Understanding and Addressing Student Misbehavior: A University Report

This report delves into the multifaceted issue of student misbehavior within educational environments. It begins with a literature review exploring adolescence, adolescent development, and typical adolescent behaviors, referencing psychological perspectives. The report then synthesizes findings from interviews with parents, teachers, and non-teaching staff, highlighting diverse viewpoints on the causes of misbehavior, including cultural influences, teacher strictness, and student disinterest. A comparative analysis between the literature review and interview findings reveals key themes and contradictions. The report concludes with a section on personal awareness and teacher practice, reflecting on the importance of creating a positive learning environment, the role of qualified teachers, and the need for counseling and behavioral psychology in schools. The author emphasizes the significance of understanding adolescent behavior, the impact of culture, and the necessity of providing support to both students and parents to address behavioral challenges effectively. The report advocates for a holistic approach to student well-being and academic success.

Running head: PEDAGOGY FOR POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Report on “why young people misbehave at school
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Executive Summary
Adopting a proper pedagogy is important in terms of providing a proper learning environment to
the students. Inclusion of behavioral psychology into the courses is important in terms of
assessing the effectiveness of the behavior exposed by the students in the schools. This
assessment is in case of the parents, teachers and principals. This assignment undertakes the
viewpoints of teachers, colleagues and non-teaching staffs towards misbehavior of the students.
According to their viewpoints, culture and strictness of the teachers gains prominence. The
reflective tone in the assignment assess the approach of the author towards the current pedagogy
and their impact on the educational establishment of the students.

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Table of contents
Section one: Literature review.........................................................................................................3
1.1 Adolescence...........................................................................................................................3
1.2 Adolescent development........................................................................................................3
1.3 Adolescent behavior..............................................................................................................4
Section two: Synthesis of the main findings from the interview.....................................................4
Section three: Comparison between literature review and the main findings from the interview...6
Section four:.....................................................................................................................................7
References and bibliography.........................................................................................................11

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Section one: Literature review
1.1 Adolescence
Adolescence is one of the stages of development as proposed by psychologists Freud. It
is the stage, which comes after infancy. Delving deep into the aspect, adolescence is the period,
when a child penetrates into the first stage of maturity. Onset of puberty indicates the
transformation of the child into an adult in case of the females (Meij, Meij & Harmsen, 2015).
Adolescent period is usually known as teenage, although the symptoms initiate from an early
stage. In this stage, different perspectives related to psychology, biology, history, sociology and
others. However, the main aspect of adolescent period is the lessons taught to the children by the
parents for their adult lives.
1.2 Adolescent development
For providing an insight into adolescent development, biological definition of
adolescence is necessary. For girls, onset of puberty marks the penetration into adolescence. For
boys, physical growth indicates the attainment of adolescence. Both the girls and the boys
encounter certain bodily changes (Tadesse & Gillies, 2015). Due to these changes, they find
themselves capable of thinking logically, which is their gradual preparation for the adult life. As
a matter of specification, the bodily changes involve changes in the sex organs, body weight,
height, muscles mass as well as the changes in the capacity of the brain. Gradual progress in
cognitive power also brings changes in the thinking skills. In schools, the students mix with the
students from other backgrounds, this broadens their perspectives about the events, taking place
in their surroundings.

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1.3 Adolescent behavior
Most of the adolescents range between the age group of 13-19. Out of these, a majority of
them suffer from numerous problems like inadequate sleep, substance abuse and addictions.
These issues bring noticeable changes in the adolescents, compelling them to misbehave in
schools. Watching TV till late night is the reason why the students fall asleep in class. Due to
this, they cannot concentrate on the lectures given by the teachers. Scolding from the teachers
make the students feel depressed, which is the main reason for behavioral change (Kim &
Baylor, 2016). Here, the students search for a helping hand, which would bring them on the right
track. In this stage, if the parents refuse to take the responsibility of giving proper training to the
students, they adopt wrong means for overcoming the depression. Typical example of these
wrong means is the addictions, which totally deviates them from the targeted goals. These
addictions entrap the students in such a web, that they even bunk the classes and indulge in these
addictions. Upon discovering these instances, the students become violent and adopting harming
methods to self and others.
Psychologists are of the view that peer pressure is the main reason for the adolescents
indulging in the wrong means and addictions (Salend, 2015). They are shocked at the results,
which have even depicted the death of the students as a result of increased indulgence into
addictions and lack of proper treatment.
Section two: Synthesis of the main findings from the interview
According to the views of the parent interviewed, their child is good at studies. When he
is among his friends, he enjoys a lot. However, when he dislikes something, he indulges in
fighting, for which the parents were called. On the contrary, the female teacher laid stress on

