What every man, young or old knows, or should know

I was teaching in the Learning Assistance room, and I noticed a new student in the class. Usually, students, when they came to the room, reported to the teacher in charge, (which was me at this time) to let them know they were there and to tell the teacher what they would be working on, during the block. The new student, a young man sat in front of his computer staring blankly at the screen. As I walked by. I started our conversation by asking him what he would be working on during this block. He immediately volunteered that he was not in the class, but had been sent down by because he and his teacher had a personality clash. I asked what class he was from and he told me; I knew the teacher and understood that there could be some issue for some students. 

I waited, he continued to elaborate and talked about the computer program being used in her class and pointed out in his mind it was not relevant and would never be used in his choice of career. I suggested that the teacher was using the program and relying on building skill sets that could be seen as transferable. The young man politely disagreed. I asked him how the problem would be resolved. He said that if he wanted to stay in the class he would have to apologise to the teacher and accept the teacher's rules. He also said that he knew he would have to learn the software and complete the projects assigned by the teacher. I asked him what he would do, and he replied that he knew that he would have to apologise and he would stay in the class. 

He then said that he was going into a meeting at 1:30 in the next room, with the counsellors, the admin, and his Mum to try and get a resolution for the issue. I left him to think about his situation and went to work with other students. At 1:30 his Mum came in followed by our admin team--all female and the computer teacher, and they adjourned to a small meeting room, next to my classroom.  I knew the young man realised what he needed to do and that he was wrong, so I thought it would be a short meeting. I was wrong.  

I could see through the window into the meeting room and as I watched the young man sat and the women talked, but not to him, they appeared to be talking at him. From time to time the level of noise rose and the students in my classroom looked up to see what was going on in the adjoining room. I could see from my student's expressions they were glad they were not in the other room. As the meeting went on, I could see the young man sinking further and further into his chair--trying to become invisible.

At 3:00 as I was leaving my classroom, the meeting was still not over, but the noise level had changed from rather angry tones to some laughter. Just before I left, another young man came into the room and I asked him how I could help. He said he was waiting for his friend who was in a meeting with the counsellors and the admin. I said the meeting was not over. 

The young man said "full of bravado", that if the meeting was not over by 3:30 he would go in and get his friend and he was not worried about the admin being there. I said, "Oh, by the way, your friend's mother is in the meeting". The young man stopped, thought for a minute and asked me again" his mother is in the meeting?" I said "yes". 

The young man looked at me, thought for a minute and said,"Well, if his Mums in there I better not get him." I said, " I thought that was a good idea". As I was leaving the young man sat down to wait.

Every man, young or old, knows not to mess with another friend if you would embarrass him in front of his mother.