Article content

BY ROBERT SMOL, GUEST COLUMNIST

Without a doubt, colleagues of mine from every school board across the province are being over burdened, distracted, harassed and attacked by so-called “behavioural” students.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or GUEST COLUMN: Well behaved students deserve an education, too Back to video

Of course, all students exhibit behaviour, good and bad. But today, the only behaviour worthy of the name is that exhibited by those who intentionally, or allegedly unintentionally, scoff at classroom rules, openly and rudely defy teacher authority, and delay and upset activities.

Imagine for a moment a single student chronically refusing to follow the teachers instruction, bullying and harassing the teacher and other students while at the same time impulsively and consistently taunting, noisemaking, swearing, belching and walking around the class,all while the other students remain seated and try to focus on what is being taught.

Now, add two, three or more similarly mannered students to the mix. Finish it off with a new generation of principals extremely reluctant to discipline these students and you have the reality faced by a growing number of teachers.