Three Worst Indiscipline Experiences…

Hi everyone!

Today I address a common teachers’ concern – indiscipline. Research[1] shows that students’ indifference is related to unchallenging teaching practices, to which students negatively react, starting conflicts, such as indiscipline. As a consequence, indiscipline impairs the development of the group because teachers decide refrain from implementing communicative activities not to lose control of the discipline.

The experiences below represent the worst conflicts three experienced teachers   (professionals for more than 10 years) had to deal with in public, private schools and language institutes.

Luiza: It happened when I was pregnant and one of my students terribly cursed me. I couldn’t handle it. So, I packed my stuff and went home. I took an early maternity leave. When I went back, this boy wasn’t there anymore. He had had problems with another teacher – he had tried to hit him, he hit his mom in the street… And you feel sad to know that a human being like that was part of your life and you weren’t able to do anything. And we feel sad knowing that today he’s in jail, consumes drug, and hoots others.

Marina: I only experienced a verbal aggression, but I managed to handle the situation. I responded to it immediately, and the student lowered his head. Later, I talked to him. Often, conversation gets out of hand – teenagers talk too much. It’s usually most difficult, after a holiday or in the last class period, when they are tired… What bothers me most is the conversation, but it’s typical of youngsters, the agitation…

Clara: A student told me she was going to leave me a note. The note was a drawing of a grave yard and each teacher had his own grave. I had been the last teacher to join the school and they liked me a bit. But I already had my grave. What made my grave different from the others’ were some flowers. So, I asked her: “am I here already?”And she replied: “yes, but you’re a bit kinder”. The drawing represented the school. She wanted all teachers dead. Some graves had no names. I asked her why and she answered those were for the teachers to come. Another indiscipline situation that remains with me was a very difficult boy. I called his mother. She was a very simple person, older. Crying, she told me: “please, call 190 and have him arrested. I’d rather see him in jail. If he finds out I’ve been here, he’ll hit me at home”. I cried with that mother because I didn’t know what to say… I had no words…My heart hurt…

These experiences reveal that indiscipline affects teachers. I want I invite RichmondShare bloggers to share indiscipline experiences and possibly ways to deal with it.