"I'm protective of her, and I've met a good number of people in my life who deserve a duck head. Me counted with them." Ted knew that he might be making it worse for Maxine, but he couldn't help defending her. "If she'd gone to a teacher, then the teacher would have maybe scolded the boy and maybe put him in time out. But then when he's done with that, it's like everything is fine again, and nobody's watching to make sure he remains on good behavior. With a duck head, I think he gets the point that teasing is mean and he shouldn't do it. And maybe the girl he was teasing gets a giggle at her tormentor."
He shook his head. Frustrated on Maxine's behalf. "Nobody needs to be afraid of her. The suspension will be more than enough. I think a couple of detentions would be better, she's a smart girl."
Ted didn't like the idea that she might get expelled. She needed the chance to be a kid, and the only way to do that was to keep her with other children. Adults didn't have it in them to be what she needed.
"Can we just call her in here and have a rational talk with her before you do anything like dole out expulsions?"