THE RIGHT TO BEHAVE RUDELY?
Saturday, May 6, 2006
Evergreen Institute
Washington teacher challenges disruptive class
A Washington teacher sent us the following story about her recent experience in class. She makes a great point.

I recently substituted for two consecutive days for a "lab" (i.e., remedial) high school literature class. I was met with ongoing resistance from half the class relative to the lesson, which was comprised of my reading aloud from a novel (since no one else would volunteer to read and I didn't think I'd be successful 'forcing' students to do it). It took nearly a full hour to read one short chapter, because I had to keep stopping and coaxing students to stop being disruptive. (Disruptions included pacing around the room -- including hovering behind me in my 'blind spot' as I stood at the podium; surfing the Web without permission; listening to headphones, then scowling when I'd ask them to turn the volume down; 'scooting' around the room on a desk chair with wheels; blowing bubbles through a long straw -- toddler-style; eating and sleeping; and holding conversations -- all while I was trying to read.)

Note the average age of these kids is 16 and this was NOT a special ed class. Whenever I'd prompt/warn perpetrators to behave, I was met with proclamations about the 'rights' students have vs. the 'rights' I supposedly do not have as a substitute. (Meanwhile, 50% of the class waited patiently for me to finish reading and help them with related comprehension questions.)

When a boy began loudly arguing with peers, then stood up and gave them 'the finger' (with me standing a few feet away), I called the assistant principal. She arrived to a chorus of students complaining that I was over-reacting to the bubble-blowing. To my satisfaction, she stood by and let me let them have it.

I angrily read them the riot act, as follows: "You do not have the right to prevent other students from learning! In fact, my understanding is that disrupting the educational process is illegal. Did you know that? Students who actually want to learn do not have to put up with this. You are not hurting me -- you are preventing other students from learning. You do not have the right to do that, etc. etc."

The perpetrators were shocked -- and subdued. My guess is no one ever challenges them in this vein. And there were consequences for their behavior (internal suspension for a day).

I tell this story to illustrate a point: In addition to legal and structural changes in public education, reform will not take place until attitudes about "educational rights" change. Students have the right to learn at school and, to my knowledge, the law supports this. Why aren't more schools exercising this right?