Thanks Mandrec I was sobbing during much of my posting on this subject. I don't know what the answer is. I'd like to see teachers trained in depth in the topics of bullying, self-esteem, and FORCED to understand that depression, anxiety, bp, bpd, sui risks, etc. are REAL!!!

I do think I planted a seed with the friend teacher... I've been planting these seeds of truth and compassion with her for years though.

I did email my son's teacher yesterday morning:
Hi Mr. W,
Some kids told (son) that D and others were making fun of him about running, he's fat, etc. They also sad you joined in with a sarcastic comment, "Oh of course (son) is absent on mile running day!" Can you please let me know what happened?
(Son's) absence on Friday was for a personal reason. And it was not his fault.
Hope we can work this out. Thanks very much.
Sincerely,
C

Teacher's generalized not much responsibility taken response as expected (Mr. W is main 5th grade teacher, Mrs. B is the gym teacher):
Hi C

I spoke with (son) about the boys who were teasing him and he said it occurred over the weekend when he was on skype talking to some of the other boys in class. I will speak to those kids about teasing (son) and told him to tell me immediately if it happens in class. As for the comment, I believe one of the students misunderstood a conversation I was having with Mrs. B. Mrs. B and I were discussing the students' mile times, which we do once a month, and she had shared that (son) has missed 4 of the last 5 miles we had ran and that its difficult finding time for him to make it up. Privately, I was told by (son's friend) that (son) had extremely sore muscles and had trouble moving and that was why he had stayed home. I will be sure to speak to the students about teasing as it is not allowed in the class or at school and we need to be encouraging of our classmates instead of putting them down.

(Yes he makes a larger font here in the email...?)
On a side note, (son) has been producing very good work in class especially his math work. He has taken great strides in how quickly he can do math and the amount of work he can do at one time. He continues to speak out in class but now he will work by himself in the POD so he does not become a distraction and it helps with his concentration. We are beginning our Colonial Project and he seems excited, he has chosen to be a blacksmith.

Mr. W
5th Grade Teacher

So, I wrote back with a generalized positive "thank you so much, for clarifying" response. Pretty much a brown nosing move on my end, but I need him to like me and my child, so my child can have a chance to get nice treatment and possible education from this man. I can tell this is how he operates. We just have to make it through about another month until summer break.

I asked my son last night how he feels about being sent to the pod to work alone, he said it's very embarrassing. We talked about him trying to not talk out during class to avoid "the Pod". We talked about his anxiety running the mile again today - he ran it yesterday, about just doing his best even though it's such a bore, and that I'm so proud of him.

He's having a lot of anxiety about this jogging fundraiser they're doing Friday... my son often goes extra slow during any PE running to stay at pace with his best friend with autism who is also overweight. I may keep him home that day. I think it is pretty humiliating for the kids who are not great runners - it's a huge event, all families come, people from the community come. The jogging fundraiser mainly supports Mrs.B's job... she's been very mean to my son over the years, and to my older children when they were there. I don't really feel like supporting her job security, I want her gone tbh.

I can wait and make a monetary donation to the Middle School instead, perhaps I should inform the superintendant or principal why I am doing it this way (I've known the super for years now, she's very progressive, formerly a counselor) ... idk yet... as a parent, you definately have to worry about stirring the pot too much, because they will take it out on your child.

Next year he goes to the middle school, same campus, different PE teacher. Middle school PE teacher is a toughie, but she was one of the only supportive teachers when older son with bp was there 7 yrs ago- she still asks me how the older kids are doing when I see her.

Prayers & good thoughts gratefully accepted!!