What are the best ways for teachers to deal with unruly students in secondary schools?

A friend of mine, a teacher, and I were chatting about this the other day. She was saying how unruly kinds are nowadays and how they don’t respond to threats and many just don’t want to learn. What kinds of things have been suggested, what would you suggest?

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2 Responses to “What are the best ways for teachers to deal with unruly students in secondary schools?”

  1. simonyeh123 - July 4th, 2009

    Video cameras in classrooms certainly help as a deterrant, I know these are installed in some schools already, and protect against violence, and behaviour issues to an extent also theft etc.

  2. sophieandlili - July 4th, 2009

    Big, Big Question! Where does one start? I have a wife in Primary (Yr5) and eldest daughter in Secondary (PE) and their approach is easy to explain. Zero tolerance. They set and agree class rules with the new class and expect them to abide by them, if they don't, they know what to expect. My wife tends to go in hard and then ease back as they respond – this seems to work and, in the end, she does command respect and treats them with respect also. There are those that don't respond as quickly but soon learn that they are not rewarded with break times, dinner times, etc because they have to do then what they should have been doing earlier instead of messing around and disturbing everyone else. At her school they have a card system, like the footballers, Yellow, Orange, Red. On Red, they are removed from the classroom and go and have a 'chat' with senior management, followed by detentions and, usually, placed on a behavioral register and psp prepared.
    The only reason that this system seems to work, most of the time, is because it is an agreed policy and all teachers are fully supportive. From what I have seen of secondary schools, and I am speaking generally, is that cohesion seems to be missing. There is no consistancy and a definite lack of discipline.
    "Why don't you get them to pick up the litter that they drop?", I ask. "It's a health and safety issue.", they (teacher) reply. "It wasn't a bloody health and safety issue when it was in their hand five seconds ago!" says me thoroughly ****** off because I work at a Leisure Centre with shared facilities, great!
    But it's not the teachers at fault, it's some teachers; it's not the kids at fault, it's some kids; it's not the parent's fault … oh yes it is!; it's society, it's government, it's social services, it's family breakdown, it's lack of respect (self and others), it's lack of religion, it's lack of identity, it's everybody's fault.
    Until we can get back to consistant family values which teach restraint and respect I don't think we have a chance. We need to pull up the drawbridge and drop the portcullis (metephorically) and deal with our citizens in a way that sends a message to others. Bad behaviour should not be condoned or rewarded.

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