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thanks
By Maestra

I appreciate your advice and empathy. I have dealt with kids like him before, I spent the first 10 years of my career in schools where this behavior was not uncommon. In those days it would have been very difficult to have
children sharing space or supplies. It was just different. The last dozen years or so I have been at my current school. Our children are from very low income families and we do have behavior problems, believe me. But the tantrums and continual theft are very unusual. So, I guess I am out of practice.

My thoughts also go to the other children who are not used to this behavior.

Those of you who felt that I should have let the new kid continue to use the eraser and then move it back at the end of the day -- what response could I have given the other child who claimed (and most likely rightfully) that the eraser was his? In all likelihood, if asked (in advance) he would have probably given or at least loaned for the day the eraser. But it was taken from him and then denied that it belonged to him. He was pretty upset about that. The other factor would be that it would be unlikely that the new kid would have given me the eraser at the end of the day. It would have gone into his pocket and then home.

I also don't think he really wanted to go home (for the suspension). I think he thought he would have some time to talke to the principal and get some attention. Instead he was sent to the assistant principal who dealt with him more severely.

As I said before, he is a very troubled child. When he wants to he can be sweet and charming. But he has a lot of baggage and I know his life must be difficult. He is seeing our school counselor. I feel bad for him. But I don't want to have the other kids suffer from his behaviors or see that he is treated differently. He already gets away with more than the rest of the kids have simply because I cannot spend all my time and energy in constant battle with him.

I will definitely talk with our counsellor again to see if she has some advice on how to handle his behavior. If you have any other comments or suggestions, I would like to hear them.