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Problem students
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not let problem students become a school-wide problem.
Most problem students behave the way they do for some reason. Not
just to act out. After all, what student wants to get punished?
Punishment is the result of problem students misbehaving during
school—right?
Let us consider this, now that I have brought it up. Many schools
use the detention method to punish problem students who act out.
Sometimes this means that problem students will stay in during recess—but
most of the time it means that the problem students will have to
stay after school for a given amount of time. Whether the child
is expected to just sit there and perhaps work on homework—or
whether the problem student has been assigned to write sentences
over and over stating that he or she will not do again whatever
it was that they did that was out of line.
If detention is the problem students punishment—it could
also be a part of the reason he or she is acting out. Consider the
number of families with household circumstances that are not only
frightening or degrading for the child, but the that are significantly
psychologically damaging to the problem student him or herself.
Perhaps your problem students would rather be placed in detention—and
even have to do additional work. Just to avoid verbal, physical
or emotional abuse at home. This may very well be why a lot of problem
students at various schools are acting out. The silent, and what
we hope will be unbearable hours of detention are actually a comfort
to some problem students than going home could ever be.
There are several things that can be adjusted in regard to how
we deal with problem students all across the country—and many
of these adjustments are well on their way—the solutions to
helping problem students is closer than you might think.
In such a case, of course another form of punishment is something
to consider—but how do we know that the particular problem
students at hand are really avoiding domestic issues and not acting
out for the attention. For example, class clowns could be doing
it for the attention—so could a child who is simply disruptive
and interferes constantly with the lessons you plan to teach by
dominating a discussion in class, changing the subject, passing
notes etc.
I believe that problem students should be dealt with on a case-by-case
basis. If you have a school guidance counselor, he or she may be
the best place to start. Set a time for problem students to meet
with the guidance counselor or with your and ask the problem student
directly what is the matter. Why is he or she behaving this way?
Be sure to use kindness above all when you meet with a problem student
you want them to feel as much as possible that they are just as
good as the rest of the children, there is simply a problem that
needs to be addressed. Do not let this kindness fade—try not
to get frustrated, though it may be especially difficult with problem
students. Getting upset may make the rebellious or disruptive behavior
even worse. Your problem students will think “my teacher hates
me” and their anger and misbehavior will only escalate from
there. Usually a problem student will be responsive to kindness
much more than he or she is to scolding.
The first thing to do when dealing with problem students, as I
mentioned is to sit down with them and try to make sense of their
disruptive behavior. Also, take note of how they are socially accepted
or unaccepted by the other students. If the child is bullied—he
or she may be a problem student who comes to class late, leaves
the classroom without asking, isolates him or herself, destroys
property etc. Some children even hurt themselves. If you watch your
problem students close enough, you may be able to detect the early
signs of a mental disorder and be able to make the necessary accommodations
for that student—which could actually contribute to the enhancement
of their well being for the rest of their lives. After all, you
are with these problem students, for six hours a day—probably
more than their parents are (during the week, of course). You are
probably one of the best judges as to what is going on with that
child and from where the problematic behavior is coming.
When you meet with problem students, whether you are a teacher
or guidance councilor or principal (although I would not recommend
the initial meeting involve the principal because that only makes
the student feel more “in trouble”) I recommend that
there be more than one person present for this meeting. The reason
being, not only are problem students that may be accustom to a violent
home liable to threaten or even hurt you—but very angry problem
students might even accuse you of hurting them. Thus, for liability
reasons you do not want to meet with the child alone. Of course,
this is up to you. The problem student may feel more comfortable
with only you in the room—and therefore more able to discuss
his or her situation with you.
You may want to meet with the parent(s) or guardian of problem
students as well. This is something that the parents will be able
to prepare for because you will have to set up a meeting with them,
and therefore they will likely be showing their better side to you.
But be observant in these meetings. Do not put them on the defensive.
Show them that you are concerned about their child and that you
want to help.
You may recognize signs of hostility in the demeanor of the parent(s)
or guardians of these problem students right away—even if
they are trying to put their best foot forward, so to speak. From
here there are not a whole lot of options for you. Contact a social
worker and find out what you can do about possible physical, verbal
and/or emotional abuse in the home. Sometimes Child Protection Services
can help.
If the parent(s) or guardians of problem students also seem genuinely
concerned when you meet, which will be obvious if they mention having
trouble with misbehavior and punishment at home that they seem not
to know or only suspect the source of, then you can consider that
the problem may be related to a psychological disorder. A psychological
disorder is something to be dealt with by a professional. The disorder
may have been caused by a traumatic event that the parents are unaware
of, or it may be something that the problem student was born with.
Either way remember—you are not a professional in neurological
disorders and you can neither diagnose nor come up with the solution
for this problem student. If a disorder is in fact the case—the
problem student will have to be dealt with by professionals in that
field of expertise. Another thing to remember is that disorders
such as ADHD are often too quickly diagnosed. I believe that sometimes
medicine is necessary for problem students, but sometimes it is
not—it is unnecessary and is the result of jumping to conclusions.
If the problem is simply that your problem students are attention
hungry (as some children just naturally are) the best solution may
be to adjust the punishment(s) used against these children when
they misbehave. Perhaps detention, writing sentences, checks by
their names on the board etc. are simply not enough incentive for
the child to improve. Discuss your problem students with the principal
and get permission to change some of the consequences that problem
students will face if they continue to act out in school.
Most simply put: problem students are not a simple matter in the
least. Have care when dealing with problem students because you
never know the source of the problem. Once you can determine, or
at least narrow down, the cause of a problem students disruptive
behavior you are on your way to solving the problem.
Emily Muntz
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