Teaching can be ecstatic and it can be infuriating. Sometimes a student will wilfully disrupt your lesson. Bad behaviour can drive you mad.
I used to tell my staff that there was no such thing as bad kids; only those damaged by their experience. It was our job to mend them.
When I retired they presented me with a framed quotation.
‘There is no such things as bad kids; only those damaged by their experience. It is our job to mend them.’
Christopher Goodwin
2011
I often look at that and wonder how well I did. It’s always our failures that stick in our minds.
If you want to hear more about the philosophy that drove me you can try my book on education.
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That’s a great quote, Opher. I believe that. And you can see the tendencies in kids so early. When I was teaching kindergarten, even, it was pretty easy to spot who was struggling.
So many kids have bad or abusive backgrounds. They are suffering PTS. I think they need extra special care to get them back on the rails. Too often they are written off as troublesome kids with no understanding. That where counselling and restorative practice is so very helpful.
Their first answer here is to put them on ritalin!
That happens here a bit too. It probably is needed in a few cases but for the majority I reckon a bit of love, trust and care is all they need.
I agree with Cheryl – too many “troublesome kids” are labeled and then medicated. As teachers, we can do all the right things, but every night they go back into the environment that messed them up. As you say, Opher, all we can do is our best. Great quote! I would have put that in my classroom – as a Manifesto.
I was very touched when they presented me with it. You’re not always aware of what impact your words are having on people.
Also: there are no evil people, only evil leaders…
They need curing!!
Your book gives chapter and verse to that positive mission statement, Opher! Ideals in practice, you might say …
That’s how I see it Dave. If you have an underlying philosophy everything falls into place.
Which is precisely where the tick-box mentality proves inadequate!
Which is precisely where the tick-box mentality proves inadequate!
Whoops … please delete as required!
Aaah – the push-button technology. Yes – so much of what happens in education can’t be ticked and the stuff that can is not as important. You end up emphasising the wrong things.
I teach disengaged young people from a variety of backgrounds in care, poverty, learning difficulties, ex offenders etc. It’s challenging but totally agree with “there are no bad kids” with time, patience (a lot of it) and persistence they soon develop into amazing people who you can admire because of there bad experiences. Great post!
Thank you. I’m glad you agree. My 36 years in teaching, in charge of Pastoral Care and as A headteacher taught me that children are the result of their experiences and circumstance. The ones that cause trouble always have reasons for their behaviour. As you say – they need time, love and attention.