Teachers Are Mad (Insane, Not In A Rage)!!

So you’re a teacher and insane, eh? Insulting or what? …. Well yes, actually you are….. mad as mad can be – insane, deranged. So what am I talking about?

Countless people in schools are having problems managing children’s behaviour. I get told about what a child’s done, that bad behaviour is worsening, classes out of control. Teachers are appalled that children’s behaviour isn’t improving whatever they do, parents aren’t supportive, there must be something wrong with the child, home life is dreadful, the parents are dreadful – on and on they go.

Parents’ take on the situation is slightly different – for them the school is dreadful, the teachers are dreadful, their child is bullied, not understood, has a behaviour disorder- endless complaints but defending little Johnny …

So many unhappy disgruntled and stressed people all blaming everybody else for behaviour problems!!

So this is my evidence for teachers being mad??? Well, yes and let me tell you why… When I ask people what they’ve done about altering the children’s behaviour they tell me a whole host of techniques they’ve been using for years – but that the techniques don’t work because the problem is with the child, the parents or the homelife, etc. ‘So why use them if they don’t work?’ I ask. Is it going to work any differently by doing more of the same? No, it isn’t… same input, same result.

So that makes them mad? Yup it does. What’s the definition of madness?? Repeating the same thing over and over expecting a different result. But seriously, how about if you’re repeating things over and over because you don’t know what the alternative is, or even that there is an alternative – no-one’s ever told you, you’ve had no behaviour management training, you haven’t a clue what to do?

Thats not insane, that’s upsetting and it causes stress, poor health plus low classroom results and a host of other problems. But, you can do something about it – and really easily. Anyone can learn to manage children’s behaviour confidently – it isn’t difficult. I use my own advice, detailed in Behaviour Bible, each day with the most potentially challenging and confrontational children who have demonstrated the most disruptive behaviour in school. Anyone can learn to manage children’s behaviour and make your working life far less stressful.

Liz Marsden is a highly accomplished and respected behaviour expert who teaches daily and also trains teachers, support staff and teaching students in her techniques. Liz’s book, Behaviour Bible gives you essential advice to enable you to become a skilled and confident behaviour specialist. Read about her life in the classroom, offering a valuable insight into her work.