today: WWYD?

Do you have her email address? If so, send her a quick note. Poor ds, I would be upset too

Re: Upset about a school incident today: WWYD?

Thank you, girls! I appreciate your replies, especially coming not only from moms but from a teacher as well!

I had a chance to speak to Nathan's mom over the weekend and it definitely looks like Garry stole the toy from my son. I have also heard that this is not the first time Garry used a from of intimidation towards a class mate, usually taking over due to his size alone. I am emailing the teacher and stoping by tomorrow morning. This is all very upsetting, especially considering that they are all 6 years old. I just didn't think it would start so early!

Re: Upset about a school incident today: WWYD?

this is why I always hated fair days at school (as a teacher). There's always some sort of drama that goes along with it. Why did the bag go out to the playground? I used to make my students put everything in their backpack and they weren't allowed back out or back at school. Plus these types of fairs highlight who has parents with extra $ for things like this and whose parents don't (or just plain forget that the fair is going on). I can only imagine how upset your son was, but also how upset another student with only $1 might feel. I used to spend probably $30 myself buying small things for my students who didn't have money.

Message edited 2/12/2012 7:48:05 PM.

Re: Upset about a school incident today: WWYD?