[Diondra]

I have just started my career as a primary school teacher (elementary school) within state schools (non-christian). It is almost impossible to teach these days when the majority of the time is spent correcting behaviour. I feel sorry for the children because they are just products of the way their parents raise them, and in today's society, its shocking how most (not all) children are raised.

How can I approach this job? What can I do as a teacher to correct behaviours and dispositions that are products of upbringing? Prevention is better than cure, but in this business its all about curing and un-doing the work of the parents so it seems.

In short, what would be the Orthodox Christian way to be a teacher of children in today's secular society? (specifically in terms of behaviour management, teaching morals etc.)

[Anamehuskeene]

In short, what would be the Orthodox Christian way to be a teacher of children in today's secular society? (specifically in terms of behaviour management, teaching morals etc.)

Turn on a CD of Byzantine chant all day at a low level. They won't understand what they are hearing and any New Age parents that come in will think it is yoga or some such hummmmming and not bother you. The sounds will have a calming affect on the kids. Besides that, smack one or two of them and the rest will fall in line. It's probably all the "love" they will get in a day at home anyway.

[JohnVK]

Besides that, smack one or two of them and the rest will fall in line. Unless there are laws or regulations forbidding corporal punishment. Violate these, and, unfortunately, you'll end up in the soup very quickly. Isaiah, I don't know which state you live in, but here in South Australia, corporal punishment in state schools was outlawed close to forty years ago.

How can I approach this job? What can I do as a teacher to correct behaviours and dispositions that are products of upbringing? Prevention is better than cure, but in this business its all about curing and un-doing the work of the parents so it seems. This is from my time in high school, though I can't see it not being adaptable to primary school teaching, especially grade three and upwards:

A certain teacher was assigned to a class well-populated with boisterous lads who had ample capacity to disrupt the class. For the first few weeks of the year, Mr X kept everybody on a short leash. Even small infractions to class order were dealt with. You dropped your pen? A deep voice boomed out: "Leave it there!" Granted, he was 6'2" (1.88m) tall, and an Aussie Rules footballer still playing at league level at the time, but the point is that he stamped his authority on his class swiftly and without compromise, with firmness, not aggression. After a few weeks, he became more tolerant, and the kids realised he wasn't such a bad bloke after all. But, and it did happen, if someone crossed the line, he knew he could come down hard on them again. Sometimes all he needed to do to pull someone in line was give them "the look", and they would knuckle under.

[beatrisio]

That's the problem. Not discipline at home by choice and no discilpline at school by law. So these kids have no discipline in their lives. No wonder the world is goin to hell in a handbasket. Bring back corporal punishment and mandatory military service and see how quickly society improves!

[Svatudjw]

Not much you can do, government schools are bureacracies, and western parents are simply not good at their jobs. Sad but true.

[AntonioXYZ]

Look at the bright side. You can bring God's love to these children. What a great opportunity.

[u2ZQGC6b]

Not much you can do, government schools are bureacracies, and western parents are simply not good at their jobs. Sad but true.

I would add eastern parents along with this Kosta. I deal with kids and their parents all the time. It's not an easy broad brush stroke to make.

[unioneserry]

Yes Paul, your probably right but we westerners are simply not the same people we were a generation ago. Since your from Texas i assume there is more normalcy than in the NYC public school system. The affluent suburban public schools in NYS still retain a bit of normal values, usually those kids still actually have BOTH parents or at the very least would recognize their fathers in a line up .

On the other hand i personally have known of NYC school teachers, and have actually joked with them about the level of disfunction. Unfortunately teachers are also the tool which promotes immorality as they have to push controversial curriculum or lose their jobs. Also its a fact that in NYC schools the asian students always score higher in math than all other groups. Or as a Greek Orthodox teacher in a diverse NYC school district remarked to me once, 'my asian students are the smartest would you like to see my grading book for yourself".

[Wluwsdtn]

In short, what would be the Orthodox Christian way to be a teacher of children in today's secular society? (specifically in terms of behaviour management, teaching morals etc.)

The best means of classroom management is designing meaningful, engaging lessons that kids enjoy participating in. Some disruptive behaviors may have a function which can be fulfilled in a positive way if you are flexible enough. There will likely always be "problem kids"; teachers in these situations have to find some equilibrium where students can still learn. Specifically Christian material may be out of the question (unless it is matched by material from other religious traditions) but there is plenty of "secular" literature in the form of fables, myths, folktales, poetry, etc. which is complementary to the Christian worldview and the development of strong morals.

Even if it were legal I question whether corporal punishment has a place in a school, at least in a school where we hope to nurture children to become self-motivated learners and virtuous people.

[soajerwaradaY]

Encourage the start of an Orthodox school in your parish (I wish there were more of these and there was this option in our parish...Since there isn't, we continue to homeschool).

