Seeking Advice on a Student Behavior Issue
Hello everyone! I hope to keep this brief as I’m at work, but I’m in need of some guidance regarding a student I work with.
A bit of context: I’m a teacher’s aide in the Special Education department, primarily supporting two middle school students daily. One of them, whom I’ll refer to as E, has autism and unfortunately, he has been consistently disruptive. He regularly harasses other students and shows disrespect towards adults, including myself.
However, the situation has escalated recently, and I feel compelled to seek advice. E has directed racial slurs, including the N-word, towards two other Special Education students who are both Black. It’s worth noting that E is Hispanic, which adds an additional layer to how concerning this behavior is. Additionally, he has been pushing and poking other students and recently made threatening comments to my brother, who also has special needs, expressing a desire to fight him.
My primary concern is that there seems to be no disciplinary action taken against E for his conduct, and I feel that the administration isn’t responding to our concerns. I would greatly appreciate any advice from parents or individuals who have faced similar challenges. Thank you!
It sounds like you’re in a challenging situation, and it’s commendable that you want to advocate for both the student you’re working with and the other students who are being affected by E’s behavior. Here are some steps you could consider taking:
Document Everything: Keep a detailed log of E’s behavior, including dates, times, and specifics about what he said or did. Having a clear record can help demonstrate the pattern of behavior when discussing the situation with administration.
Share Concerns with Administration: Bring your documentation to a meeting with your supervisor or a member of the administration. Clearly articulate the impact of E’s behavior not only on the students he’s harassing but also the overall learning environment. Focus on the urgency and seriousness of the situation.
Involve Support Staff: If your school has a behavior specialist, counselor, or psychologist, involve them in the conversation. They may have strategies to manage E’s behavior and can advocate for appropriate interventions.
Seek Parental Involvement: If possible, reach out to E’s parents to discuss what’s been happening. Sometimes parental involvement can lead to changes in behavior, especially if they are unaware of how their child is acting at school.
Explore Restorative Practices: If your school has restorative justice practices in place, this could be an avenue to address the behavior and help E understand the impact of his actions.
Focus on Positive Reinforcement: Encourage and highlight positive behavior when E engages appropriately. This can sometimes redirect behavior and motivate a child to improve.
Consult with Colleagues: Talk to other teachers and aides who work with E. Collaborating to address his behavior might provide a unified approach, making it harder for administration to ignore the issue.
Escalate If Necessary: If you’ve exhausted options at your school and nothing changes, you might consider reaching out to the district or even an external organization that focuses on education and student safety.
Ultimately, it’s important to continue advocating not just for E, but also for the well-being and safety of all students involved. If you need support or guidance, don’t hesitate to seek it from trusted colleagues or professional organizations.