The First Rule About Fight Club....

I stopped a fight....electronically.

Maybe 15 minutes before the final bell, one of my students announced they heard there was going to be a girl fight near the buses. Several other students chimed in about what they heard and, of course, I listened. 

I try to avoid being behind my desk too often. I want to be amongst the kids and available. That often leads to me hearing things. I remember fights being exciting when I was a kid, but my opinion has definitely changed with age. I made a comment or two and said something like, "I don't want anyone to get hurt. Especially at school." 

A section of the kids were overexcited with their gossip, though, and while they continued, I hopped on my email.

The email's timestamp was 3:39 PM (11 minutes before dismissal). The head principal was out for surgery, so I shot it off to all three AP's titled "Fight?" 

Within a few minutes my phone rang. It was an AP. The AP wanted to know if I had a kid they could question.

That was less than ideal. 

However, they said they needed to talk to someone, so I gave them a name.

I called the student over and wrote him a pass to go to the office. I quietly tipped him off about what was up. "You're not in trouble. I did email about what I heard. I tried to avoid giving a name, but the APs want to talk to someone."

Thankfully, the loud kids were loud. Maybe someone heard, but if they did they kept it to themselves.

3:49 PM and all the kids were crowding the exit. They were ready to go!

The kid who first mentioned the fight suddenly says, "Nevermind! They're escorting her to the bus!"

Word travels fast on social media.

There were a flood of comments. "They must have known." "Someone tipped them off." "Maybe she asked to be escorted?"

The bell rang and everyone left.

If anyone had noticed the one student had left, they didn't say anything.

He showed up a minute later to grab his stuff. I said I was clearly "the opp," and then I apologized for involving him. I told him no one seemed to notice he'd left, but he should feel free to say he'd heard I was the informant and he could keep himself out of it.

I never heard anything else about it. I don't know the students involved, so I don't know if the fight was quashed or if my actions only delayed it. It feels like there have been a lot more fights this year. I don't think we're the only school in the county dealing with the increase either. 

From my limited perspective, I think things worked out for the best. God gave me the name of the right kid to send! Sadly, I have heard about a couple fights since (including one that started in an AP's office).  The kids always seem to more than any of the adults, so I keep my ears open.