Stressed out

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Home : 2002 : February : 10

Stressed out
By Grace C.

This is a real hot potato. You are stressed out and I am not one bit surprised. I can just imagine the scene because we have one very similar at the moment. You need support, even if it is just someone to listen. You say
that things were going all right until a few weeks ago when this one child went off the rails. Something must have triggered this, so see if you can try to find out what it was. The chances are that it was something happening at home- abuse, a death in the family, a new baby, a marriage breakup or perhaps a new man friend moving in with the mother if she is alone. Sometimes it can be the

return of a parent who has not been on the scene for a while. If the child has any brothers or sisters at the school, ask the other teachers if they have seen a change in behaviour or if they know of any reason it could have happened.
If it is because of something happening in school, could the child be the victim of bullying?
Are they finding the work too difficult and so have decided to opt out? Try to speak to the mother just to see if the behaviour has been all right at home. Perhaps you could get a chance to speak to the child when he is in a better mood, find a quiet, non threatening place to talk to him and just say you can see he is very angry and you would love(use this word) to be able to help. You may meet a blank wall but it is worth a try.
Try not to isolate this child. If the opportunity arises take his side for something. Maybe he needs to know that someone cares. If you do find a reason for his behaviour go to your principal and tell him what you have found out.
I know you are dreading going in tomorrow, but try to concentrate on finding out what has gone wrong with this child. The others who copy are the ones who need the proverbial kick up the backside. Do you have a colleague who would take one of them as a time out when you feel you can't take any more? I hope you can find someone who can offer you some support.
I wish you all the best. Let me know how it goes.
Grace