<p>It may be the case that “some” schools are hostile towards boys. But you can’t say all. I work in an elementary; preschool to fifth grade, approximately 400 kids total. We never had a student suspended for something minor like ‘pretending a pencil is a gun’. If that was seen as an ongoing problem or a red flag because the student exhibited other questionable behavior, that student might have to sit in the principal’s office for a day. It takes a lot for a kid to be suspended in our school. Some say the principal should be better at discipline. She retired this year and we have a new, younger male principal. It will be interesting to see what his style of discipline is. </p>
<p>You may not like to hear it, but parents need to teach their kids what may or may not be acceptable in a school situation. I try to teach students that some things they are permitted to do at home, like rough housing with their friends, is not allowed in school. I tell them it’s not wrong to do it, but it’s just not appropriate at school, so just wait until they are home. Or maybe they’re allowed to crawl on top of furniture at home but not at school. The instruction is not given in a mean way, but to allow them to realize they must adapt their behavior to their surroundings. Especially with the older kids, some of them understand. Even tho it seems obvious to adults, some kids really need it spelled out to them.</p>
<p>I mean, what you think is clear is not necessarily what a child thinks. I once knew second graders who thought our principal was the old battle-ax school secretary that sat behind her desk dolling out orders!</p>