Redirecting Children:

Today and Yesterday!

In modernize teaching structure, educators are taught to use various disciplinary techniques. Whenever you walk into a 21st century classroom, it’s not unfamiliar for students to be told use their inside voice, or staff use open ended questions like “Johnny, what a beautiful picture, what made you decide to draw that?” Some students use physical aggression towards staff. Pro-Act trained Teachers and Aides are supposed to step around the assault. You spend more time verbally decreasing the aggression. And the list can go on and on.

Though grade school level education is rewarding, it can be a bit overbearing when the institution of disciplinary structure is constantly brought to your attention because kids have a choice these days, while you have no choice but to be belittled by staff who use students as a whipping board to browbeat anyone they have a vendetta towards.

Here is a short example; I am an Instructional Aide and was called in on my conduct toward staff and student because this child I was particularly reprimanded about has severe behavior issues. I always supervise the class during lunch since the start of the semester since I am an aide for that class. The complaint started during mealtime. Since Covid it has been imperative that students grab one lunch entrée that he or she will eat and get a fruit and…