How do I maintain discipline in my class?

Question

I teach at a high school.There's a lot of contributing factors -socio-economic,political issues,uninvolved
parents etc.They don't respect teachers anymore and hide behind their "human rights" forgetting that teachers are human as well. Children are disruptive,don't take out books,swear at teachers, use drugs etc.If they are expelled the department of education forces us to take them back.This leads to children thinking they can get away with murder(literally!)A 14 year old(from another school) murdered a19 year old over gambling dept.Teachers are threatened if they want to discipline them.Parents are inapt to educate and have no sense of responsibility.Would for example use drugs themselves and let their 15 year old daughter sleep with her boyfriend.I blame television,lack of support from government,the change in school policy(no Christian values or corporal punishment)and that parents aren't forced to take responsibility!Teaching is in my blood but they're sucking the life out of me!

Answer 1

I would find a different job...all that you listed is exactly why teachers are leaving the profession at record numbers...if not leave the profession, then find a rural school to teach at.

Answer 2

Teaching is Love. Thank YOU for making the difference.

It may very well be that you are out of your element where you can be most effective. There are 50 ways to leave your Lover. Make a new plan, Stan, Get on the bus, Gus, drop off the key, Lee; try a different school, or school system, for the sake of your mental health.

Some of us are better adept or inept in these more challenging situaions, all of the time, sometimes, or not at all, for a variety of reasons.

We live in a society that does not truly value education. The lip-service is paid, but the practice is not demonstrated within the society. Talk is the cheapest thing that we can do.

"Education is what you give yourself, shcooling is what someone else gives you." - Mark Twain

Move to a new situation where the class sizes are smaller and the population wants to learn, before you become jaded and burn yourself out to the point that you are no good to any one including yourself.

We need you at your best!!

Thanx again for doing the highest service that any one can do.

Answer 3

I work at a high school where the environment sounds similar to yours. This is what I've learned:

1. I must establish expectations before I can maintain order. We review a one-page handout that lays down what behavior is acceptable and not acceptable. The students are required to sign, acquire a parental signature, and turn it back to me. It counts as a grade. If I don't receive a parent signature, I call the home. Most parents I speak with simply haven't seen the sheet.
Sadly, there are others that simply can't/don't care. In this case, I at least have the student signature on file.

2. If I write or say it, I must enforce it. Students receive ONE verbal 'warning' per day. If they CHOOSE to demonstrate the behavior again, I fill out a referral form and send them to detention for the remainder of the class. One or two referrals usually do the trick. More than two serves as a red-flag for me. Most often, a seating change or an alternative learning plan is in order. If such adjustments don't work, I've found that the student is usually having problems in all classes and the Guidance Department is already involved. All I can do is be supportive if and when the student returns to my classroom.

3. I work hard to provide a highly structured daily lesson plan.
Time gaps in activities invites mayhem. 'Highly structured' does NOT mean rigid! If the majority of the students aren't engaged in the activity, we move on. Oftentimes we'll go back to the particular lesson on another day without problem. Flexibility is key. Preparation is the golden rule.

My parents were 'master educators', yet what worked a generation ago wouldn't stand a chance in today's classroom.
A strong behavior management routine is critical. Do l feel like a cop? Yes. And it's extreme drain on my energy level! But it's better than addressing disruptive behavior day after day after day. In short, allowing inappropriate behavior cheats the children that are eager and capable of learning. And it's that Truth that allows me to write those referrals, call those parents, and accept the fact I can't provide all things to all children.

Answer 4

what "monkeyjacket" said is very true. you could try incentives or reward system, referring them to the prinicpal's office and detention won't really help. well they seem to be lacking a lot of resources. set expectaton, (which they probably just brush off)..i can only suggest a book to you "a framework for understanding poverty" some of it deals from a teachers perspective on classroom discipline, w/ kids from a lower economic background (thus no parental invovlement, drugs, poverty, no support systems, or knowledge of those hidden or proper rules of society)

Answer 5

i comprehend you've probable tried to shop them separated as a lot as conceivable when you consider that they tend to feed off one yet another. If no longer initiate there. In my preschool type it is what we had to do. I delivered in fruit loops. I defined to the youngsters that they are little rewards for doing the right element. I first handed them out to the youngsters that were sitting listening to me clarify what the fruit loops were for declaring it to the kind. I gave out 3 fruit loops at a time to each and every baby doing the right element. I not in any respect suggested something to those that were doing the incorrect element in basic terms gave out fruit loops to those doing the right element. ultimately the project baby stuck on. It took truly some the day yet he ultimately were given the conception. once you spot that child doing one element accurate only for a split 2d enable him comprehend you spotted by technique of giving him fruit loops and declaring it to the kind. you do not ought to furnish them out all day in basic terms once you want them to pay interest and sit down nevertheless. i might want to also communicate about to the kind a baby that replaced into doing the right element. The min. the project baby did something accurate i might want to say "seem at him(use his call) he's familiar with a thanks to do the right element. i did not communicate about the neg. the afflicted baby replaced into doing. If he replaced into doing something very disruptive i might want to then take him by technique of the hand no longer declaring a be conscious and eliminate him from the problem and both positioned him in a chair or on the floor faraway from the different children. no longer declaring something doesn't provide him the interest he might want to correctly be wanting. He also might want to have a topic that you'll't truly ever have any administration over. He might want to need more advantageous help. i desire this helps

Answer 6

Do not be intimidated. There is a reason they are still going to school. Start by asking them what they want to know and tell them you are not scared. Tell them they will get a punishment.

Answer 7

i think so u should do something in the class.some intersting like u can ques.related them.u can be their friend.u just let them to read 1st then ask ques.related to what they have read.Or give one peroid for themself.take them to paly games.if u like it pl. convey me.&be my friend because i don't have friends.my add is abhi_tiger02@yahoo or hotmail.com . bye

Answer 8

the way things are going we need to start wearing bullet proof vests.

Answer 9

Iam ateacher like you all i can say is hang in there !