Need some thinking...MG/boys

What about bullying? If you don't want something that bad, maybe disrupting class with pranks and jokes?

Sneak into the classroom when it's deserted and write/draw 'Bad Things' on the chalkboard. Level of bad can be adjusted to suit the effect you want. Mean things about teacher or fellow student, unsuitable cartoons, dirty limericks.

Sneaking into the classroom and stealing the teacher's copy of the subject book with the answers in it. Or stealing an upcoming test sheet with the answers on it.

Backing up the toilets or sinks in the boy's room.

Bomb threat to the school.
Stealing grade book.
Hacking into another kid's email account or school intranet account.
Saying bad things about a teacher/ student on facebook.
Starting a rumor about a teacher.
Playing hookey.
Throwing a rock at a teacher.
Having a serious conflict with a teacher.
Terrible work ethic over a period of time.

Graffitti in the bathroom.
Fighting.--if you want him to still be a sympathetic character, have the other kid start the fight, and he just defends himself. To most principals, that's still guilty. On the other hand, it usually takes two or three instances before the parents get called in.
Chronically tardy or absent.
Stealing.

How realistic do you want your book to be? Because these days, schools are crowded and principals are busy. A first offense is often dealt with by a note sent home, or a phone call from the teacher. The principal doesn't get involved with a face-to-face meeting until there's a chronic problem, multiple offenses.

At middle schools, and even a lot of elementary schools, it's the assistant principal or dean of students who deals with discipline. The principal stays out of it.

But of course no two communities are exactly alike. If you're writing about a small town, the contact might be much more swift.

First off, how large is the school? The smaller the school, the more likely it is for a conference. What type of school? Public or private?

I went to public schools that were relatively small (principals that were GOOD principals knew kids by name and got involved more than the assistant principal). And since I've already had a few go-arounds with the principal at my son's school (still waiting for her to say something to me for not signing the stupid sign-in book... *evil typical bad-guy grin*), I'd say they DO get involved. Elementary school, yes, but... you get the point. It's a small school in a rural area. PM me if you want ideas on school size and whatall...

As for trouble? Something fun that gives him a feeling of control? Well, there's the old standby of bullying. There's also theft, fights, general picking and plucking that all kids do.

There's also the argument with the teacher and being rowdy in the classroom. Think of the classclown on a more "showy" level. Saying sarcastac things during class, making jokes, making fun of the teacher, and basically creating anything but a possible learning envrionment. The kid would be getting the attention, taking over the classroom by doing so, and gaining the control he'd want. It would be fun, no one would be getting hurt, and if it's a small school -- parents would be called in for a chat.

Not sure if that helps, but maybe it's at least a starting point for ideas???

Hacking into another kid's email account or school intranet account. <-- will usually get you reprimanded by loss of internet privilages and/or expelled. (was a computer tech at a high school... sooo... yeah.)

Try having the kid finding porn online, that'll get a conference and in trouble... won't do much on the wanting control though...

Maybe they take a boring project and put a funny if not random and perhaps slightly inappropriate slant on it. If they did something totally random they would obviously upset the teacher enough to call an interview but in the big scheme the kids not going to get in any big trouble -besides he can always feign stupidity!

Pulls the fire alarm and fire department shows up, school is evacuated, ends up having to go to "classes" for juveniles who pull fire alarms. (Happened to a kid I know in RL)

Okay, now that Big brother has spoken with a dozen mouths, how about intriguing behavior. Calling a parent in can be positive. His grades are dropping and he's their chance for some competition.

The character may think he's in trouble and isn't. They may call him in to rat someone else for the legal conflict types. He may not even understand or register what the adults are talking about. He has his own experience in the school while his P's talk to the faculty. What are you people thinking about? Too much pulp media for you

How about bizzare behavior? He made a fort in the janitor's broom closet. They discovered his diary...educators are too nosey for their own good. He is the target of bizzare behavior...those special ed students border on crazy.

Reminds me of a student I had long ago. He was paranoid, medical diagnosis. He had a crush on Karla. She liked his amorous attention. Kinda of like forbidden love? She saw him struggle. I am anonymizing his name. It was the same as a famous serial killer. Poor child.

I am surprised no one came up with a love story. Any type of immature crush behavior could demand a conference. There are a thousand ways it could play out. Who is the target? Another child, another teacher? A now absent classmate or teacher? When I am hard on my students I get "I wish Mr. Black was still here." Ivan, a child who when called to answer a problem on the blackboard received cheers from the children as he sauntered up the aisle. The girls fought over him, tooth and nail, months after he transfered out. Good looking, charming kid. I think the boys fought over him, too!

I don't know if you'll use any of this, but thanks for mentioning your problem. I am inspired now.

Good luck.

pantsing, especially if it's a girl. it's humiliating enough to give him that sense of "control" and it's bad enough to get him in trouble, but it's not terrible enough to have any major consequences.

probably would have to write a letter of apology. maybe get a few detentions or a three day suspension if it's not his first offense.

Let frogs loose in the caf.
Put glue in the seat his/her rival.
Get caught drawing doodles of teacher/principal w/ rude sayings under the pics.
Rig the gym locker so all the balls fall out on the gym teacher's head.
Stuff all the horns in the band room w/ dirty socks stolen from gym lockers.

Who says he actually has to be the one who did it? Maybe someone was mad at him and stole the teachers answer book, hid it in his desk and then ratted him out. That would certainly make one feel out of control if you are getting in heaps of trouble for something you never did