music class problems

Things were going very well the first few days of school.  That was until SJ had music class.  I was wondering how he was going to behave in this class (we have had problems with music class for years).  When I was done loading the children that I am in charge of onto their buses, I saw Mr. Clef coming my way.  He had a familiar look on his face (I have seen this face more times than I would like to) and I knew SJ didn't do well in his class.

"Oh no.  What happened?" I questioned Mr. Clef.  "I don't know.  SJ had a huge meltdown and cried for over 15 minutes," he told me.  "Did you sit him next to a girl?" I asked him.  This is usually the source for his meltdowns.  He "hates" girls and doesn't like to be near them.  Obviously, he doesn't actually hate girls, but he doesn't want to sit near them.  (I will have to remind him about this when the time comes that he is really interested in girls.) 

"No, I was really careful not to put a girl next to him," he said.  "I don't know why he would be so upset then," I said.  "I sat them alphabetically by first name.  He was in the back because he is an S.  He said he didn't want to be in the back," he explained.  "Okay, I will talk to him.  Hopefully, he will be better for you next week," I said. 

When I got to the office, he was still crying.  "What is the problem?" I asked SJ.  "I am changing my name to Adam or Chad.  I don't want to sit in the back row in music.  I told Mrs. Valentine to send an email to Mr. Clef and tell him to move my seat to the front," he rambled through his tears.  "What is wrong with sitting in the back?" I asked him.  "I don't want to sit in the back.  I don't want to sit in the back.  I want to sit in the front," he repeated over and over again. 

Bob was trying to calm him down and pointing out why it is good to sit in the back.  "SJ, I wish I was in the back.  When you are in the front, you are so close to the CD player and you really have to sing.  If I was in the back row, I could just lip sync," he said. 

SJ wasn't listening to me or Bob, so I let him cry.  When we got home, I talked to him and told him it would be fine if he was in the back row.  I told him that I would send Mrs. Valentine an email asking her not to send a message to Mr. Clef.  I also made SJ write an apology note to Mr. Clef.    It said:

                          Dear Mr. Clef,
                          I am sorry that I got upset with my assigned seat.  I promise that I will not get upset in your class again.
                          Sincerely,
                          SJ

When we went to school the next day, Mr. Clef came over to talk to SJ.  He said he had received the email from Mrs. Valentine and he would try to correct the seat placement.  Then, he came over to me.  I told him that it was very nice of him to try and accommodate for SJ.  However, I felt that SJ should try to adjust to the back row.  I want him to learn that he can't always get his way.  It is now in Mr. Clef's hands, since it is his classroom.  He has to do what is best for him and his classroom.  I am hoping that SJ will be able to adapt whether he moves his seat or not.  I guess we will find out.