Violence in the classroom - Are you prepared?
First let me begin this story by explaining that
approximately one month ago, during an inservice day, we student teachers were
assigned to create a video on the proper way to handle theft in the
classroom. We asked the principal what
the procedure is in this situation: call security and an administrator and keep
the kids in the classroom. We
video-taped a scenario where a student gets his cell phone stolen.
Just this week, this scenario became a true situation in our
study all class. I was so glad that my
CT was there to handle the situation. We
called security and did what we were supposed to do. Unfortunately the guidelines do not cover the
part where the students are cocky young males who begin mouthing off to one
another. The situation quickly
escalated, despite many attempts by my CT, and next thing we know the students
are tossing chairs around and posturing.
The student who had his phone stolen was ready to fight everyone in the
class at that point. My CT did her best
to escort the student out of the class and down to the counselor’s office and
tried her best to keep the students separated.
Once class was over and we had a chance to talk, I asked her
what I should do if the students had actually started fighting. We discussed how I should go to the closest
room to have them call security and administration and just try to keep the
other students out of harm’s way but that I should just let the kids fight if
they start throwing punches. She told me
I should not get in between them at that point but should just minimize the
chance of anyone else getting involved.
I have not experienced this situation before and I can honestly say that
I am in no hurry to experience it again but I am glad to have had the
opportunity to discuss with my CT what the best course of action should be if
it does happen again. These are
sometimes the types of situations that we forget to ask about and are not
prepared for when they do occur. Am I
the only one who would not have been prepared for this?
Wow! I don't know about you, but I know I can feel the adrenaline rising when I feel a shift in the mood. I've dealt with something like this as a sub in a middle school. In that instance, I could see it coming and separated them before it escalated. But, part of why it was so easy to separate them was that I was close by, I was physically between them, and they were smaller than our high schoolers.
ReplyDeleteI've also witnessed fights breaking out at least twice at lunch time in two different high schools. In both instances, the security officer(s) and administrators were nearby and broke it up immediately. In the classroom, it's a different situation. I think your CT is right that it's best to get the innocent out of the way and call for backup.
These are definitely things we need to think about because it happens so fast, there's no time to think. It's good to have some strategies to call upon.
I was surprised to hear this happen and glad that it didn't progress into a fist fight. Dealing with these situations is never easy but I can assure you that getting in the middle of the fighting students is never a good idea. There are some students in the school that I wouldn't even get in between.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that we had the foresight to ask the administrator when were working on that project.
Hope next study hall goes a little better and all them chairs remain on the floor.
The only way I would be prepared for this is because of working in a school for the last 6 years. I have seen and dealt with fights similar to this. It is true it is easier when the students are in middle school- they are easier to intimidate when needed and of course their size being smaller helps. Especially when even though they are in middle school they are still taller.
ReplyDeleteI do have to say this is definitely a reason I'm glad middle school students aren't allowed to have their cell phones on their bodies, we take their phone and their parents must pick it up if we catch them with it. Even for a high school student, why do they need it? There are so many distractions and additional problems caused by it?
It's a good thing you were able to gain experience on this during student teaching. Whew!