When confronted with an angry student, it is important to listen, allow the student the opportunity to vent.
I find it a little difficult to do this when a student is constantly angry. I have been dealing with this for about a semester now and I must admit, I am at my wits end. Patience can only go so far. When do you say, enough sit down and be a student and stop blaming everyone else for your troubles!
I had to go to my superiors which was very unsettling. I felt uncomfortable about having to make a decision to go "TELL", and even worse to make the decision on how I wanted to handle this student. I mean, who wants to be the person who stops someone from getting his or her education?
Obviously, the decision I made was to keep the student in class. Now, I'm dealing with having a funny feeling everytime I come in the classroom.
Although I did go to my superiors, that student still has to come in my class everyday. How do you deal with the after shock?
Hi Lou,
I am there with you, based on my 21 years of teaching, I have experienced many more angry female students.
Patricia
I should listen to the student attentively and let the student express or explain the anger. Then, if possible I would let the student address or write the issue in a piece of paper and let the dean and the school director be aware of the issues.
Hi Constance,
I like your approach whenever it comes to dealing with the angry student. You seem as though you remain very calm and cautious. As educators, we should never subject ourselves to danger with students. Listen to what the angry student has to say, and please refrain from being argumentative.
Patricia
calmly speak with the student aside from the rest of the class to ebsure privacy and hear out his issue. Always have your escape route planned out or get the attention of other students in the event of escalation.
Hi Matthew,
You are on point! Our students have a lot of personal problems. We need to decide where the anger is coming from and move forward from that point. Listening is key. Sometimes the anger is resolved just from listening.
Patricia
Often the anger is misdirected. School is frustrating and brings anger to the surface that is often really about something else. I try to get a sense of my students' lives outside of the classroom when they present anger, especially when it seems to come from out of left field or is very uncommon. This sometimes helps on two fronts, in the classroom and outside of it. Other students are really angry about something specific concerning the course or classroom situations, and this needs to be dealt with directly. Knowing your students helps determine which kind of anger you are dealing with.
Patricia
I agree that when approached by an angry student it is best to listen. This usually help keep the situation from escalating into a much bigger problem. Also, frequently, students just want to be heard. However, I disagree that most angry students are male. From my experience, thirty years in public schools, I have found angry students with a chip on their shoulders are just as likely to be female as male. In fact as a female, I feel that an angry male is less likely to cause physical harm to me than an angry female
Hi Michael,
Normally, the student's anger has nothing to do with anything that happened in class. Generally, it is something personal that has caused the student to behave as such. We have to continue to teach students, it is a time and place for everything, and this type of behavior will not be acceptable on the job.
Patricia
I also have found that just being given the opportunity to voice their frustrations more often than not will help a student (or anyone for that matter!) calm down and feel better.This also usually allows me to find a source for their anger, which is often something outside of my classroom. I usually let them say what they have to say, then, instead of just trying to fix things for them, I ask them what they think would be a solution. whether or not we find a solution, I also point out that being angry and/or acting out isn't helping the issue, and is hindering their experience and opportunities in my class, and is a way of taking things out on me, who more often than not, is not responsible for source of anger.
Hi Pandora,
Listening is key whenever it comes to angry students. A lot of the times, the angry student simply wants to vent. I like how you try to resolve the problem first before getting administration involved.
Patricia
If I perceive that a student is angry, my course is to take them aside to talk to them. The main thing is to listen and hear his/her reasons for being angry. Clarification of what the problem is addressed. If we can come to an understanding, I resolve the problem. If it become complicated, I then refer the student to the DON.
Hi Margaret,
Yes, the angry student does not need to be in the midst of others. It is better to deal with angry students behind closed doors, and simply let the angry student talk/vent. Generally, the talking calms the angry student, and the problem is resolved. At times, you may have to use other tactics to calm the student.
Patricia
Hi Warren,
Nicely handled! This student should have been dealt with by administrators as well. Remember, never put yourself in danger.
Patricia
I first listen to the complaint to see if there is some justification for the angery outburst. Then I try to objectivly go through each item with the course objectives in mind and if I find there is some credence to the complaint I take it in advisement or change the grade accordingly
I had a student who was having a very difficult time after returning from Iraq. He became so angry with a fellow student over some minor issue that he flipped a desk over snd stormed out of the room. I allowed him to take some time and calm down before I spoke to him quietly in the hall. I felt it was better to let him gain control of himself quietly rather than choose that time to confront him over his behavior in front of the class.
I believe that the first and probably most important thing to do is to isolate that sutdent from other students. You certainly don't want that anger to infect other students, particularly since the anger may be based on an issue totally unrelated to school.
I breath slowly in through my nose and exhale slowly through me mouth while I listen to the student. This helps me control my emotions and stay calm.
I highly agree, I believe one has to be the supreme diplomat when it comes to dealing with this situation. It is best to address the student one on one in another room and let them get whatever is annoying them off their chest and to calmly assure them that the problem will be addressed appropriately.
Alerting the proper authorities of the incidence is also a must.
I WILL USUALLY TALK WITH THE STUDENT ON A ONE TO ONE BASIS & SEE WHAT IS BOTHERING THEM OR IF IT IS MY WAY OF INSTRUCTION THAT IS MISLEADING THEM IN ANY WAY. WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.
