Hi again
In my numerous conversations with teachers, head teachers and assorted other people in schools during my working life I face a myriad of excuses as to why children are behaving in the way they are why tthe adults are doing nothing to deal with the problem.
But are all the excuses eupemisms for adults not doing what they’re supposed to be doing – managing kids’ behaviour?
So what about the ‘I’ve got 10/20/100 other children to consider’ excuse? What’s that all about?
Ok, of course all children in a class or school have to be considered. It’s their right. But the excuse about this consideration for the masses almost implies that the ones considered difficult to manage because of their behaviour don’t deserve consideration.
I’m sure people don’t actually mean this and would be appalled by this interpretation but the fact is that these children aren’t given what they need. Why? Quite simply because the majority of people faced with children’s behaviour problems are at a loss what to do… they just don’t know what action to take…
The people I talk to repeat the excuses so often that they end up believing it to be true. Why shouldn’t they? If they don’t know the way to sort a problem they’re bound to believe their intrepretation of the facts are valid…
But, the fact is that they do have to concentrate on the children who are causing the behaviour problems. Exactly the same as those children need extra attention when they’re finding reading or arithmetic difficult. But in reality these children don’t get the attention they desperately need either, otherwise how are we ending up with so many 11 year olds going to senior school without the basic educational essentials they need to thrive in school…
Sorry folks but the harsh reality of the situation is this. Most people can do the job without too much effort when everthing’s going swimmingly! It’s what you do when things could go wrong that sets you apart…
Kids behaving well – easy!
All kids being able to learn to read without fuss – easy!
All the class able to pick up new maths concepts without a problem – easy!
It’s what you do when things aren’t going quite so swimmingly that measures how good you really are!
Have you ever seen a spinning plates act? Where the guy has plates on poles that spin? When it’s done well, the plates spin effortlessly. Then it’s a matter of maintaining the momentum, being vigilant, watching out for the plates that are causing problems. Acting quickly and decisively to recognise and rectify the problem. Ignore the problem plate or don’t notice that things are going wrong and there’s soon a loud smash as the plate hits the floor.
This is like the kids in a class or school – they’re the plates and the adults the spinners.
Like plate spinning, dealing with kids’ behaviour is a skill – but luckily it’s one that anyone can learn quite easily.
More food for thought? I hope so…
Cheers for now. Liz Marsden @ Behaviour Bible.