SIX SIMPLE STEPS TO DEFUSING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.
KEEP SCHOOLS SAFE
March 22, 2009
THE BE NICE EQUATION – 7 SIMPLE STEPS FOR MANAGING AGGRESSION.
RESOURCE Officers, Security Staff and Teachers often walk into a veritable buzz saw of emotions and testosterone when attempting to manage aggressive behavior outside of the classroom. I’m talking on and around the school bus, the parking lot, playground, the gym, and the hallways. Although my Be Nice Equation may work in the classroom, it is most effective outside of class. Interested? Good. Well, then, how about we take a look at the 8 steps?
As a preamble to the 8-Step, let me say that the entire equation is designed to do the unexpected, to displace the subject’s balance, and to weaken his ability to create mayhem by changing his or her mental process. After all, Hammer Fans, Being Nice is the last thing the disruptive student expects from an authority figure at that moment. He is tuned up for personal umbrage on your par.
1. GREETING. So, probably a nice greeting is a good way to begin to foot sweep the kid off balance. As you approach the disruptive student(s)who is violating the crap out of the rules develop a tactical and professional mindset (A point here: Each one of these steps is tactical in nature. We are foot sweeping the kid off balance, but, more importantly, we are always mindful of the safety of the students and ourselves)Slow yourself down. Take a deep breath and Stop, Look and Listen to what is being said, what people are doing, potential weapons, etc. If this is morning and you know the student’s name(s), use the(ir) name(s). “Good morning, Joseph—“
2. IDENTIFY YOURSELF/POSITION. “I’m Security Officer Jones—“
3. EXPLAIN WHY. Of course, allow the student to respond. How he does or does not respond might tell you a lot about his intentions, feelings. “Joe, the reason I stopped you is (I saw you smoking right underneath the “no smoking sign” back in the left corridor.”
4. ANY JUSTIFIABLE REASON? Before the student can toss you his line of bull crap, ask this question: “Joe, is there any justifiable reason why you did that?” Give the student some time to answer. Of course, there can be no justifiable reason to have done this, but now you have him off-balance, weakened, any intent of resistance diminished.
· There are distinct advantages to this approach:
Ø You are being courteous & professional.
Ø You are using Command Presence.
Ø The Be Nice Equation definitely deflects crap.
Ø The Be Nice Equation buys you time to assess the subject and the situation. It is tactically safe.
Ø The Be Nice Equation Sounds Good to both the subject and to all witnesses.
Ø The Be Nice Equation removes all possible Justification for the disruptive student to attack.
Ø This techniques creates a “style.” A blueprint to follow on all interactions.
Ø And, above all, the Be Nice Equation Defuses out of control emotions!
5. DECISION. Now is the time for you to “arrive at” your decision, which might be already dictated to you by policy, procedure, and/or protocol. Inform the student of that decision and either write him up or advise him of what, if anything, he must do and by when he must do it.
6. TAKE ACTION. If nothing, save for maybe a warning is your “decision,” close the interaction with a professional statement. If, however, action is required, such as writing him up, escorting him to a disciplinary location, or even handcuffing him, take that action as professionally and as safely as possible. As suggested in previous posts, any action that requires you to touch and handle the student should include:
· A Forecast. Tell the person what you intend to do. Tell him you do not in any way intend to harm him. Ask him if he intends to harm you.
· Give him clear instructions relative to what you are about to do and what he has to do, including consequences for resistance.
· Distraction. Weaken his ability to resist by changing his thought process. Research past posts for more on distraction techniques.
7. CLOSING. If you close the interaction with a verbal warning, close with a Nice Statement. “Ok, Joe, we’re done here. Is there anything else you would like to say? Fine. You have a great day at River High School. You hear?
STAY SAFE.
HAMMER
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Posted on March 22nd, 2009 by Harry A Widger
Filed under: Administrators, College, Fighting, High School, K-6, School Grade Level, School Safety Issues, School bus safety, Security, Students, Violence
Hey Harry I work for the nyclu and we are working on a current project called the student safety act and I would love to tell you more about regaurding criminalization in our classrooms. Please contact me, I would love to discuss the logistics of the act.