Atticus & Jasper

"Thank you for coming in, Mr Hunter. Jasper."

"It's all right. What's this about?"

"So, as I discussed on the phone, we have been having some... concerns with Jasper's behaviour in school, particularly with some of the other boys in the year. There have been fights. Unmarked absences. Repeated uniform and makeup violations. A real attitude..."

"Can I stop you there, Mr. Francis? Because I also have some concerns of my own regarding the same things. I want to know why my son has been removed from classes. Why has he been coming home in tears with cut lips and blackened eyes? Why does he have to put concealer on every morning to hide bruises? And why would he rather lock himself in the bathroom than come to school? Obviously, I have heard it from him, but I would like to hear your professional assessment of the situation.”

"Mr Hunter, your son has been starting fights with other pupils. Both verbal and physical."

"I... I only try to defend myself. They call me names. Every day—"

"It is not appropriate to hit another pupil, Jasper. We have rules in place for when someone is being bullied."

"But no one does anything about it. I have reported their comments and threats so many times, and nothing gets done. And it only gets worse."

"We have spoken to the others involved in the matter, and feel a lunchtime detention will suffice..."

"And have you had their parents up here to tell them that? Or just me and Jasper?"

"Mr Hunter, it's your son's behaviour we are talking about, not anyone else's. I, for one, empathize wholeheartedly with Jasper's situation. But..."

"Bullshit."

"Mr. Hunter, we do not tolerate that language here."

"Oh, please. Stronger language has been aimed at my son daily."

"I want to assure you, we are taking the bullying allegations seriously. But that goes both ways. And Jasper has been reported to have started these fights. So steps must be taken to..."

"Do you know what they call him?"

"I don't feel like that is rele..."

"Faggot. Bender. Queer. Poof. Freak. Groomer. Paedo."

"Mr. Hunter—"

"You tell me, how in good conscience is anyone expected to stand back and do nothing as they are hurled that kind of abuse twenty-four-seven?"

"We haven't heard any of that going on. But we have seen Jasper hitting Henry Roberts during a chemistry class."

"After Henry spat at me and called me a 'Disgusting Faggot Fairy Bumboy.' Miss Fraser told him off for it. Well, sort of. She just said his name, followed by the words 'please' and 'don't.' "

"Well... Miss Fraser hasn't reported the incident."

"Of course she didn’t.  Why am I not surprised? She isn't going to report her failure to control a class... Yet I'm the problem? The disruptive little queer kid? Yeah. I can say it, I am gay. But no one else should be abusing me for that."

"Jasper, this is the attitude we have been talking about in our little chats, isn't it?"

"No, I think my son has every right to express his upset and hurt at this school. For months, he has been putting up with this, and you have done nothing—"

"That's not true—"

"You've done nothing to nip this behaviour in the bud. What has any of this achieved? Any of it? Jasper is a smart lad. A kind lad. A lad who deserves to thrive. And every day, this school sits back and does nothing as his light is constantly spat on and diminished. And you dare to tell me that Jasper is the problem in all this? No. I am not having this. Get your bag, Jasper. We're leaving."

"We haven't finished..."

"No? And what are you going to do about it? ... I thought not. Does no one in this school have a spine? Pathetic. Jasper will not be returning to this school."

"You can't do that. His exams and his grades will..."

"His exams and grades will be our prerogative from now on. Not yours. I would rather teach him at home than have him continue with this shit. The headmaster will be hearing from me tomorrow morning. Do not expect to see Jasper in registration."