Behaviour

How much disruptive behaviour happens in school?

Behaviours studied

• physical attack/assault
• intimidation/threats
• sexual harassment
• abusive language, insults, obscene gestures
• vandalism/theft

Respondents described only incidents occurring at school, during school activities.

Surprisingly high rates of negative behaviour exist in NWT schools, with abusive language and fighting most frequent.

The conflicts most often involve students only, or pit students against teachers. Conflicts involving parents, or two staff members against each other, appear much less common.

It's important to note that not all incidents are equally critical; physical incidents can include play fighting, and abusive language can include swearing without serious intent. Principals and school staff rate about three-fourths of the incidents as serious.

In schools embroiled in negative incidents, satisfaction drops. As reflected in the experiences shared here, stress builds.

Incidents involving school staff

Staff members describe frequent conflict

• From September to December 1995, 68% of staff intervened in at least one of the behaviours studied.
• 54% of staff were on the receiving end of misbehaviour at least once.
• Most often, the behaviour involves two students (rarely more than four students) of the same grade exchanging verbal or physical blows.
• Student-teacher conflicts also are frequent, and most often involve verbal and physical exchanges.

Shape of conflict shifts with grade level

• The amount and types of disruptive behaviour in which teachers intervene vary by grade:

- Physical conflict peaks in grades 4 to 6; 64% of staff report intervening at least once in the school term. There is a slight drop to 61% in junior high; to 42% in senior high.

- Abusive language peaks at junior high and remains the same in senior high. 79% report intervening at least once in the school term.

- Threats and intimidation occur most in senior high. 70% report intervening at least once in the school term

• Vandalism and sexual harassment occur less than other negative behaviours, but often enough to warrant attention. Incidents of vandalism include dented cars, egged homes and theft.
• As seen on pages 20 and 21, student viewpoints differ in some cases.

Where do incidents take place?

Principals discipline outside the classroom; teachers inside

• Classrooms are the site of a great percentage of conflicts.
• Yet incidents outside the classroom, when combined, account for more than 50% of the disruptive behaviours reported by both principals and other staff.
• When incidents occur away from the classroom, principals are more likely than teachers to become involved.

voices

I have experienced more than normal verbal abuse, particularly from Grades 7 to 8. In most cases, involvement by administrative personnel and parents has resolved the situation. Never have these incidents gone beyond the verbal stages and never have they involved intimidation. I classify them as immature, adolescent behaviour and a general lack of respect.
- Staff member

Too many incidents to report, happening daily in school, classrooms and playground. Abusive language most common but physical threats have been made.Seems to be students in grades 5, 6, 7 and is much more severe than in past. Student aggression to each other serious.
- Male staff member

Female Grade 6 student stole an exacto knife from shop class and then began to slice her chair with it. I intervened. Principal dealt with it.
- Female teacher

Did student get mad at someone?

Did someone get mad at the student?

Students report range of incidents

• Anger and swearing account for the highest rates of daily conflict reported by students.
• Senior high students report the highest rates of swearing. (Compare staff viewpoints on page 19.)
• Junior high students report the highest rates of anger, including the perceived anger of others.
• By comparison, lower grades tend to be more physical, but happier times.
• Most often, conflicts involve students of the same gender and the same grade, except at senior high where conflict can involve mixed genders and grades.

voices

I swear at my friends as a joke.
- Male Grade 10 student

My friend needed my gym clothes etc., I never brought them, so she flipped out. I always get angry at people who annoy me, so I swear at them and call them names. Some guys were smashing birdies at me for no reason and I started swearing at them. Some guys in health class were poking at my head and kicking my desk. I hit them back and defended myself so I got in trouble.
- Female Grade 9 student

I just threw an apple at somebody's head and it hit them in the face. Then their mouth was bleeding and then he threw it back at me but it hit the roof of the foyer.
- Male Grade 12 student

"Fuck you" is just half a step away from "how-you-doin'". It takes a teacher about six months to get used to it.
- Principal

Incidents covered in student surveys

• fights (hitting, punching, kicking, throwing)
• anger
• threats
• swearing

Students reported the happenings of one day.

Did students swear at someone?

Regional respondents less concerned about student behaviour

· Over half of regional staff and board members place disruptive acts at low levels or say those behaviours do not happen in schools. · One exception involves abusive language, insults and obscene gestures; half the regional staff and board members believe those incidents happen often.

voices

We don't like teasing and it's only us they pick on.
- Male Grade 4 student

A male student in Grade 8 swore at a female teacher. The principal, the vice principal, the student and the parent discussed the situation. The student was suspended for two days from school. This is an on -going issue. (Two reports of abusive language from this student in the six-week period.)
- Principal describing "not serious" incident

Two Grade 6 boys planned an assault on a Grade 5 boy. During the assault, three other students became involved, all against the same boy. (Five students suspended.) Parents were contacted and informed about the assault, and were asked to speak to their children. All parents also received a letter concerning the incident.
- Principal describing "extremely serious" large group incident

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