Hi again.
So many times I hear schools saying that they must have more money to support children in class, particularly those with behaviour problems… they insist that then they can give a child 1:1 support and this will solve all the problems. Oh no it won’t…
I strongly disagree with this increasingly sought after funding - I assert that 1:1 support is largely a waste of scarce resources (public money) and doesn’t do the child any good at all. You can read my previous views on such support from this link.
Why?
Because of what tends to happen when a school receives funding for a child with behaviour problems…
A child starts to display bad behaviour. The behaviour becomes worse because, through no fault of their own, the staff in school haven’t the skills to manage such behaviour. So, as the situation becomes more unmanageable, the school starts to fill in numerous forms in an attempt to acquire extra funding to allow the child to receive some 1:1 intervention.
Ok, the school’s intention is understandable – a child causing problems and the school trying to remedy the situation, the only way they know how… Money is the answer.
But what does this generally achieve? Very little, I’m afraid…
If the school was sufficiently skilled to manage bad behaviour they would have done so and wouldn’t have needed the extra funding. So, if they receive the extra funding who is going to manage the behaviour? Answer? Nobody… Extra money doesn’t give you the skills to manage behaviour. Only training and experience does that.
Generally when schools have behaviour problems some poor classroom assistant is allocated the child, not on a full time basis as no school has the budget to fund this. It’s a bit like getting the barrel with the bullet in Russian Roulette! So for the bulk of the time the child remains in class and for the rest of the time they’re removed, either with 1:1 support or in a small group of like minded children – all badly behaved. What chance does an untrained classroom assistant in this sort of environment. The situation can only get worse.
I could offer numerous examples where a badly behaved child has eventually ‘needed’ two adults to control their deteriorating behaviour and still the adults haven’t been able to get it right. How could they get it right when they don’t know what to do? It just can’t happen…
If bad behaviour isn’t managed effectively it doesn’t matter how much money is thrown at the problem, it won’t get any better. This problem isn’t one to be ‘cured’ by more money…
So what’s it all down to if money isn’t the answer?
The big issue is that adults in schools receive insufficient training to enable them to prevent the scale of behaviour problems that we’re seeing at present. You just can’t do it without knowing what to do – stands to reason really, doesn’t it? Behaviour management is a skill that anyone can learn – it’s really not difficult. Some basic rules that you follow consistently… But without these necessary skills then you’re on a hiding nothing!
Another issue that goes hand and hand with the lack of training is the problem of adults who are concerned with NOT managing kids’ behaviour admitting that they have things to learn and changes to make…!!
So many people think they’re doing the right thing but they’re not getting the kids to behave. What happens then? Well, rather than look at themselves and wondering what they may be doing wrong, they decide that the problem lies with the kid. He’s got a ‘behaviour condition’…. Such a cop out – but very understandable.
So, training is the answer but thereby lie further problems…
Firstly, the adults have to admit that they have a need for training. This isn’t going to happen when adults’ instinct when there are behaviour problems is to blame the kid!!
Secondly, the behaviour management training out there is very often vague and misleading. Many of the people offering training are ‘professional advice givers’ and couldn’t actually manage kids’ behaviour if you offered them a king’s ransome! So, if you can’t do it yourself, how can you instruct and demonstrate to others how to do it?
Answer? You can’t!
Behaviour Bible tells you how to manage kids’ behaviour in easy to follow language . I follow my own advice every day and believe me it works with even the most challenging kids. In no time they’re brought under control, they relax and settle into learning. It’s not difficult – in fact it’s all surprisingly easy!!
Cheers for now. Liz Marsden @ Behaviour Bible.