Charley Wins Prizes

Charley has taken his class hostage; he is seven. His classmates are terrified of his out-of-control behaviors. There is a perpetual glare on his face, he seems angry always. He snarls and growls, sneers, and prowls around as they try to do their work. His work is on the floor where he has thrown it. or it is in the garbage can where he has crumpled or ripped it. He punched an adult guest in the solar plexus last week in front of his classmates, shocking them. The adult forgave him, saying it was no big deal, but some of his peers are more afraid of him now. In an effort to encourage him to be good, Charley is able to win prizes for his good behaviors. He has won sixteen prizes this week for following rules other children have always followed – a prize for staying in class for ten minutes, a prize for not hitting anyone for fifteen minutes, a prize for not destroying property for an hour. We are incredulous that the Prize-Awarders can keep up with Charley’s prizes. Charley is proud of his multitude of prizes, he flaunts them daily, in front of the classmates he terrorizes minute by minute. He gets a prize if he does not hit someone for an hour, and another prize for not breaking a windshield. Other children in first grade who used to behave beautifully are now breaking windshields, and punching adults. No one can figure out why.