It can be good to be wrong

Sometimes, the sweetest thing is being wrong.

A few months back, we were facing a crisis with two of our boys. There had been instances of bullying that had been building since last school year and they were only getting more out of hand this year. Finally, the problems were so far over the line that it seemed silly to still call them bullying. It was more like assault.

Faced with a lethargic administration, staff that enabled the behavior and parents who were angry that their little snookums was a “victim” in being identified as a problem, with heavy hearts we made the decision to pull our boys out. With six children, we had an investment in this school and it felt almost like a divorce when we realized it was time to go. Adding to the distress was the fact that it was halfway through wrestling season. If we transferred our boys, it was uncertain if they would be able to continue wrestling for their new school since they would be coming in halfway through the season.

My boys are old enough that I allowed them the decision to choose their new school. I must admit, I was surprised when they chose Wasilla High.

“What? Really?” I said. “Why Wasilla?”

I was expecting it to be something to do with the caliber of the wrestling team. It was a pleasant surprise when they replied that they had heard Wasilla had excellent academics and that the Wasilla students they had met always seemed really “cool.” I was stunned.

Admission time: I had this image in my head when it came to Wasilla High students. I pictured kids who looked like extras for “Mad Max.” Hair colors and styles normally only seen at clown conventions. Pants worn down around the ankles. Wife beaters, hardware all over the face, etc. I figured the hallways probably had graffiti and scheduled gang fights every day at lunch.

To add to my hesitation, we were immediately bombarded from all sides with, “Oh, be careful over at Wasilla! You think you have problems now, it’ll be even worse over there! You’re not escaping anything!”

Yikes.

So I sat at my desk and thought about it. First thing I thought was, “Now wait a minute. Yes, kids will be kids and boys will be boys. There are always problems wherever you go, but honestly, could the behavior we’re seeing at the current school rally be tolerated everywhere?” I just refused to believe it. So I made a phone call. I called Amy Spargo, the principal at Wasilla High.

I was immediately impressed. Positive yet no-nonsense, she listened to everything I had to say and convinced me of her sincerity when she was sympathetic to the issues we had faced as well as what my concerns were. Right off the bat, she was extremely firm that there was absolutely no way that the issues we were facing at our current school would ever be condoned or tolerated at Wasilla.

She mentioned that they have a committee that works to improve and maintain a positive image of the school within the community and when WHS students travel to other communities. In fact, the Wasilla wrestling coach (who is on the committee) had personally tasked his athletes to be the face of “no bullying tolerated” in the school. Wow. Cool. But as we had learned, all the policies in the world and saying the right things are pointless if it’s not actually practiced. So yes, despite being wowed by Spargo, I have to say I remained a bit skeptical. Nevertheless, I honored my boys’ wishes and we signed them up.

First day, oh boy. How would this go? I thought of little else as I sat at work all day. When I got home, I practically ran inside.

“How was it?” I asked.

My boys smiled and said, “Awesome! This school is so awesome, Dad!”

Well how about that? Turns out my boys were immediately approached by several students who welcomed them and took them in, so to speak. And the wrestling team? Truly a team. Not a series of little groups, but one big band of brothers.

I thought, “Well, maybe they were prepped and this is just day one. Let’s see how tomorrow goes.”

It went great. Day after day, week after week until I had to finally admit that this is the real deal. This is true. These kids, this team, are nothing short of amazing. And here’s why: this is not a group of kids on their best behavior out of fear of discipline or because they’re told to. There aren’t daily reminders to “straighten up” or “knock that off” by the staff. This is a group of kids that very sincerely works to be a family and won’t put up with bullying. They self-monitor (when they have to, which so far seems to rarely be necessary). My kids weren’t welcomed into a new school and a new wrestling team; they were brought into a family.

I’ve had the chance to cruise the halls of the school during the past few weeks and yes, they are clean and tidy. Man do I feel silly.

Stunned doesn’t come close. Neither does amazed, surprised or shocked. There just aren’t words. So to the staff and students at Wasilla High, allow me to say simply thank you for proving me wrong.

Granted, there isn’t a school that doesn’t have the occasional problem, but whatever they’ve done at Wasilla High it’s working. It’s working marvelously. And you know, I have seen some of you with funny colored hair and whatnot. But my boys tell me they have these kids in class and they are respectful, intelligent and among those with the best grades in the class. So that’s OK. Another lesson for me in judging a book by its cover.

Pretty darn fantastic, Wasilla High.

Ben Compton is a Palmer resident and publishes his column as “Compton’s Corner,” the same title used by his grandmother, Phyllis Compton, a longtime Frontiersman columnist.