Engaging Students
Scenario
A year 9 football was experiencing great success in the school cup and league. They were thrilled to be playing in the semi final of the cup. Unfortunately, despite being the favourites to win, they lost 4-3. The students strongly believed that this was in the main because one of their friends, and a key player, was not allowed to play because of his behaviour in school. He then played in a friendly, which they won 12-3. A minor misdemeanour in school, resulted in a ban for the next match, a match they needed to win to win the league. They lost 5-4. This particular band of students have been friends since they were three. They have played football together since they were five years old. The one thing that is truly great in this boy’s life is his football. The teachers are fully aware of this. Therefore, to ‘force’ him to behave, they withdraw him from the one activity he truly loves, playing football. ‘Tough love?’
The Consequence of such a Sanction:
- The team lost the chance of getting a medal. They would have made it to the final and even of they lost the final they would have got a losers’ medal. The whole team end up being punished
- There were disappointed parents and grandparents – who take the time to support their children and end up having a very negative view of the school.
- The individual student feels even more ashamed and distressed about facing his school friends – who are, on the whole, the school football team. – This could have resulted in his total isolation at school. Luckily for the boy, he has very loyal friends who feel the need to support and encourage him no matter what.
- The school has lost the opportunity to have the the prestige of winning a sporting cup
- The team were frustrated because they lost the league game 5-4 in a game they all feel – including parents – that they would have won if the boy had played.
- They have lost the league they should have won. The whole team ends up being punished.
Sanctioning students in such an emotionally cruel way can have longer lasting consequences. Such treatment can trigger more serious mental health issues.
Sanctions and Rewards
Engaging the Disaffected
A more productive way of supporting disaffected students is to find a way to engage and enjoy school. In this case, using playing on the school team as a way to praise and reward a disaffected student should be relatively straightforward. Inconsistency and negativity from teachers can result in multiple students being heavily sanctioned; and losing in the sport they love. With a positive and thoughtful approach from the teachers, the combination of spirit, loyalty and talent that shines through from these students, would have resulted in major success. A cup and league win for the students and the school. This would be a far more positive experience for the teacher too. They would feel rewarded and more positive about their role.
Shocking
Unfortunately, is appears that it is increasingly common to take such an approach in schools. Mr Gradgrind would be particularly proud of the following job description for Director of Detentions at Michaela Community School in Brent, London. ‘They want “a sergeant major in the detention room” to bring order.’
This is an absolutely disgraceful way to treat any child in any context. It is a shameful display which shows no empathy or understanding of children. Ridiculing being kind, caring and understanding is stooping to a new low. It is a major concern that such emotional cruelty has the potential to become the norm in our schools.
End Emotional Cruelty
The violence shown towards Billy in ‘Kes’ is shocking and abhorrent. Nevertheless, it pales into insignificance in comparison to the emotional pain he felt was when the one thing he truly loved, the hawk, was destroyed by his brother. My ultimate point is that we may have removed physical violence from schools, but is replacing it with emotional cruelty any better? We need to work towards eradicating such treatment of students if we are to truly succeed in solving the mental health issues that are all too prevalent in our schools today.