I am sure there will be many surprises in my years teaching, but this, unfortunately, will not be one of them: yet another teacher has been poisoned by students. A couple years ago something similar happened locally when students put a known allergen in their teacher’s coffee. {Note to self: don’t leave beverages unattended in the classroom}
There are many reasons that children misbehave, but my experience and observation have been that children do things like this when they are accustomed to adults ignoring aggressive or disrespectful behaviors. When young students get away with being aggressive or mean-spirited in front of adults, it becomes a way of life as they get older. When adults hold children responsible for their actions, and have high expectations, children generally conform to more acceptable behaviors.
Conscience is not, unfortunately, instinctive. Children need to be guided to develop compassion, respect and good manners. If you are a parent, do not hesitate to be clear with any child you encounter when their behavior is not appropriate. And start early: a show of aggression in a four-year old might seem cute — but it’s not cute when a 16-year old is aggressive (and facing felony charges). Your own children will not be appropriate all the time, either — but if you are consistent, they will develop over time into kind, responsible individuals. If you are not a parent, consider that the children truly are the future: do you like what you see?
In our highly mobile society, we may think that we don’t know the people around us well enough to step in. I believe that it is even more important to expect (or demand) good behavior from young people in this highly mobile, technological society. Without the grandmother, aunts and uncles living in the neighborhood, or the neighbors who knew your parents when they were your age telling you how to behave, how else can you learn proper behavior? Only through kind but clear instruction from the adults who are there. Parents can’t do it alone, teachers can’t do it alone.
We are all responsible when children misbehave. And we all reap the benefits when they grow into good citizens.