Action Effective for Resolving Inappropriate School Behavior

¶ … Action Effective for Resolving Inappropriate School Behavior Towards Staff and Peers

At focus in this study is a child named Ed who has exhibited inappropriate behavior at school including fighting, profanity and disrespect towards staff at the school and towards his peers. There have been several meetings with teachers to attempt to resolve the situation but the behavior of Ed only continues to escalate. This study will identify the appropriate measures for dealing with this situation and will incorporate different systems available to the parents and child.

Positive Behavioral Interventions

The work entitled 'Positive Behavioral Interventions & IDEA 2004: New Opportunities for Teaching & Learning' reports that the idea of the use of positive approaches in assisting students to learn new behavioral skills "is not new. What is new is the requirements under the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that for the student with disabilities who exhibits inappropriate or unacceptable behavior, schools must consider the use of positive interventions to help that student learn more acceptable alternative behaviors." (Partner's Resource Network, 2004) It is reported that children tend to model adult behavior therefore, the teacher is the model for student behavior in the classroom, and parents provide the model for the student's behavior at home. (Partner's Resource Network, 2004, paraphrased) Two attitudes that are stated to be held about child behavior and which are "really polarities of thought" are that the child "is a problem" or that the child "has a problem." (Partner's Resource Network, 2004) Positive behavioral therapy provides positive reinforcements for good behavior.

II. Benefits of Behavior Therapy

The 'My Child Without Limits' website states that the primary benefits of behavior therapy are inclusive of the reversal of negative patters of thinking as well as addressing the bad habits of the child. Secondly cited is the appropriate coping with stress and frustration of the child and the child's participation positively in various activities. Third stated, as benefits are the setting of goals that serve to replace the child's negative behavioral patterns with positive behavioral patterns. Other benefits are stated to include "new ways of learning and self-help techniques are reinforced" and the child also experiences an increase in self-esteem as well as improved performance both at home and at school as well as in social situations. (My Child Without Limits Advisory Committee, 2012, paraphrased)

III. Testing and Assessment of the Child