should parents take more responsibility of their disruptive children at school?

Question

The problem - the continuously disturbing student who constantly requires too much of the teacher's attention causing less learning for the students who do come to school to learn and do understand that there is a way out. THOSE WHO DO NOT WORK IN EDUCATION DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND CANNOT SEEM TO GRASP THE DEPTH OF THE ISSUE. We have students who teachers bend over backwards, into pretzels, make home visits and do everything with the possible resources we have, and we do have a lot, to reach these students, yet they still refuse to be taught. They refuse to learn. They refuse to accept consequences or take responsibility for their actions because the parents refuse to take responsiblity for their own...

Answer 1

Parents and students both should take more responsibility. The thing is that everyone according to the law is entitled to a free and appropriate education. I here this repeatedly in every special education meeting I am in, and I am in a great deal.

I think that the supreme court decided the concept of students being entitled to a free public education. SO, when students misbehave in the classroom they are violating the rights of those who are there to learn, as well as, sacrificing their right to access. Until school attendance is made a choice and not a responsibility then the contradiction in the law with the psychology of individuals will create turmoil, and we as teachers will have to continue to baby sit these types of people. If the teacher had the authority to just kick a student out of class for disruptive behavior then the problem would be solved. The problem comes from the fact that the administration, the school board, the parents, and society do not know what to do with the student who doesn't want to learn. SO, they send him back to the teacher and tell them to work a miracle and "reach him" like they do in all the Hollywood movies and don't think about all the others who are losing out.

I still find it odd that the court says that a person has the right to go to school, which implies a choice. However, the same court enforces truancy laws designed to make students attend, which implies no choice. WHICH IS IT?

Another question.... Does anyone think that the type of behavior that is allowed to go on in public school would be allowed in any other state run building besides maybe a prison?

Answer 2

I agree with you, but you are howling into the wind. The current school system has taken over the role of parent to the extent of providing, transportation, breakfast, lunch, books, supplies and a sense of entitlement that disrespects every other student. Change will come ONLY when the parents of those "normal" kids whose education is being compromised sue the schools. Schools only listen to litigation, not to reason. When a parent can prove that their child's education was harmed or lessened in some degree , that the resources were not equally distributed or that their child was endangered, we will finally see change. Personally I think IEPS need to include what the parent is responsible for at home and under what circumstances the child will be sent home. If the child can not handle that , then they have no business being in an inclusive setting school. They need to have schools that deal specifically with dangerous and disruptive students. Parents who are not doing their job need to be held liable by the same laws that teachers and schools are. In NCLB I truly believe that the right to demand tutoring or transfer to a better school should be taken away if the child refuses to come to school or do the work that is assigned. I think the test scores should only be taken from students who attend 90 percent of the time or more. This is pure attendance and putting some of the responsibility on the parent and student.

Answer 3

Yes, parents should take more responsibilty for the behavior of their children. However, I would like to add that the disruptions (from my special education teacher perspective) are that students are now prone to exploit the limitations of their teachers and authority figures. Statements like, "you can't touch me so you can't hurt me" are now all too often in my line of work. Students pointing out what they are "entitled" to is now becoming a problem. I am not in favor of corporal punishment, so please don't think I would go there. However, if parents are to really be involved with discipline, they should be required to to sit in on 1 full day of their childs classes per academic quarter. Also video cameras need to be more widely used in order to back up teachers (most teachers may not be comfortable with this though) when they have disciplinary issues with students. The biggest problem of all is that the system is becoming soft. Many principals are passing the buck and overlooking discipline because they may have goals and bonuses involved in the reduction of suspensions, etc... or they are placing the burden of discipline on the teacher which puts the teacher in a really bad spot. Issuing fines and fees wouldn't affect the major number of poor behaved students since many could not afford the fines in the first place. The only way to hold parents accountable is to make them more active in the school. Like I stated above, require parents to come into classrooms in order to follow their kid around. The more adults in a class, the less the behaviors will actually occur. If the parents do not show up. Their student should not be able to attend school or would not be eligible for free/reduced lunches. While I know this idea may seem ludacris and is way out of reach, many Catholic schools require mandatory parent involvement as a part of enrollment.

