Tim Mainhard: "As a teacher you need to clearly define what goes too far"
How should teachers arm themselves against bullying and aggression from students in the classroom? In the NPO Radio 1-programme 'De Dag', educational psychologist and UYA-member dr. Tim Mainhard emphazises the importance of setting boundaries.
However, it is not a good idea to tell them what is not allowed: "You have to emphasize what you do want to see and should reward that," says Tim Mainhard. By stating positive expectations, students will have a better understanding of what the teacher wants to see from them. For this, it is important that the teacher has a professional attitude in class: Maintaining contact with the students and adjusting wishes.
What is also important is that the teacher is able to fall back on a protocol in case it does go wrong. Teacher and student, but also teachers amongst themselves, need to coordinate what should happen in case of escalation of conflict, in order to be able to react quickly. If a teacher does not know what to do with a fight, it will go wrong.
Want to hear more? Listen to the full podcast (in Dutch) by following the link below.