[Adimonnna]

Even if it were legal I question whether corporal punishment has a place in a school, at least in a school where we hope to nurture children to become self-motivated learners and virtuous people.

It absolutely has a place. Nurture and discsipline are not exclusive of each other. In fact they must go together. Spare the rod spoil the child if I remember my Psalm correctly or was that Proverbs? Teachers are very limited in what they can do to discsipline. They end up sending them to the Principal's office...oooooooo. They can't do anythign either. That's why school districts now have their own police force. SCHOOL DISTRICTS!

Bring back the paddle, Let teachers have some actual authority.

I knew a Subdeacon also a history teacher that told a young girl he was going to give her a zero on a test becuase she refused to take the test. She threw a desk at him then proceeded to beat the daylights out of him. All he could do was yell for someone to get her off him. He had no authority to defend himself against her. THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

There has to be discipline in school especially if the parents are abdicating their roles as parents.

Paul

[Valdoyes]

It absolutely has a place. Nurture and discsipline are not exclusive of each other. In fact they must go together. Spare the rod spoil the child if I remember my Psalm correctly or was that Proverbs? Teachers are very limited in what they can do to discsipline. They end up sending them to the Principal's office...oooooooo. They can't do anythign either. That's why school districts now have their own police force. SCHOOL DISTRICTS!

Bring back the paddle, Let teachers have some actual authority.

Good teachers do have actual authority and they can establish it without resorting to violence. Some people think fondly of the old days of paddles and switches as if the schools and society didn't have any problems back then. Come on.

Whatever we might think about them, the laws aren't going to change. Simply throwing your arms up, quoting Proverbs, and saying, "if only we could beat our kids again!" is unhelpful for the OP.

I knew a Subdeacon also a history teacher that told a young girl he was going to give her a zero on a test becuase she refused to take the test. She threw a desk at him then proceeded to beat the daylights out of him. All he could do was yell for someone to get her off him. He had no authority to defend himself against her. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. Self-defense and discipline are separate issues. There are some kids who will not be taught and whose needs are probably not going to be addressed in a regular classroom.

[drmarshallusa]

In short, what would be the Orthodox Christian way to be a teacher of children in today's secular society? (specifically in terms of behaviour management, teaching morals etc.)

Well, since no one is in favor of physical discipline, then peer pressure is the next best thing. If little Johnny will not mind the teacher, then instead of pushing on little JOhnny to behave push on the class. Little Johnny might not care if his Playground time is taken away, but tell the whole class they can't go to the play ground becuase of his attitude and let his classmates help him come around. It won't take too many times of his "friends" telling him to behave until he does.

Make them responsible for something. Give them a challenge to "be in charge of". Make them feel important since they are probably ignored at home.

No kid ever died from a good paddling, but in the end, you can only keep YOUR peace. Perhaps keeping it, will rub off on them. At least until tomorrow when you have to unprogram them again from their parents.

Paul

[Reatclaplen]

Well, since no one is in favor of physical discipline, then peer pressure is the next best thing. If little Johnny will not mind the teacher, then instead of pushing on little JOhnny to behave push on the class. Little Johnny might not care if his Playground time is taken away, but tell the whole class they can't go to the play ground becuase of his attitude and let his classmates help him come around. It won't take too many times of his "friends" telling him to behave until he does. This was indeed often done when I was at school (I'd forgotten! But then, it was a LONG time ago). And physical discipline for schoolkids can also backfire: in my day, many of the real "ratbag" kids took getting "the cuts" as a badge of courage. Shaming them by other means, such as peer pressure, is much more effective. But, again, it can only work if the teacher has already asserted his authority over the class.

[globjgtyf]

I have been teaching students with severe behavior disorders for 15 years, and agree with everything Ryan has posted. Engaging, meaningful lessons delivered with enthusiasm are the best behavior management tools. Being able to identify and address issues a student may be having before he/she escalates, and building rapport with students within the student/teacher framework (don't try to be mom, dad, or buddy) is also crucial for establishing a safe and productive learning environment. Due to the severity of the behaviors students in my school display, we do have a physical management component in the program I work in; however, physical management is only used to ensure the safety of the student and those around him/her. It is never punitive. So if a kid is throwing a desk or attacking someone, we will physically restrain that student as painlessly as possible until the student is able to regain some self-control and rejoin the class.

Whatever you do, don't try to scare them. Compliance through fear is always an illusion; because once the thing that is feared disappears, they'll go back to their old ways. You want the changes they make to be internalized.

As far as teaching morals goes, the best way to teach them is to be them. Students are watching your every move, every expression, every interaction. You might not be able to break out the Gospel in class, but you can be Orthodox Christian.

Of course, pray for your students, their families, and for God to give you strength to do right by them.

Isaiah, if you have any specific issues you want to talk about feel free to message me.

In Christ
George