I caught one of my students scribbling in pen on one of my computer tables today. He was just sat there, not paying attention and scribbling on the desk; he was miles away. I sent him to the Principals office and told him to tell the principal why he was there, and explain to her why he thought it ok to deface school property.
He was very apologetic, said it was an accident yada yada yada… me of course explained to him one mark would be an accident, but a series of scribbles seemed intentional to me.
Anyway, his teacher came in about 10 minutes later; apparently the kid has a compulsive disorder, and he can’t help what he does, most of the time he doesn’t know he’s doing it.Well ok, so he has a disorder – it explains a lot of his behavior in my class (which really isn’t that bad, just odd), but how do I act, what am I suppose to do? How does one punish someone who defaces school property if he doesn’t realize he’s doing it? What if without realizing it, he picks up a permanent marker and scribbles over a monitor? Do I excuse the behavior because of the disorder? I can’t ignore it, that would send the wrong message to the other students in the class – but apparently I’m not allowed to react, so that excuses it doesn’t?
Yea I know, I’m rambling, just trying to make sense of it, wondering what to do. Actually you’d have thought maybe someone would have mentioned it sooner since although I don’t see him on a daily basis, I am one of his teachers.
Personally I think sending him to the principal was the right thing to do, I’m not qualified to deal with him and at the time wasn’t aware of the circumstances. That being said, if it happens again I think sending him to the principal is still the best option
Thank you for the reminder. Hard to believe it’s been more than a year already.
Already posted about it in my blog and made a donation to the Komen Fund. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year Lynne. Again, I am sorry about your loss.