"naturally bad children"

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Home : 2003 : November : 16

"naturally bad children"
By CA Teacher

I don't think that any children are "naturally" bad. All children are products of their environments--they exhibit the behaviors that others have consistently taught them. Saying that they are "naturally" bad implies that
they were born that way and will stay that way.
It is absolutely the parents resposibility to teach correct manners and respect--in an ideal world. But most of my students have parents that are still kids themselves--and they were never taught respect or proper manners. So I'm teaching it--everyday. I spend more time teaching my kids how to behave than I do teaching content material.

But they need these life skills desperately.

Sometimes it gets very frustrating and I want to give up. Sometimes I get so frustrated I even find myself modeling bad behavior. But I take a deep breath, go over our rules and procedures one more time and just keep plugging away. Eventually, it will sink in.

As far as respect goes, I've incorporated a major character ed program (look on the web for lots of good lesson plans). I have a class meeting after lunch where we discuss problems, solve conflicts and do appreciations. The meeting is very structured--the kids have to sign up in advance to talk, but they love it. Three months into school I am seeing differences--the kids think more before they react, and they are more civil...but we have a long ways to go. And if their future teachers don't keep it up--they'll probably revert to their old ways--but I'm doing what I can while I've got them. Good Luck!