Critical Incident

My Critical Incident Report

     This incident occurred three  or four  years ago, I do not remember exactly.   There were about 36 students in the classroom and it was by the end of the year, September or October, perhaps.   The group was a really nice one, we had a nice relationship; they were very respectful and hardworking and there had no been any serious incidents before.  

     It was the first period of class and I do not remember the reason (maybe I had to examine some students) but I was not in the classroom so I gave the Preceptora some activities to do while I was out of the classroom and I told her the students had to hand in an assignment.   I asked her to collect them as soon as she entered the classroom since students were used to doing their homework in class and I did not accept that.  Before  I went into the classroom, she told me she had had some  problems with a boy who had refused to give her the assignment because he had not finished it.   The moment I entered the classroom, this boy approached me and wanted to hand in his task,  which I rejected.   Although I tried to explain the reason, he started to get furious little by little.   Soon he was out of control so I explained I was not going to speak to him until he calmed down and I ordered him to leave the classroom, to which he refused, of course.   In that moment, I thought he was going to hit me but fortunately, he  hit the table.  He kept on shouting and I kept on telling him to leave the classroom.   Eventually he did and I had to face the remaining group.   I apologized to them and they told me it was always the same with him and that they were tired of his attitude.   After that, I wrote an act and asked for a meeting with his parents since he could not change his point of view and understand he was wrong.

     After that incident I had some meetings with the headmaster, the director of studies and some other teachers since the problem with this student did not end.   I felt I needed extra support to cope with the situation. I suppose the reason for this could be understood by following Hoffman- Kipp (2003) who states that: “teachers function as resources for one another, providing each other with guidance and assistance on which to build new ideas” (p. 5). 

What I learnt from that experience is that you have to stay as cool as possible in that kind of situations; no matter how difficult they are for you.  I really believe we teach with our acts and I felt if I changed my viewpoint it would be easier but I would teach him that if you shout and become violent you may get what you want, which is totally incorrect.

References

Hoffman-Kipp, P., Artiles, A. J., & Lopez Torres, L. (2003). Beyond reflection: teacher learning as praxis.

            Theory into Practice.