Not letting bad students demoralize

May 06, 2004

Recently a teacher was feeling a bit down and out after some particularly trying episodes with students, and was entertaining thoughts of leaving the school at the end of the year, to seek work elsewhere. The disruptive and disrespectful students were monopolizing classroom time, and they were working overtime to drive the teacher nuts, and for the moment, the teacher was bowed.

This teacher shared these thoughts with a colleague at a faculty meeting, and she responded simply, "If you think they're having an effect on you, please remember you're having even more of an effect on them."

She meant this in the positive sense, for this teacher is strict and has high standards for conduct and academics, but was completely unaware that this, over time, was cultivating a reputation.

She continued, "When my students are acting up, I just say I'm going to send them to [you] and the class gets deadly quiet."

This was exactly what the teacher needed, a shot in the arm to reverse a spell of demoralized thoughts and mild despair. The following week went much better for this teacher, for in the periphery was the constant thought that a positive impact was being made, despite all the recent drama with the negative students.

Are you doing the right thing? Are you working in your students' best interests, even if they don't appreciate it? Are some students quite vocal with their displeasure, even though they've got it all twisted around?

Don't give in!

Just think that behind your back, you might be getting a respectable reputation for having firm limits and high standards, a reputation which only time and consistency can create. Keep fighting the good fight, and you will prevail.