Big news - the headlines say it all... It's
now official - kids' behaviour in schools is so out of control that
now, when the lot that aren't in power yet are elected into power
(they're hoping!) there are ground breaking plans to put ex-soldiers
into schools to tackle problem behaviour.
Mr. Government Official says, trying to sound convincing, 'There's nothing more important than getting discipline right in schools and to give teachers back their powers to discipline children'.
So for this to happen they're going to enlist the Army - ex-soldiers.
This actually has an element of sense to it. Action has to be taken to restore discipline in schools - in homes and throughout society too! No doubt ex-professional soldiers would be very able candidates for carrying this out. They'll apparently be fast tracked through the qualification and training aspect of teaching. This presents its own problems but hey, a bit of goalpost moving will get around that!
What's the problem with this idea?
Well, doesn't it imply that present teachers, teaching assistants and the hordes of others who are employed schools aren't up to the job of disciplining kids? Is it implying that only hulking great ex-soldiers can manage behaviour? Are the vast numbers of fairly petite female soldiers included in the plans? Will they be included in the mix of ex-army teachers who will take on the responsibility of controlling and disciplining kids in schools?
Not that there's anything against hulking great soldiers - or the petite ones, either - that's absolutely not the case. All in Civvy Street have absolute respect and admiration for the work of army personnel. Their commitment and bravery is beyond reproach. Few people could do what they do - greater courage would be very hard to find.
The fact is though that there are men in teaching posts at present who have the physical presence of soldiers. And, of course there are also great numbers of fairly small female teachers as well...
The question then... What is it that differentiates ex-soldiers and those presently in the teaching profession many who are failing to manage kids' behaviour?
To cut to the chase, it's down to each individual teacher's attitudes and expectations. Plus the amount of worthwhile training they've received in behaviour management. Army personnel are disciplined and have extremely high personal expectations and also of all those they work with. Without this they wouldn't survive.
Why can't present teachers manage kids' behaviour then? It may not be a popular observation but it's largely down to lack of will and energy. They'll moan about the kids and about their behaviour but really don't do very much to alter the situation they find themselves in. There's an element of 'learned helplessness' among many present teachers. They're full of all the things they can't do - so negative and defeated even before they meet any problems.
Of course, it's appreciated that things are difficult in today's classrooms. There is endless government interference and constant change, most of which is totally unnecessary and irrelevant.
It's also appreciated that teachers have inadequate behaviour management training. They're given so much conflicting advice - even if it didn't conflict a most of it would still be ineffective! Many believe they haven't the right to discipline kids in schools. Have you ever noticed that the advice givers are extremely reluctant to demonstrate their strategies by actually teaching in a classroom? Perish the thought! They just talk about advice but it's not coupled with much action, if any at all...
The fact is that adults everywhere have got to change their attitude towards kids and their behaviour! They've got to get a grip and stop putting up with the appalling behaviour kids throw out endlessly... Things can't be allowed to continue as they are.
Teachers (and parents) have to free themselves of the culture of learned helplessness where they convince themselves that they can't do anything about tackling kids' appalling behaviour.
Even if you have a disciplined soldier teaching a class before you have to teach them, you've still got to learn to manage their behaviour yourself... No-one can do it for you. Unfortunately that's the truth - kids soon recognise if you're unable to manage their behaviour and many will take pleasure in making your life a misery as a consequence.
So, the bottom line is that it's the soldier's attitude and approach to discipline that's needed and not necessarily the soldier himself or herself!
A further point is that the government proposal refers only to older senior school students who need the ex-soldier teachers' approach. I'm sorry, Mr Government Officials but effective behaviour management strategies need to be used long before kids get to senior age otherwise you're really asking for trouble!
Mr. Government Official says, trying to sound convincing, 'There's nothing more important than getting discipline right in schools and to give teachers back their powers to discipline children'.
So for this to happen they're going to enlist the Army - ex-soldiers.
This actually has an element of sense to it. Action has to be taken to restore discipline in schools - in homes and throughout society too! No doubt ex-professional soldiers would be very able candidates for carrying this out. They'll apparently be fast tracked through the qualification and training aspect of teaching. This presents its own problems but hey, a bit of goalpost moving will get around that!
What's the problem with this idea?
Well, doesn't it imply that present teachers, teaching assistants and the hordes of others who are employed schools aren't up to the job of disciplining kids? Is it implying that only hulking great ex-soldiers can manage behaviour? Are the vast numbers of fairly petite female soldiers included in the plans? Will they be included in the mix of ex-army teachers who will take on the responsibility of controlling and disciplining kids in schools?
Not that there's anything against hulking great soldiers - or the petite ones, either - that's absolutely not the case. All in Civvy Street have absolute respect and admiration for the work of army personnel. Their commitment and bravery is beyond reproach. Few people could do what they do - greater courage would be very hard to find.
The fact is though that there are men in teaching posts at present who have the physical presence of soldiers. And, of course there are also great numbers of fairly small female teachers as well...
The question then... What is it that differentiates ex-soldiers and those presently in the teaching profession many who are failing to manage kids' behaviour?
To cut to the chase, it's down to each individual teacher's attitudes and expectations. Plus the amount of worthwhile training they've received in behaviour management. Army personnel are disciplined and have extremely high personal expectations and also of all those they work with. Without this they wouldn't survive.
Why can't present teachers manage kids' behaviour then? It may not be a popular observation but it's largely down to lack of will and energy. They'll moan about the kids and about their behaviour but really don't do very much to alter the situation they find themselves in. There's an element of 'learned helplessness' among many present teachers. They're full of all the things they can't do - so negative and defeated even before they meet any problems.
Of course, it's appreciated that things are difficult in today's classrooms. There is endless government interference and constant change, most of which is totally unnecessary and irrelevant.
It's also appreciated that teachers have inadequate behaviour management training. They're given so much conflicting advice - even if it didn't conflict a most of it would still be ineffective! Many believe they haven't the right to discipline kids in schools. Have you ever noticed that the advice givers are extremely reluctant to demonstrate their strategies by actually teaching in a classroom? Perish the thought! They just talk about advice but it's not coupled with much action, if any at all...
The fact is that adults everywhere have got to change their attitude towards kids and their behaviour! They've got to get a grip and stop putting up with the appalling behaviour kids throw out endlessly... Things can't be allowed to continue as they are.
Teachers (and parents) have to free themselves of the culture of learned helplessness where they convince themselves that they can't do anything about tackling kids' appalling behaviour.
Even if you have a disciplined soldier teaching a class before you have to teach them, you've still got to learn to manage their behaviour yourself... No-one can do it for you. Unfortunately that's the truth - kids soon recognise if you're unable to manage their behaviour and many will take pleasure in making your life a misery as a consequence.
So, the bottom line is that it's the soldier's attitude and approach to discipline that's needed and not necessarily the soldier himself or herself!
A further point is that the government proposal refers only to older senior school students who need the ex-soldier teachers' approach. I'm sorry, Mr Government Officials but effective behaviour management strategies need to be used long before kids get to senior age otherwise you're really asking for trouble!
Liz Marsden is a highly
experienced teacher and successful behaviour management expert who works
with children demonstrating extreme and challenging behaviour in their
schools and homes. Liz uses her skills every day in her classes and also
trains teachers, student teachers, teaching assistants and parents to
deal with children's behaviour confidently and effectively.
for further info check the link below
http://c26890j41y4mloewkdld5z3x09.hop.clickbank.net/
for further info check the link below
http://c26890j41y4mloewkdld5z3x09.hop.clickbank.net/
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