School safety, security, and violence prevention resource

 (SAB CONTROLI FIGURE, since I will be conducting a DSM (Disruptive Student Management) this summer, why not discuss one of the most vexing issues teachers, administrators, security staff and others face in many schools almost every day:  Safely, Professionally, and Effectively dealing with Aggressive Students.

IN THE CONTEXT of DSM, the tricky part of this deal is that any techniques that an educational professional employs to manage threat(s) must meet four (4) standards based upon the following criteria:

1. The technique(s) must be considered reasonable by teachers, administrators, parents and by the courts.
2. The technique(s) must have minimal probability for student injury.
3. The  technique(s) must have the capacity to be learned quickly, preferably within five minutes.
4. The technique(s) must be effective, despite the size or strength of a teacher, security, etc.

THERE IS A FIFTH STANDARD.  DSM techniques must be capable of being conducted by a lone educational professional or by two or more working in tandem, as a team.

STRAIGHT ARMBAR CONTROL (SAB CONTROL).

THE SAB CONTROL Technique is designed for scenarios when the student’s aggression extends beyond the teacher’s ability to maintain control through the conventional escort-control.  The SAB is a PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics) technique that works best when two teachers (or a teacher and a security specialist) work together.    Once the teachers realize additional control is needed, the technique is preceded with the command “Armbar on three.”  This verbal prompt alerts the other teacher (security) that the other is losing control and allows them to coordinate the Armbar for the safety of the student and themselves.

AFTER THE INITIAL COMMAND is given, the initiating teacher will continue with the subsequent command of, “three, two, one, down,” which is the signal for the first stage of the SAB technique, which is executed by rolling the student’s elbow (again, zero injury potential) forward with the outside of the wrist of the teacher(s).  This will bend the disruptive student over at the waist and stop most aggression.  But, if he or she persists on fighting, a second command of “takedown on three, two, one, down” is given and both teachers slowly kneel on their inside (closest to the kid) knee(s).

I have taught this technique to scores of security specialists, teachers, cops, and others.  There has never been anything closed to an injury, and, promisingly, there has always been a cessation of aggression.  For optimal results, of course, teachers should accompany any and all physical techniques with verbal de-escalation and other tension reductive tactics.

Until my next post on managing aggressive students, stay safe.

The Hammer

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