When You Treat Them Like Children, Don't Be Surprised When They Act Like Children

I spent this weekend on an extracurricular trip with a large number of students from a variety of backgrounds. The circumstances of the trip required the students to make a lot of choices that they aren't often asked to make in their normal lives and take responsibility for their actions as if they were adults. Some students responded to this challenge well, some not so well; that wasn't really surprising. What was surprising was that the students who were the most mature and competent were the ones that give their teachers the most trouble in the classroom setting, and the students who are very easy to deal with in class were the most likely to struggle with the additional responsibilities of the trip.

I think that what was going on was that the classroom environment is not often conducive to adult behavior; the rules and expectations of a classroom aren't designed for adults, they're designed for children. Students that struggle with these rules and expectations may be struggling because they view themselves as autonomous and competent, and are resistant to instruction, direction, or regulation. Put them into a situation where they can exercise that autonomy, and suddenly they're all-stars.

The other students, who may be comfortable in a restrictive or even coddling environment, had difficulty making decisions for themselves; they lacked the self-efficacy to thrive without regulation.

I think this suggests several things. First, behavioral problems may have different sources than you might assume; second, it is equally important to provide autonomy as it is to provide guidance and support; and third, try to see your kids outside the classroom. I learned a ton about these students just by seeing them in a different environment than I usually see them in, and I think that's an experience that all teachers should have.

- O + B