Chapter 7 - THE SCHOOL EMAILS
Ryan’s incident folder contained school emails.
Rachel contacted Eli’s teacher, Ms. Parker.
“Has Eli become aggressive?”
Ms. Parker sounded confused.
“No.”
“Defiant?”
“He argues sometimes.”
“Any serious behavior concerns?”
“No.”
Ryan’s folder contained an email from Ms. Parker:
Eli has struggled recently with redirection and can become frustrated when corrected.
True.
But the next sentence had not been printed:
He responds well when given a few minutes to reset and has not shown physical aggression toward staff or peers.
Ryan omitted it.
Another email:
Eli appeared upset after family weekend and asked to visit the counselor.
In Ryan’s notes:
School emotional instability following discipline concerns.
Rachel stared.
“What discipline concerns?”
There were none in the email.
Ryan had inserted interpretation.
Again:
facts,
then framing.
Rachel realized the folder served two purposes.
It justified harsher discipline at home.
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And it created a record Ryan could show professionals if Eli complained.
That frightened her more than the stick.
