I believe in not giving up on the "bad kid". You know the student in class who can't stay in their seat, who curses a lot, the kid who runs through the neighborhood causing trouble or gets into fights. Kids who people, teachers specifically in this instance, say will end up in prison or that they are thugs, future drug addicts or drunks that they are stupid and will never learn or amount to anything; assuming this about a student is in my opinion one of the worst examples of fixed mindset culture in our school system today.
Repeating these negative assumptions to this student, or within earshot of this student, pounds a fixed mindset idea of themself into their head and they will begin to think, “I will end up in prison one day” “I will never amount to anything” “I am a thug” “I AM STUPID” “I can’t learn anything” “why should I even come to school”. When a student begins to believe these negative thoughts it discourages them from performing to the best of their abilities. This reinforces what the adult has said creating a cycle of bad behavior caused by a lack of motivation.
Instances of this fixed mindset have been so frequent in my short security career that it’s hard for me to pull out one specific example for you. Even at the elementary level I have come across this fixed mindset exhibited by educators toward the “bad kid”
Throughout the day I get calls to remove a student from a classroom and when I would respond every time I would be shocked! Now I wouldn't be shocked so much by the student as much as I would be the adult in the classroom. People always ask me why.
Here’s why…
I enter the classroom and attempt to say good morning or afternoon and before I would be able to finish saying my greeting the adult in the classroom would begin yelling at me about how awful the student in question is. As I try to get the student to come with me to get them out of this negative environment the adult of the room continues their rant. This behavior exhibited by the adult both teaches the students that it is OK to react this way towards others and that the student being removed from the room is all the negative things being said. Adults and students should maintain a respectful and professional relationship at all times with positive reinforcement for the student when appropriate.
Let me now discuss how this scene should have happened with more of a Growth mindset. The student in question causes a disruption in class which has led the adult in the classroom to call for security. I come into the classroom and greet the adult and the class. The adult in the classroom should at this time assign the students a task to complete while myself, the student and the adult step into a semi-private area in the classroom or hallway to discuss what has just happened. We can now talk about the problem at hand and think of a better way for that student to handle the difficult situation they were in. Some examples that encourage a positive and Growth Mindset Culture could be telling the student “You are very smart and would really benefit from this lesson if you could please stay in your seat” that you “understand that the other student in the room has said something to upset you but we cannot punch them, we need to tell an adult right away next time” or “When you are starting to feel angry raise your hand and ask for a cool down”. Around this time is not when a consequence should be discussed, this discussion can happen after the student has had time to de-escalate completely. Once the student has de-escalated completely I will usually ask the student what happened, they give me their half of the story. At this time I also try and point out why the teacher has gotten so upset with them. For instance if the student continues to get out of their seat and walk around, even though they aren't making noise or talking to anyone they are a distraction to other by roaming the room. Then I will try and tell them ways they can handle their situation, with the getting out of their seat continuously I will tell them to usually take out something to do, or if they are getting up to seek help from the teacher i remind them to raise their hand. At the end of the day what educators need to realize is students are just kids they aren't only in school to learn the academic piece of school but they are there to learn how to interact socially as well, if we do not teach them the socialization part they won't have the patience to learn the academic piece
Repeating these negative assumptions to this student, or within earshot of this student, pounds a fixed mindset idea of themself into their head and they will begin to think, “I will end up in prison one day” “I will never amount to anything” “I am a thug” “I AM STUPID” “I can’t learn anything” “why should I even come to school”. When a student begins to believe these negative thoughts it discourages them from performing to the best of their abilities. This reinforces what the adult has said creating a cycle of bad behavior caused by a lack of motivation.
Instances of this fixed mindset have been so frequent in my short security career that it’s hard for me to pull out one specific example for you. Even at the elementary level I have come across this fixed mindset exhibited by educators toward the “bad kid”
Throughout the day I get calls to remove a student from a classroom and when I would respond every time I would be shocked! Now I wouldn't be shocked so much by the student as much as I would be the adult in the classroom. People always ask me why.
Here’s why…
I enter the classroom and attempt to say good morning or afternoon and before I would be able to finish saying my greeting the adult in the classroom would begin yelling at me about how awful the student in question is. As I try to get the student to come with me to get them out of this negative environment the adult of the room continues their rant. This behavior exhibited by the adult both teaches the students that it is OK to react this way towards others and that the student being removed from the room is all the negative things being said. Adults and students should maintain a respectful and professional relationship at all times with positive reinforcement for the student when appropriate.
Let me now discuss how this scene should have happened with more of a Growth mindset. The student in question causes a disruption in class which has led the adult in the classroom to call for security. I come into the classroom and greet the adult and the class. The adult in the classroom should at this time assign the students a task to complete while myself, the student and the adult step into a semi-private area in the classroom or hallway to discuss what has just happened. We can now talk about the problem at hand and think of a better way for that student to handle the difficult situation they were in. Some examples that encourage a positive and Growth Mindset Culture could be telling the student “You are very smart and would really benefit from this lesson if you could please stay in your seat” that you “understand that the other student in the room has said something to upset you but we cannot punch them, we need to tell an adult right away next time” or “When you are starting to feel angry raise your hand and ask for a cool down”. Around this time is not when a consequence should be discussed, this discussion can happen after the student has had time to de-escalate completely. Once the student has de-escalated completely I will usually ask the student what happened, they give me their half of the story. At this time I also try and point out why the teacher has gotten so upset with them. For instance if the student continues to get out of their seat and walk around, even though they aren't making noise or talking to anyone they are a distraction to other by roaming the room. Then I will try and tell them ways they can handle their situation, with the getting out of their seat continuously I will tell them to usually take out something to do, or if they are getting up to seek help from the teacher i remind them to raise their hand. At the end of the day what educators need to realize is students are just kids they aren't only in school to learn the academic piece of school but they are there to learn how to interact socially as well, if we do not teach them the socialization part they won't have the patience to learn the academic piece