Watching Out for Numero Uno

"Physician, heal thyself." These words are nowhere more true than in the classroom. That is why it is as important to empathize with yourself as it is to empathize with the students.

In this article, then, we shall pamper ourselves by asking ourselves how we feel when students misbehave. I hear some of you saying, "Why, angry, of course!" But anger always follows another emotion. What is the emotion which comes first?

Here are some emotions which I have felt:

disappointment

I usually handle this pretty well. "I'm a little disappointed. I thought you promised that you would stop talking in class. Don't you remember promising me that?"

annoyance

Snap, snap, snap, snap! That's what I do in response to continual misbehavior, if I don't take the time to think of a more constructive solution.

And a lot of good it does.

frustrated

I am standing in front of the class, trying to get a lesson started while twenty students are milling in twenty directions. I may as well go outside and talk to the trees.

I feel like saying, "Look! All I ask of the world is to get a lesson started! Is that so bad?"

threatened by the students

Why is the student misbehaving? Is it because I'm a poor disciplinarian? Am I a lousy person for not earning more respect?

As cruel as it seems, I usually feel relieved when I hear shocking stories about the student's environment. That assures me that the problem lies at the student's end, not mine.

threatened by other adults

The class is walking down the hallway, giggling, talking, running, and punching each other. Another teacher arrives on the scene.

I say, "What do you think this teacher is thinking about the class right now? Do you think she is thinking this is a well-behaved class?"

The students usually answer in the negative.

Then I say, "What do you think she is thinking about a teacher who lets a class act like this? Do you think she's thinking I'm a very good teacher?"

The students usually stand mute. It could be that they don't know how to answer this question in accord with the respect-your-elders maxim. It could also be that they had never before thought about the school setting from the teacher's point of view.

desperate

I've bribed, I've threatened, I've yelled, and I've screamed. I've even asked other teachers who seem to have the magic touch, and they've been no help! It must be that they have the potential and I don't. What else can I do?

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