Another Law & Order point here, given events on college campuses in recent years, all boys need to learn that stop means stop even if it doesn't sound like stop. This does not mean the OPs son is bad or evil, just that this is a teachable moment.

I agree that context and circumstances are important. My family is athletic (except for me). So over the years a lot of balls and other objects have gotten tossed at people, probably some in the face. They know better than to do mom, who's inept, but anyone else in family and on a team would be expected to catch the thing. My husband when coaching once said, "If you are afraid of the ball, it will find you." Kids get hit by balls all the time. My oldest's first game of kid pitch he got hit square in the helmet, got knocked off his feet, but sprang right up and took first. I would hope that they know better than to do this randomly, but in a PE class, I can understand why a young man might decide to throw a ball. And at this age, kids have learned some of the unwritten rules of sports, in baseball, the pitcher on a high school team is aware that certain transgressions can and may well be punished by throwing at the opposing team members, and even lousy high school pitchers can throw 70. It certainly explains why good athletes at this level who wear glasses, either switch to contacts or get goggles. (and hey OP, if you are still reading, that might not be a bad idea, even though this incident sounds intentional there are lots of things that happen unintentionally). If the ball tosser's mom is okay, then I'm going to make an assumption that she knows her child and can make the right decision. Just like the OP can also assess this incident and decide is this something her child just needs her to say, "Well next time shut up already, it could have been worse." Or does he need something more? I don't know. Only she does. But both moms should parent for their children's future conduct.

My thought picture is to help only the parent you can control. It is up to each parent to decide whether their child needs more help or just a parental talk. They need to evaluate based on more than one incident. For the OP, does her child go to far, push at people and not understand their reactions? I don't know. With teenagers it could be a one shot thing too. Only the OP and the parent of the other boy can evaluate.

I think you've gotten lots of good advice, I used to do this thing I called "Law& Order Parenting" It was a way for me to think about events in children's lives vs. adult lives. In this case I'd fast forward about 6 or 7 years and ask so what happens if this occurs in the future. Suppose my kid is at an adult socialization venue. He mouths off to someone. They don't like it. They respond. Sure, the physical response is probably going to earn that person some jail time, especially if they have a weapon to use. So if they were my kid I'd be talking about that with them. BUT what about your kid in that future scenario? Well he could be dead, scared, confined to a wheelchair for life, etc. So while the legal system would see him as the victim there could be really tough real work consequences for mouthing off to the wrong person. So that's what I'd work with him on. You've told the other mother. You might let the adults in charge know what happened. It sounds like there might be too much down time in PE class. Maybe a few more laps should be run, push ups done, etc.

I haven't posted in a really long time, but I have a need for information about how long it takes to buy a house in France. Here's the story: we are selling our house here in the US. A buyer has made an offer with a pretty long out closing date due to a house they are selling in France where they currently live and work. Does anyone know how long it takes to close a piece of property in France?

Oh, they knew we'd given, too, but as a former nonprofit board member I can tell you that there are donor lists that can be purchased and development admins at colleges and universities do have access to those and do keep an eye on admissions. My experience is that most large donors expect a lot of quid pro quo so they will also reach out to the development office (or have their people do it). The book I mentioned talked about that. At Harvard, for instance, they have special "board" or "panel" for large donors. While I am sure that there are modest and unassuming donors out there, there are plenty that begin establishing contacts early.

My husband and I both went to one of the few top ranked public universities. Just before the end of the year (read the "giving season") we both got a letter address to us as alumni givers and parents of applicant. It is silly to think they don't know. Every insider book I've read even as a term for it "development admits." If you want to learn about the role of money in admission to top schools read the Price of Admissions. Some will claim it is dated, but money has the same paths it always had.

I'm curious about the Simply Charlotte Mason resources. They look intriguing, but they give such little information that I can't figure it out. The age ranges on the GOAL journal is huge. So can you tell us about: Instruction provided? Do you need other products or stand alone? What does the student do? Point of view? Distinct theology? If an older student (high school) worked on this what pacing would you suggest?

Don't hesitate to call them.

I'm in the just read the Bible camp. The National Survey of Youth and Religion found only 3 factors that correlated positively with a teen staying in church five years past 18 and reading the Bible themselves was one of them. I don't think that would be to much reading for a class and I might consider having her read something like this as a go along: http://www.amazon.com/What-Bible-All-About-Revised-NIV/dp/0830759662/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420459139&sr=8-1&keywords=what+the+bible+is+all+about(KJV version is also available).

To repeat what others have said, what he likes in my opinion, is epic poetry. Milton really is the tale end of that, hence no American equivalent. However I'd challenge him to go back and pick up some of the things he missed. Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, Beowulf, The Fairy Queen. If he wants something that influenced Americans especially in regards to religion, then Pilgrim's Progress is the book. For a long time it was the number two best selling, most read book, especially by American Christians. He should remember that just because something isn't American doesn't mean that it isn't influential. Along the same lines, he can then go to Hawthorne's short stories and maybe Uncle Tom's Cabin. But those were much, much later in terms of influence and less religious in terms of their influence.

When I was active, it was me, too! When you are a high school mom you are busy; I got so busy I couldn't even do this forum much less the more general forums.

Yup, I know from personal experience that a lot of high school forum moms don't go over to the other boards. That's why I linked to my post over there.

Oddly the best reason to do Tapestry with younger children is that it will give you time to teach the oldest student in your school: You. They encourage you to read the R level literature as you work through the the program the first time. Depending on both what kind of reader you are and what you've read in the past, it might take two passes. Or you can do what I did the second time, and take some rabbit trails of my own in conjunction with the program (I read Augustine's City of God when we finished Year 1 the second time, they don't read it, but I was in the time period, I did the same with more adult Civil War books). But I'll be the first to tell you that the shine does really get going at the D level, especially in literature as you start to read real works. However, if you know you are aimed at Tapestry, you'll want to make sure that what ever you are doing you are reading quite a bit. We did Sonlight until my oldest was in fifth grade and the last two years of their younger level American history program had prepared him for D level. Not every program will do that.

I don't post any move, but thought I'd let you know of this great offer. See my post on the general board: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/537906-want-to-try-something-new/