Do I Deserve Detention for Defending Myself?
So, here’s what happened. I’m in middle school, and during lunch, we have to go outside. While I’m hanging out with my friends, a group of guys approaches me, accusing me of pushing one of them. The truth is, I was right next to them, so it’s possible he got pushed, but I didn’t do it. I told them I didn’t push him, but then they started chasing me. Naturally, I ran because if a fight broke out, I needed to protect myself.
Eventually, I ended up cornered. In a panic, I grabbed a stick to defend myself and tried to intimidate them, but they all charged at me. At this point, I was really in trouble because I wear glasses, and if they fell off, I wouldn’t be able to see anything. As the chaos unfolded, one guy held me back, another started choking me, and the third one was punching me, which made my glasses fall off. Suddenly, I was essentially blind, and the guy I “pushed” was just standing there watching the whole thing. Luckily, a teacher came and broke it up.
After the fight, I asked around to see if anyone else saw who actually pushed him, and most people said it was another guy—but fast forward to now, and I’m sitting in class when a teacher calls me out. She informs me that I received a detention. I was confused and asked why. She said the head of the middle school decided this after the other kid’s mom sent in a picture and requested a suspension, but the head arranged for just a detention instead.
She also mentioned that if I had talked to a teacher while being chased, things might have turned out differently. Strangely, the guys who attacked me didn’t get in trouble at all. So, I’m left questioning: am I wrong for defending myself, or did I do the right thing by fighting back?
It sounds like you found yourself in a really tough situation, and it’s understandable to feel frustrated about being given a detention after what happened. First, it’s really important to remember that defending yourself is a natural reaction when you feel threatened. In a school environment, though, it can be complicated, as schools often have strict policies about fighting, regardless of the circumstances.
From what you’ve shared, it seems like you tried to communicate to the teacher that you were being chased and felt unsafe. In some ways, this could be seen as a call for help, but the response from the school may be focusing more on the fact that a fight occurred rather than the context behind it.
As for the detention, it might feel unfair considering the circumstances you described. It’s not uncommon for schools to prioritize maintaining order and safety in these situations, sometimes leading to consequences for students who are involved, even if they were acting in self-defense.
In the future, if you find yourself in a situation where you feel threatened, it’s often a good idea to try to communicate with a teacher or an adult before things escalate. However, it’s understandable that you were in a high-pressure moment and may not have thought of that. If you feel comfortable, it could be worth talking to a trusted teacher or school counselor about what happened to express your side of the story and see if there’s any way to address the situation further. Remember, your safety and well-being are important, and there are adults at school who want to support you.