While I stood there reflecting on this, I noticed a young lady, about 5'4, in a pink sweatshirt, as she ran down the hallway. Suddenly, as if zeroing in on a target, she leapt about ten feet forward, planting both her hands on the back shoulders of a girl in front of her and knocked her flat to the floor. "Don't you ever talk shit about me behind my back again, you bitch."

She then turned and walked away. The girl who was pushed down to the floor gathered up her papers and books and stood up. She looked stunned and uncertain as to what to do next. What I found more upsetting about the incident, though, is that none of the other students offered to help her. I noticed a couple of teachers on the other side of the hallway, oblivious to what had just happened. I walked over to them. "Did either of you see what just happened?" I asked.

"Oh, the girl that tripped," one of the teachers responded.

"Tripped? She was shoved to the floor by that girl," I said, pointing to the young lady who was now down the other end of the hallway.

"You actually saw that she was pushed?" the other teacher asked.

I was perturbed by his response. "It wouldn't be too much to ask if one of you went and brought that girl to the office, would it?"

Finally, one decided to go and get the girl and the other left to inform the principal. After the girl had been brought to the office, the principal approached me and asked if I would be willing to write a signed statement, which I did, as to what I saw.

After I had signed my statement, I left with the student and ed tech I had come to pick up. As we were walking out to the van, the student asked why I had to be such a snitch. "Snitch?" I asked.

"Yeah, besides it wasn't your business," he said. "You're supposed to leave it as it is."

"I'm not sure if I follow you," I said.

"It's simple. Someone talks trash about you, you lay da smack down on 'em."

"Just like that, huh."

"Oh yeah, got to keep it real with your homies . . . keep your respect."

"So, you just give into your emotions, regardless of the consequences. Is that it?" I asked.

"That's it," he said.

I didn't continue further with the discussion. I was still upset by what I had witnessed and found it difficult to concentrate on anything else, let alone a discussion with a kid who thinks smacking other people is a perfectly acceptable way to command respect from your "homies." Besides, there would be plenty of other opportunities to work that topic in with the discussion group my colleague and I conduct each week with him and the other students.