Insubordination

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Home : 2004 : January : 14

Insubordination
By Ruby

With Intermediate students you are guaranteed a confrontation if you choose to give an ultimatum in front of that student's peers. Also, you absolutely must deal with this situation right away as the other students are observing
that you are presently ineffective. I would meet with the student before school. Tell him (don't plead with him)the reasons why you cannot allow him to continue sitting in the back of the class. Do not get into an argument about it, simply state your case. Then explain that he is welcome back in your classroom when he has made a choice to respect your decisions and comply with

your requests now and in the future. Don't make him tell you right there what his decision is. Tell him to give it some thought, and that you will know his choice based on whether you see him in class or not. Tell him that if he enters your class he is to seat himself in the front and be respectful. State that if you don't see him in class it is because he has chosen to spend that class time at the office each day. Let him know that you will notify the office of his decision should it require their involvement. Be polite, calm and lay it on the line. If he says he doesn't plan on attending, be polite and say how sorry you are that he has made that decision. Then, put it in the hands of your administration. It is your job to uphold the moral tone of the classroom, and right now he is the one controlling that to the detriment of you and the others.