Answer 4

Yes, they should. But this question will lead to have much debate over the parent's role or lack of it. "My child would never do that" or "He/she is an angel and would never act up." The parents are in denial or don't see it. Some kids just can't handle the situation or pressure at hand with the cards dealt to them. The word is failure and it's hard for people to swallow. Kids need something to succeed at and then keep them involved in that activity. They also need to know about perseverance and not giving up. Failure happens all the time, but it is what you do to remedy the situation that makes the difference. When that happens, or kids are sent home or to a special classroom constantly, that these parents must come often on surprise visits to see, these students may stop this foolishness and realize the importance of a good education and not be a clown.

Answer 5

the problem is that the teacher gives them the attention they crave. students are constantly testing the boundaries with the teacher and if the child finds he can manipulate the teacher, as far as making them the center of attention,then they will always know that if they press the right button it will elicit the reaction in the teacher. consider teachers like Pavlov's dogs, if i ring the bell the teacher will drool. you should randomly reward students for good behavior(when i say randomly, i mean not every time, because then the students won't know which situation will receive a reward and will be apt to behave more appropriately. but if reward becomes routine then they'll have the occasion to act out to get an additional form of recognition), and not punish the child with the bad behavior because that fuels the fire but try not acknowledging the bad behavior. Act as if the unruly child is absent from class and they will soon try to become part of the class.Either that or if they start getting unruly, have a blackboard question prepared so that each time the child acts out you can say, " well since so and so wants wants the attention lets see him or her demonstrate the problem on the board." and he will eventually pay more attention for fear of embarrassment in front of the class or he will be less likely to make a target of himself.

Answer 6

Yes, parents should take more responsiblity for thier disruptive children at school, in groceries, restaraunts, anywhere the children are being disruptive.
Unfortunately, teachers end up bearing the brunt of poor home training because they _have_ to control the classroom, a real challenge with kids who have not been taught basic discipline at home.
How to force those parents to take action, particularly when they don't understand what they aren't doing, is the question.
And as frustrating as it is for the teachers, it's all the kids in the class who are really losing out.

No real answer here, just letting you know I feel your pain!

Answer 7

yes, parents should take more responsibility and accountability with their child education, but those lessons and tough love sessions start at home. If a particular behaviour is not tolerated at home, and reinforced, a child will likely not participate in that behaviour outside of the home due to the punishment and fear. Our teachers are not staffed to be babysitters. Our teachers are trained professionals and should be respected as such. Lack of parental control of their children is a major reason for most of the social woes that we suffer and problems with education and increasingly lower literacy levels, and this issues are too often misdirected at teachers. Make the parents accountable and have measurable consequences if they fail.

Answer 8

Absolutely. Many disruptive students are a result of a disruptive, unbalanced home environnment. As a teacher, yes you have many ressources available, however, so many "intervention" ideas need parent/gaurdian approval first. If the teacher, school and parents don't work together with the same amount of effort, very little change will occur.

Answer 9

YES!!! It has been my experience that parents are trying too hard to either be the "cool" parent or are trying to be their kid's best friend. As a result, these kids are never taught basic manners and to respect elders. (After all, experience has taught them that their elders will cave at the slightest pressure) There are parents out there who believe that if it happens at school it is the teacher's responsibility, not theirs. I wish I had an answer to this question because it has been a point of HUGE frustration since I started teaching, but I think that its going to frustrate me for my entire career.

Answer 10

Yes they should be more responsible for their children but for their own self too. I see too many children trapped by the parents own behavior that they think its ok and normal to misbehave. The age of accountabillity begins when a child knows the difference between yes and no. Behavior is learned not born too...