Expert: Judith Cohen - 4/29/2004

Question
Hello !! Judith,
I work at an k-8 elementary school as a In school detension teacher.So as you are probably aware,the student that disrupts the setting in their ordinary classroom gets reffered to me.While in my classroom they are expected to behave under a very disciplined environment.No talking,sit quitely while doing their assigned work.They are deprived of playground activities and cafeteria lunch setting {they eat lunch confined to my room }. I can have anywhere from several to more than a dozen at a time for any number of infractions. Such as--chewing gum,bad language,throwing objects,pushing/shoving,writing notes and they even get sent to me if they dont wear the proper school uniform.Basically,when the teacher can't handle them they come to me.The teacher sends the child to the office where as the principal decides whether to suspend or give them time in my In school detension room. Usually from as little as a half a day to as much as three or four days based on the infraction.
My questions: I have had this job for 12 years and thought I knew every tactic to inspire and motivate these children to behave while in this disciplined regimented classroom. The children seem to show less and less respect for authority these days vs a decade ago. Nothing I try seems to work for some of those I see.I ask them to write sentences,stand in a corner,move away from someone they are talking to,move their desk to a area in the room by thereselves.
"But" what can I do when they refuse or if they comply in a disrepectful and inappropiate manner. Threatening to give them more days does'nt work.Some just continue to laugh. They are street smart inner city children that know what you as a teacher can and cannot do to make them behave. The other frustrating aspect is the new Principal and assistant who are not as supportive about discipline as our previous retired administrator.
I even witnessed a seventh grade child call his teacher a liar and the principal failed to act on it when this teacher complained. We no longer have a police resource officer due to budget cuts. He used to come in and help with talking to them about the ramifications of thier behavior.
Judith-- I could really use some suggestions as what types of strategies I can try ?
How far can I go with regards to district policy ?
How can I get the new Principal to take me seriously when I say the kids are out of hand ?
The school psychologist is also frustrated at the lack of office support in handling unruly children
The new principal does not like to suspend students {and I agree} but if you dont then what are the alternatives to incourage good behavior.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !!
Your expertise will be most helpful.
Thanks!!
Karen
P.S. Sorry for the long responce but i felt it necessary to fully explain the situation.I also needed to vent my frustrations a little.

Answer
Karen:  You are telling it exactly as it is, now, in the schools. You will get no parental support, no administrative support--nothing!  The kids rule the roost and that's how it is. As a society, this is our fault. We have actually entitled our kids to behave badly and then made up rules and regulations which prevent us from doing anything about it.  But, you already knew that.  Teaching should be the most fulfilling profession.  Working with kids was always the greatest!  Right?  My friends who are teachers from the middle school on up are counting the days until they can retire and get a pension. They didn't always feel this way, in the good old days. I had to quit teaching due to a disability.  I got out when the gettin' was good!

But, I will tell you that it is a matter of survival, now. And, I have something to say that always worked for me.  Yes, that may have been a while ago, but I started in a tough school system, inner city, etc. I came in on the heels of a teacher who had just quit due to a nervous breakdown from teaching. I was 20 years old and had my degrees and good instincts. The first thing I did (as the kids were writing curse words on the blackboard with "crayon" and tossing chairs out of the window), was to "observe" who the leaders were.  I figured that these kids needed attention.  I brought a blonde wig to school with me and threw it on the boy leader's head.  I said, "Let's see you be Alice in Wonderland or Snow White--(I forget which).  The class was laughing, of course, but they directed their attention at this trouble maker and got interested in what he was going to do.  I picked a few others and handed out some props.  Pretty soon, the class was laughing, in their seats, and had their attention directed at the very ones who needed it.  We did role playing, too.  Soon, the kids looked forward to it.  Don't think I am a softy.  Believe me, I'm not--  but those kids started to trust me and think of me on their side, not --them against me.  I essentially ran a hunorous benign dictatorship.  Before they entered MY room (I called it "My Room"), they each had to shake my hand.  Then,they had to sit down and shut up in the seats that I had arranged in a circle for our "plays and role playing".  Once that was over, THEY had to put the seats back into a more formal setting and get to work.  This did not happen all at once.  But, it did not take me long to establish myself as an authority, but one who could be trusted to bring out the best in them--and, they knew it.

True, I did not have to contend with the drugs, guns, etc. But these kids were BAD!Brass nuckles, filthy mouths, early sex, gangs, etc.

I say, work on them with using a sense of humor, gain their trust and respect, observe the ring leaders, get some positive attention focused on them, talk to them, talk WITH them, SHOW a genuine interest, do funny things they don't expect.  Be a clown, if you have to, be different. but don't give up the respect.

What I've told you may not be allowed for your position as the detention "keeper".  I'd ask the admin. if you could try out a new technique...or, pass it along to the classroom teachers.  Maybe the  emotional/teaching/disciplinary atmosphere in the school needs to be changed.  It obviously is not working.

If all else fails, at www.WeBehave.Com/behavior.htm--there are some very good tools:  A System of Vouchers, the Wheel of Consequences (a bit humorous), etc.  

If I were you, I'd get permission to try something different.  Negotiate with the Admin. That will be the hard part.  If the Administrators are insecure in their jobs or climbing politically in the system, they will not allow anything new or different.


Best of luck! Visit www.WeBehave.Com .