Recently, many of my friends who are not teachers started asking about my thoughts about teachers hitting students. There have been many cases in my country who have done it and have received very negative media coverage.
Now, before I continue further, please note a few things. Firstly, there are many teachers in my country who subscribe to the concept 'spare the rod, spoil the child'. Although the concept is good, the implementation is poor and the government does not condone teachers hitting students. Secondly, I personally do not agree with hitting students and do not subscribe to this method.
However, I think we have to be real here. None of us are on a constant high. Anyone who has taught before can tell you that teaching is not always sunshine and butterflies. There are times when life drops a child into your life that really requires a lot grace. It takes a lot for me to get to that stage, but I once had a student that really challenged me. He knew he was getting to me and he wanted to make a viral video of a teacher hitting him (he pointed out his plan to me over lunch).
He was my student for three years and I have never laid a hand on him. That's because there are a few things that hold me back.
See The Good
I don't mean the part where everyone is inherently good. I mean that whenever a student is being disruptive in a class, there's a good reason why he or she is so. The class may need a short 5 minute break. Bored students are highly disruptive. If that's not the case, they normally become difficult over time. None of them wake up one morning and thought... 'Hmmm, I'm going to be disruptive today.'
I like to know the students under my charge. I will try to find out about their family, their past performance and how their friends see them. Based on my experience, these are the things that can disturb a student emotionally. I have some students who do not stay with their parents. Depending on age, it affects them emotionally and it shows in how they act in the class. Some of them are victims of bullying and they may release all the penned up anger in the class.
Whatever the reason may be, take a step back. As a teacher, you can't control how the student acts, but you can control what you do next. Sometimes, taking a step back to find out more about the student helps you in making the right call. Think about it, through punishment, the problem is solved NOW. However, I would take my time to find out the problem and help the child work through that problem. That way, you solve the problem for life and you win the heart of a child who may be on the brink of depression.
Worst-Case Scenario
However, what if there is this one student that you feel is just special. So special that many would see him as the destroyer or the harbinger of death. I'm exaggerating of course, but you get my point. There are some who can be disruptive no matter how much you talk to them. So, what now? Well that calls for two things.
First, know that you can control nothing but how you react in the class. You can't control if everyone would laugh at you and you can't control if a student decides to jump on the table and pull of his pants (Yes, it has happened before). However, you could control how you react to the situation. I would imagine that many lost control of how they would handle the situation. They reacted to the problem instead of figuring out a way to handle it. Instead of reacting, perhaps a better way would be to to take a deep breath and ask to meet the child outside of the classroom. That time away would help you strategize on what to do next.
Secondly, you will need to take away that incentive the child is getting from being disruptive. Some may just want an audience, others may want your attention. It is up to you to figure out what it is and take that away. That being said, there is no real one size fits all way to handle a disruptive or difficult child in the classroom.
However, remember that you have complete control over your actions. You determine what to do next, how you would take action and when you would take that action. Finally, remember that your shape the lives of those in your class. For some of them, the only way they know how to solve problems is through violence and negativity. You have the power to change that. So the next time you feel like hitting your student. Remember...
