There’s So Much Bad News About Student Behavioral Problems In Many Schools
But there is silence about the role parents must assume in correcting this serious issue.
There have been many reports throughout the nation about the problems school districts are having with student behaviors. Some of the reported incidents in various media outlets to numerous to cite have included:
- extremely violent student fights and assaults
- students assaulting school personnel including teacher and principals
- constant disruptions that prevent teachers from teaching and students from learning
- dangerous acts of misconduct
- the destruction of school property and the personal property of classmates and teachers
-students of all ages resisting the authority of adults
To compound this problem, budgetary cuts and the lack of fiscal resources have resulted in the reduction of staff members that have the capacity to provide some school wide support.
Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings
Schools and districts impacted by the unacceptable student behaviors that continuously turn environments upside down react and respond by having internal and community
meetings…
Meetings to discuss how others are terrorized within the place of learning and how dangerous conditions are…
Meetings to discuss what staff members are failing to do and to blame others…
Meetings to discuss how more mental health services are needed at the school…
Meetings to discuss how wonderful the school was in the past and how things have declined…
Meetings to discuss how there is not enough money to hire additional professionals to help…and
Meetings to collaborate with mental and behavior health community resources providers to solicit help.
There Are Somethings That I Just Don’t Understand
Why are schools, school districts, and educational providers willfully and persistently assuming the exclusive burden of the full responsibility for correcting the despicable student behaviors?
Why is that school and district educational leaders as well as board members fail to have courageous and direct conversations with parents about the expectation for them to get their children under control at school?
Why is it that school leaders fail to go into the communities that they serve to use the home visiting strategy for establishing partnerships with families so that they will ultimately recognize the value of working with their children so that they behave at school?
Why do school leaders including the board of school directors fail to have the vision to see that increased parent training opportunities will positively impact the area of student behavior?
Schools absolutely must stop searching for solutions to eliminate student disciplinary problems within the exclusive confines of convoluted district parameters. Instead they must understand that engaging parents honestly and sincerely is the key to solving these issues with their learners.
Here’s my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.
Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Principal, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Assistant to the Superintendent for Family and Community Engagement, and Professor of Multicultural Education. Her e-learning course and social media platforms can be accessed on her website at www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and she is dedicating the rest of her life to serving as a Global Family Engagement Influencer.