The Child with an Aggressive Behavior - Essay Example

The Child with an Aggressive Behavior Teachers are obliged to be ethical towards every child under their care. They should practice fairness at all times, for the proper development of each child (NAEYC, 2011). Every child is unique. Some copes faster to change while others get anxious in unfamiliar situations. Their reactions will differ when change occurs. It can range from an awkward silence to aggressive behaviors. Teachers should be prepared to handle both challenges. Aggressive behaviors should be tamed by love and assertion. Children who act out are not necessarily bad or naughty. In many cases, they are expressing something they do not like. It takes a while for children to gain knowledge of how to communicate their feelings. Teachers should calm such a child down without demeaning him or her. With patience, children learn to address their issues appropriately. However, when harsh words are used, they learn to fear. It hinders them from communicating freely because they dread being scolded or ridiculed. Eric’s case creates the perfect scenario of aggressive children. His behavior threatened the safety of other students. His teachers’ efforts to control his behaviors proved futile that it puts stress on them (Feeney & Freeman, 2012). They were concentrating more on him than the other children. They had to watch that he does not harm other children. Eric was proving to be more difficult as the days went by. The Ethical Dilemma Faced by Rose Eric’s situation was putting pressure on every party involved. His two teachers, Rose and her co-teacher, were running out of patience because Eric was unresponsive to all the measures they had taken. Eric was not backing down. His outbursts made the teachers contemplate. However, Rose later felt that it would be decided cowardice of her to quit. It will also deny her the opportunity to grow because challenges are meant to sharpen our skills of problem solving. She knew she had a responsibility to Eric as well as other children to teach them. It would be easier to withdraw Eric from her class. However, it will not be fair on him. His parents are counting on her professionalism to help their child learn. Parents of other children were beginning to raise concern on Eric. He was threatening the safety of their children. Their children were in danger of physical injury or verbal abuse from Eric. He had an extra-ordinary strength for normal 4-year olds. He also induced fear in his classmates. Rose had to make a choice between Eric and the rest of the children. She assessed her efforts and realized she had not done enough for Eric. It would be unreasonable now to write him off; she needed to make sure that she has done a lot on her side to help Eric. He could not treat him as a problem that should be eliminated. She had to provide him with a chance to develop among his peers. He needed extra attention than other children. If the plan worked, she would save a childhood by providing him with an opportunity to behave normally. She took the ethical finesse to solve the dilemma she faced. Plan of Action taken to Calm Eric Down Rose began researching on children with aggressive behaviors. She tried the different approaches that had been recommended in different literatures. She began observing Eric in class and playgrounds (Feeney & Freeman, 2012). She was investigating what triggered his anger. There are children who feel safe in a structured environment like a controlled classroom rather than in the open field in the playground. She tried fitting Eric in one the categories. She was keen not to endanger other children. She paired Eric with children who could model good behavior out of him (Feeney & Freeman, 2012). Her aim was to demonstrate to Eric the appropriate behavior; he should adopt. She also praised any good conduct that Eric would display, no matter how small it was. Her efforts did not stop there. Rose talked with the centre’s director about her intentions. With her permission, she put Eric in a different class to find a perfect fit for him. He also involved his parents in her efforts, as P.1.4 recommends. She was interested in Eric’s behavior at home. She inquired from his parents, whether Eric portrayed aggression at home, so that she could determine the source of his outbursts. However, her parents maintained that their child was normal, that he will eventually conform to the expected standards. Rose felt differently about the matter. She felt that Eric did not act as a normal 4-year-old child. She had invited her parents to view the behavior of other children so that they could see the difference in their child. However, the parents maintained their stand. Despite every effort sought, Eric did not show any progress. His parents were proving to be less helpful as well due to their insistence that their child is normal. Rose and the centre director had no other option but to give up on Eric. The Final Plan of Action for Eric A teacher ought to do everything in their power to help their students up to the point when all efforts are exhausted (Feeney & Freeman, 2012). Eric had been handed to a mental specialist. The specialist recommended a couple of guidelines to help Eric act properly. However, none of the recommendations proved helpful. A teacher can only offer services to children where he or she is well accustomed to the requirements. It is in accordance to code P.1.7 of NAEYC. Rose had not taken a course that helps her with students who have serious emotional problems. Therefore, it was only right of her to step aside for a professional to work with Eric. Her parents would be informed of the decision to exclude Eric from class. They needed to understand the Rose and the Centre had done everything possible to help Eric improve in his behavior, but their efforts have been ineffective. They also needed to acknowledge the emotional problems of Eric. Every persuasion they had tried on the parents had landed on deaf eyes. Therefore, the centre is left with no choice than to give the parents an ultimatum. Eric’s parents were prompted to enroll him in a special program that will help him with his emotional outbursts so that he can join other pupils in the class. The centre was willing to help the parents find a program suitable for aggressive behavior in children. Eric also needed a class instructor who will help regulate his behavior. Those are the terms the centre was willing to work with; it is typical for a private institution to take such measures. However, a public school deals with such cases internally (Feeney & Freeman, 2012). Eric’s parents could consider the latter if the requirements are too much for them. Consequently, everyone will be satisfied with the decision taken. References Feeney, S., & Freeman, N. K. (2012). Ethics & the Early Childhood Educator: Using the Naeyc Code. Washington, D.C.: Natl Assn for the Education. NAEYC. (2011, July 14). NAEYC organisation. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from NAEYC organisation website: www.naeyc.org Read More