Judging and Addressing Student Behavior

I started teaching in 1992 and found myself caught up in a world of "disciplining students." I was only a few years out of the Marine Corps and sternly believed that a learning environment was established by "keeping students in line." I was obsessed with keeping student behavior under control, nearly to the point where I felt like my classroom was more like a military setting than a learning environment.

Respective of this effort, I found myself challenging students on almost everything. I created an unsustainable standard for behavior and found myself in one stressful situation after another. I guess I just couldn't look the other direction or forgive situations that were really no hinderance to educational progress. I simply didn't do a good job of deciding which battles were important to fight and which were just "one off" incidents that were not likely to become "systemic problems" in the classroom or educational system. That was then.

Teaching now, I find myself much more relaxed and willing to let things go as long as they do not present the likelihood of derailing what I wish to accomplish in the classroom or lab. I have managed to grow as a person and realize the difference between "one off incidents" and potential "systemic problems" that could lead to classroom disruption and an unsafe learning environment.

As I see it, a "one off incident" is almost situation and time specific. The problematic behavior or action likely happened in a setting that isn't necessarily going to repeat itself often. In this case it is best to ignore or lightly address the issue unless it involved a safety violation or violent action against another student. The opposite of this, in my opinion, is a "systemic problem" that may be created by a student. In this instance, you find a situation that could likely recur as the setting and circumstances therein are common practice and will present themself at another point during the school year.

Example: "One-Off Incidents" We are building catapults and a student launches a ping pong ball without permission. Question - could this lead to a systemic problem. Not likely. Why? We work on catapults for a susinct amount of time and move on to another project. I would treat this situation with a light comment and suggest that the student reframe from this behavior. The action could be repeated by others but is not likely to harm the student or his peers.

Example: "Systemic Problem" We are working in the shop and a student is using the drill press while not wearing safety glasses. Question - could this lead to a systemic problem. Yes. Student safety is of highest importance in the shop and should this action not be addressed quickly and with a serious warning, it is likely the student will attempt to use other, more dangerous machines, without wearing safety glasses. Will an opportunity for a repeat present itself - absolutely - therefore, I believe that the student has the potential of creating a systemic problem, not only for him or herself, but for others. Should that behavior go unchecked it may be modeled by other students and lead to unsafe practices.

In summary, I believe teachers must choose their battles. In my opinion teachers have to be able to differentiate between "one-off incidents" and "systematic problems." Teachers must be tolerant in those areas where student behavior in not likely to create major distractions, lead to violence against others and/or lead to safety violations where somebody could get injured.

I realize now that the teacher I used to be could, and would not differentiate between these kinds of behaviors. Everything looked like a potential systemic problem. I believe my teaching capabilities have improved since then and my stress level managed as a result of being a better judge of student behavior and its potential impact in my classroom.