25 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make and How to Avoid Them

Mistake
2
Physical Aggression
SCENARIO 2.1
Punishment or Perversion?
My worst experience in school was the beating I received from my fourth-grade
teacher for not completing a homework assignment. This teacher seemed to enjoy
paddling students because she did it a lot. The beating I received was four swats with
a walnut paddle with holes drilled in it. I was so hurt that I was unable to return to
school for three days. Damn Mrs. M. wherever she may be.
A nonsexual connotation of
sadism is a delight in extreme
cruelty. There are several bits of evidence
that suggest that this teacher
may have had some sadistic tendencies.
For example, the frequency of
the beatings, the extreme nature of
the pain and suffering inflicted, the
perception that some delight was
derived from the paddlings, and the
use of a specialized instrument of
pain. The most incredulous part of
this problem is that such a person
could get away with injuring a
young child to the extent that the
child would miss school for several
days. This abnormal behavior has no
place in the classroom.
Most teachers are caring but firm
disciplinarians. A teacher that would
engage in the deviant behavior des -
cribed in this scenario is certainly not
the norm. Good teachers know that
missing homework is a minor offense
that does not warrant flogging. They
are aware of a variety of appropriate
consequences if they find that consequences
are necessary. Suggestions can
be found in most classroom management
textbooks (Charles, 1983).
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