today

i have this great kid. hes kind of a spaz, goofy, short, looks about 12. but a really, really good kid. tries really hard, wants good grades, got an A- last term. hes one of the ones that makes teaching worthwhile. today he comes over to my desk to tell me he got kicked off the bus. (the public bus). me, standing there being unable to imagine ANYTHING this great student could do to get kicked off the bus, says "what for?".
S:"oh the bus driver saw my knife"
Me: "...what knife"
S: "the one in my pocket"
Me "dude, why would you possibly have a knife on a bus? i would have kicked you off too!"
S: "oh i was with some people who do stupid shit all the time. it was for defense"
AIUHFIUHEUFHUEDHG. this is so insane to me. this 15 year old BOY is carrying around a knife that he probably wouldnt know what to do with if he had to, JUST IN CASE. because in his life, situations actually happen that WARRANT THAT! i was talking to some people at work, the estimations are that 75% of kids are in gangs and 60% have weapons on them while in school. knives, guns, brass knuckles. crazy.
but this is the thing, most of the kids can flip that switch when they come into school. like that kid, he would never bring that knife into school. never. its like they can separate theyre school life, and their street life. i guess thats why i never feel threatened.
but i just feel so bad thats the only life he knows, carrying around a weapon because when hes walking down the street he doesnt know if hes going to need it at some point to defend himself.