Continuance of Women Abuse Affect Our Children

RESPONDING WHEN STUDENTS DISPLAY TROUBLING BEHAVIORS

These guidelines are helpful for eucators dealing with troubling behaviors, regardless of whether woman abuse is a factor.

1. Remember, that there may be a variety of reasons for the student's behavior.

• Problems may be explained by a number of factors in the student's life. Exposure to woman abuse is only one possibility. Consider/ explore other possible causes (e.g. terminal illness, death of a family member, homelessness, being bullied, settlment issues for immigrant, or refugee families, parental alcoholism, or substance abuse).

2. Reassure students nad increase their sense of security in school by:

• establishing simple rules and routines so they know what to expect
• giving straightforward explanation (where possible) for things that may worry them (sirens, presence of police in school, locked doors, security cameras)
• allowing students to express their concerns through talk, play, and written assignments.

3. Consult with other educators, guidance counselor, and or administrative or support personnel at your school.

• Consultation provides opportunities ot obtain support, information about resources, and strategies for your room, and elsewhere in the school (hallways, yard).
• In preparation for consulting with someone else, it may help to :
• clarify your concerns as it relates to school/ your responsbilities to educate.
• think about how you woudl describe the behavior (what is the problem? When did it start? How often does it occur? Who is affected and in what ways? What has been tried and how did it work?)

4. Remember that it is often not easy or safe to talk about family problems.

• Woman abuse and other family problems are often treated with great secrecy. Sometimes the secrecy is a way of maintaining safety (children maybe fearful that threats of horrible consequences will be carried out if they tell someone about the abuse, mother may fear her abusive partner may harm or take the children if she tells someone about the abuse.) By asking, you will let the family know that you are concerns and willing to help. They may choose ot talk to you in the future if they experience violence or other problems that affect their children.

5. Talk to the student's parent

• Express your concerns as they relate to the education of this student, or others in a supportive and non-threatening manner.
• Ask the parent what she is noticing at home and whether she has any ideas about what might be contributing to the student's difficulty in school.
• Discuss possible ways to support the student. (What can the parent do? What can you do?)

6. Provide information on available resources.

• Offer information about resources in the community that might assist the student and his or her family (women shelter, domestic violence agency, child trauma/ treatment program, cultural-linguistic interpretation services).

We suggest that educators encourage parents to talk and seek assistance for their child from a physician or other community support agencies when the children's behavior:

• is physically harmful to the student or others (physically fighting with others, laying down on the street)
• is intense enough to interfere with the student's day to day adjustment in school.
• does not respond to behavior management strategies
• persists over time (3 to 6 weeks)
• School educators often have a list of community support agencies available to them.