KEEP SCHOOLS SAFE

December 21, 2008

MANAGEMENT OF AGGRESSIVE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

ANOTHER TEACHER, this one in Bethlehem, Pa., got slapped around by a high school student a couple days ago.  Maybe you hadn’t noticed, but aggression and violence is on the upsurge in our secondary schools.  Leastwise, that is what I continually hear from teachers, security people and cops who I know and/or train.  Rather than run on like I have in past posts about the need for some sort of self defense and threat management training for teachers, I would actually be a realist for once and maybe we could spend a few paragraphs talking about one or two things teachers can control with or without formal training.

THREE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES of the management of aggressive behavior are to know the environment, know the student and, of course know yourself.  For the sake of time and space, let’s just concentrate on knowing the student.  In the next post I will discuss the relevance of  the classroom setting (environment) and the teacher him or herself.

KNOW THE STUDENT

When we are talking truly knowing a potential attacker, few potential victims have a teacher’s edge.  After all, teachers see their students in both stressful and non-stressful situations just about every day for about 9 months of the year for several years.  Knowing that, then, what are some of the elements that teachers should know about students that might help them prevent and avoid being assaulted?

• History of Violence.  The most accurate predictor of future violence is past violence.  A student who has attacked a teacher or another student in the past – especially a teacher – most likely, when “tested,” will most likely rely on what has worked best for him in the past – which is “going to Fist Street!”
• Victim of Domestic Abuse.  A student who has been physically abused at home has about a 40% plus chance of committing violence at school.  Chances are high that he or she will be convicted of a violent crime as an adult, too.
• Adrenaline Junkies:  AJ’s are students who are addicted to excitement.  Drives fast, lives on the edge of the drug culture, gun carrying, gang members, et al.  AJ’s are the type of trouble-making student who commit amazingly foolhardy acts driven by their need for attention and notoriety.  And, of course, one of the best ways to capture the imagination of other students, to build a bad-ass reputation is to belt your teacher.

• Signatures of Danger:            Reliable Non-Verbal Signs that an Attack is Imminent.

Ø     Eye Movement:  Understanding eye-movement can be a great way to anticipate an assault and either put some distance between you and the assailant (or, use a barricade in the environment).  Some of the keys to bad-ass eye movement are:

1.     1000-Yard Stare:  The student has that blank look, as if to say, “man, I have no resources left to stop me from committing mayhem.”

2.     Target Stare:  This is a bad one.  The Target Stare is almost always preceded by the assailant looking away – what we call The Hiatus.  Too many victims think that the bad guy has decided to break off the assault.  It is really the calm before the storm.  The student will usually go from ranting and raving, then will all of a sudden, go calm (because he has decided how to resolve the problem – violence), then he or she will return his or her eyes to where he/she has decided to attack.  That is  the Target Stare, and it is the teacher’s last chance to either “get out of Dodge,” or gert set to block incoming strikes!

3.     Staccato Eye Movement:  The student’s eyes flicker all over the teacher’s body and surrounding areas.  Most likely, the student is considering how to escape from the scene.  He or she feels trapped and is considering attacking or running.  My advise:  Increase the distance between you and the student.  Like, now!

Ø     SHOULDERS, ARMS AND HANDS are another key pre-attack sign.   Some key “Signatures of Danger” here would be:

1.     The Strong-side shoulder will drop in concert with his same side leg dropping back.  If his same-side hand drops back, or he forms a fist, the chances of this student committing an assault is about the same as me going to the bathroom sometime this morning (pretty damned high).

2.     Another signature would be the student crossing his arms high across his chest, or pointing his or her finger directly at or into the teacher’s face or chest.

Ø     LEGS AND FEET can also be keys to recognizing an incoming assault.  Feet spread fairly wide with the power foot (same side as the dropped shoulder) dropped back, the knees bent for balance and power, and the toes aimed at the teacher are key indicators. 

Ø     THE BOXER’S STANCE actually is even a better predictor because it reveals a cluster of body language, each piece of which calculated together gives off an indelible message that “I am gonna light you up, Teacher!”  In the boxer stance, the feet are positioned, the shoulder is dropped and the student’s fists are poised in position to strike.  This stance – even if the teacher has never seen a fight or boxing match in his or her life, should trigger one’s gut instincts that will make the hair on the back of his or her neck to stand up and scream out “Something Bad My Way Comes.  Get the hell out or prepare to fight, now!”

OF COURSE, there are other Signatures of Danger a teacher might be able to recognize.  The point is, though, no one signature is a 100% certain sign that an attack is coming.  However, in my opinion, a cluster of at least three of these or other danger signs is enough for me to either escape or evade, or, in instances where I am able, to knock the aggressor out of the fight before he can act. 

Next Post:  Know the Environment and Know Yourself.

Until then, Stay safe.

Hammer