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Anthony Colombo is serving a two day, out-of-school suspension for what he describes as self-defense.

"He basically sucker-punched we in the back of the head, and you know I defended myself with a quick matter and just fought back," said Tony.

Tony says that both students were in the locker room at the time of the incident. According to the Skyview Middle School Referral, his actions were considered as a 'major problem behavior'.

"The fact that the kid had hit him from behind, and Tony's instant and brief reaction in my opinion was entirely appropriate," said Anthony's stepmom, Sharon Ballinger. "It's impossible to live with the fact that the school's will not allow kids to defend themselves."

While the District 49 won't comment on specific student cases, they do have specific guidelines on violent and aggressive behavior. Each student receives a code of conduct booklet for their parents to sign at the beginning of the year.

"If there's some sort of verbal discourse going on between students and some person reacts with a violent behavior and the other person reacts back, and it turns into a fight, everyone who was involved will receive a punishment," says the district's public information officer, Stephanie Wurtz. "And that's what really is laid out in our policy."

A policy Anthony's family would like to see changed.

"It's one thing if my student is going to initiate a fight, I expect them to be disciplined," said Ballinger. "But the discussion, the final ruling needs to be if someone was attacked there are allowed to defend themselves. Without being punished."

To read the full code of conduct, visit www.D49.org.