When Schools Fail: Handling Extreme Student Behavior

Schools experience many internal and external chaotic moments. Often, in the moment, nobody actually knows the completely correct thing to do. There is policy on paper, which is more often than not conflicted by our “human nature” policy. In the moment, emotions are too high to make a decision, but when nothing is done in the moment, it seems like nothing will be done. I have so many thoughts and questions.

Too many times, I have heard the likes of “it is being investigated” (policy on paper) and “… on a case by case basis.” (human nature policy). In my mind, I start thinking, what does an investigation look like, how long should an investigation take, and in the meanwhile, what should happen to the people involved?

Schools are places where we generally want what is best for children. We want to turn them into good human beings who will contribute positively to society. So when a child does wrong, and I mean brutally wrong, what can a school do? I can say that from experience, they never do enough.

I have come to realise that too often, the symptom is treated and not the illness/disease. We force the kid to apologise, knowing very well that they do not mean it and will continue their aggressive behaviour. We force kids to hug/handshake, but that does not erase their discriminatory/biased thoughts. We call the parent for one meeting, knowing that the parent only cares about whether the child can continue school or not and is willing to say anything to make sure that they do, without actually doing anything. None of this is enough for a child who is essentially a bully, is racist, is sexist, is an harasser to their peers, and/or anyone who disagree with their actions. Schools can not fix or help such a child. They aren’t equipped because such tendencies begin at home.

Unfortunately, the dilemma is when the education department, in various ways, thinks we should have to deal with such cases under the banner of “no child left behind.” Parents can only see the angel side of their child because ‘they never do that home.’ Senior leadership is too busy being PR manager by trying to keep the school in a positive light. So then, who protects the teachers, school staff, and other children who are subjected to this brutally wrong behaviour?

I find it sad and shameful that teachers and other school staff are at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to our well-being when it comes to children who are bad for the school’s ecosystem. I’ve had a table thrown in my direction by a learner as a fight broke out. I’ve been physically intimidated by a learner who thought that they did not need academic intervention, this came with verbal assault too, many times, but one particular time, I found out that the principal “congratulated” him for stay for the intervention – imagine that, the equivalent of getting a lollipop for disrespecting a teacher. I’ve had colleagues physically and sexually harrassed by learners who are then allowed to continue going to their classes immediately. We’ve seen videos of such happening in many schools across the country. And then we are made to face our transgressors every day and told, “Don’t take it personally. They are just kids.” Kids who never apologise. Kids who now have a superiority complex because they get away with it and laugh about it.

Parents, School Leaders, Education Departments – You will continue to lose great teachers and staff so long as you continue to not be on our side when it comes to wildly erratically behaved children who you seem to believe deserve all the chances in the world.