There's a kid named Patrick in my 2nd hour Sports in Lit class that's... different. He has a speech impediment, and thinks a little differently than the rest of the students in my class. It takes him a little longer to get what he has to say from his head to his mouth, but everything that comes out of his mouth is very intelligent.

A lot more intelligent than the rest of the assholes in that class.

You could probably guess since the word "sports" is in the name of the class, there's nothing but worthless jocks in it. Who think that they're the best, and if someone else is "different" that gives them the incentive to make fun of them.

I. Will not stand for that.

The students in the class blatantly laugh out loud at him, talk about him behind his back, and mock him. Also behind his back. And because he's different, he doesn't know that they're doing this.

I've tried talking to the student that sits next to me about it, and though she agreed that people shouldn't make fun of him, she continued to laugh at him.

After class one day, I made sure that everyone had cleared out and went up to the teacher and asked him how he couldn't see this happening, and why he wasn't doing anything about it.

He said to me, and I quote: "It's his fault for being made fun of. He takes forever to say something, and he always wants to be called on. And I think that annoys the students."

You can't ACKNOWLEDGE the students that they're being a bully, asshole? I hate this man.

After that I had had it. I went to my counselor and reported the teacher, and the entire class for bullying. I cried for this kid. I SHED TEARS I felt so bad. I couldn't control myself when I was telling my counselor what I have to deal with every 2nd hour. It was a little embarrassing, but something had to be done.

A few days later, I came into contact with a friend of mine that also happened to be in the same class hour as me. He agreed with me and felt the exact same way I did. He even admitted he also felt like crying when he saw what everyone else around him had done to him. We both agreed that we could take this matter into our own hands, divide and conquer. We would break students into groups and assess the situation and actually get results. (which are rare when you go through the administration.)

We actually made some progress. The laughing had become less noticeable, people were actually understanding his intelligence. And I was a happier person.

Until today.

Now, I still support this kid full force. I've done everything I can for this kid behind his back so he still remains unknowing of the goings on. And I understand that he's different.

But. Come ON.

We were watching a movie today, and when the lights when out, in front of everyone, he picked his nose. And ate it.

And I'm not talking a little nibble, he was digging for GOLD.

The new girl in the corner was staring at him in disgust, and I'm sure a few other people noticed. I have never felt so helpless in my entire life. I couldn't call out to him and tell him to stop, because I sit across the room and that would call him out, drawing attention to him and causing the rest of the class to notice.

But just from the faces of the few people that noticed, I have never felt so defeated in my entire life. All of my hard work, my tears, ruined because of that one action.

I'm still at a loss of what to do.

But I know one thing for sure, not matter what someone does, no one deserves to be treated the way he's treated.
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I really hate that this journal skin doesn't believe in the "enter" key. This has a lot more emotion when there are brakes between the sentences. But as long as you get the idea, I can live with it. Especially since I can never say no to the moo. :<