Dear Amy: I am a 12-year-old girl in the seventh grade.
I have a new teacher this year: “Mr. Stevens.” He isn’t exactly my favorite teacher because he yells a lot, but then the yelling turned into what I think is child abuse.
Mr. Stevens hit one of my classmates with a ruler, threw a book at another’s head (thankfully, he missed) and he actually pointed his middle finger at a boy in my class.
I want to tell the principal, but I’m afraid Mr. Stevens will deny it and the principal will believe him. What should I do? — Worried Student
Dear Worried: You should start by taking your concerns to your parents and asking them to go with you to speak with the principal. I agree with you that “Mr. Stevens’ ” actions are abusive. He can’t be doing a very good job as a teacher if he can’t control his own actions more effectively.
I realize it’s hard to think about reporting something so serious about a teacher because you might not be believed, but you have to consider that other students and their parents might have also reported this behavior.
If your parents choose not to speak with the principal about this, you should disclose it on your own.
Your principal’s job is to protect the welfare of students at the school; he or she will want to know what’s going on in this classroom.
Dear Amy: I’ve been in a relationship with a man for more than 2 1/2 years. We both are divorced, with older children.
About a year ago he proposed to me, and my answer was yes. He wasn’t ready with a ring at the time, and a year has passed.
What is an acceptable period of time to wait? Is there such a thing as “proposal etiquette?” — Wondering
Dear Wondering: I’m not sure about “proposal etiquette,” but I do know a thing or two about human nature.
A year might not be too long to wait for a ring (it’s certainly pushing it), but it is way too long to wait to have a conversation.
What gives? You really shouldn’t be marrying someone you can’t even speak to about getting married. You could start by saying, “I thought you were going to surprise me with a ring, but my excitement over this has turned into another emotion altogether. Tell me what you’re thinking and feeling — and I’ll tell you too.”
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