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culture for misbehavior of the students. She thinks the type of culture in which the student
receives their upbringing finds reflection in the behavior they expose in the external sources.
Adhering to the views of the female colleague, she provides a detailed description regarding the
behavior of the students in school (Adams, 2016). As a matter of specification, she highlights the
dislike of the students regarding the school rules and regulations. The main propositions of her
answer are the behavioral changes, which come in the students’ in the school.
As per the opinions of first non-teaching staff, the students in their adolescent stage are
very energetic, which encourages them to indulge in adventurous acts. He thinks that mostly the
students misutilize this encouragement, which reflects their misbehavior in the school. The
second non-teaching staff thinks that the students misbehave in school for exposing their
disinterest towards the strictness of the teachers and principals (Alt, 2015). According to the
opinions of one female parent, negligence in the strictness of the teachers and principals allows
the students to misbehave in schools.
One of the males interviewed was of the opinion that the students misbehave in school as
they find the lessons very hard. The second male interviewed opined that the students find the
lessons easy, but they get bored and misbehave in order to seek attention. As per the statements
of the female teachers, the students misbehave, as they do not like the teachers. The major drive
behind these aspects is the culture, which determines the good and the bad behavior of the
students. If the students receive proper guidance and support in their developing stage, it is
revealed in their behavior in the schools (Dole, Bloom & Kowalske, 2016). On the contrary, lack
of proper guidance towards behavior is also reflected in their approach towards the lessons
delivered in class.

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The misbehavior of the students in schools can be understood better by the application of
choice theory. The main proposition of choice theory is choosing the behavior to expose. The
major drive behind this are the genes, which satisfy the basic survival needs. Misbehavior can be
considered as adding spice to the boring bookish lectures. This perception is contradicted by the
cultural aspect in terms of enhancing the personality of the students in their academic fields.
However, the students should not be limited within the shackles of culture as it is the age of
having fun, which is an essential component for enjoying childhood (Fowler, 2015). Countering
this, regulation is needed in terms of inculcating discipline within the students.
Section three: Comparison between literature review and the main findings from the
interview
Adolescence is the stage, when the students tend to explore the world around them. They
find interest in this exploration, which reflects the disinterest in sitting for long hours and
listening to the lectures. Instead, they prefer adventurous act, without catering to the fact that
they could be punished for violating the school norms. Once the adolescent students indulge in
these acts, they are entrapped by its attraction that they deviate from the goals. The attraction of
these acts is such that it brings behavioral changes within the students upon being warned about
the harmful effects (Kim & Baylor, 2016). Culture is an essential aspect in this context. The
culture in which the students receive their upbringing finds their reflection in the behavior
exposed by the students.
Within the culture, guidance and support is also included. If the students are provided
with a positive learning environment, positivity is also added to the attainment of proper
development. On the contrary, lack of proper guidance teaches the children to fight among

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themselves for the things they disliked or did not get. One of the other aspects of this culture can
be the strictness, which acts as a strong and flexible supporting hand for the students towards
their establishment. Negligence in this direction is an indication towards the students misutilizing
the provided freedom. This negligence compels the parents to encounter taunts and mocking
from the neighbors, which hamper the cognitive learning process of the students (Lewthwaite et
al., 2015).
Section four:
Personal awareness and teacher practice
I think school is one such place, where the students get better preparation for the future
lives. In the present age, the administrative authority of the schools is running blindly in a rat
race to achieve higher profit margin. This mentality acts as a compromise with the educational
needs of the students, depriving them from the actual scenario of the society. I am really
concerned about with the dearth of qualified teachers, who can take the responsibility of
upgrading the preconceived knowledge, skills and expertise of the students. I sympathise with
the teachers in terms of the low income and insecurities, which make them hesitant towards
adopting the jobs. In this situation, the school can make other arrangements like private tuitions.
I think this would be beneficial for the students in terms of continuing their learning process.
Aording to Ma et al., (2015), mischief is a word, which goes very well with children.
This is in terms of expanding the horizons of their knowledge. I fully affirm the fact they do not
like to sit for long hours and listen to the lectures, which the teachers give. This disinterest
generates within them the idea to indulge into wrong and mischievous acts like bunking class
and indulging in smoking, taking drugs among others. Once the students indulge in these acts,

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they expose strange behaviors in schools. I think at homes also they behave unusually, which
makes the parents concerned. Just telling them about the harmful effects of these acts is not
enough. The students need to be made aware of consequences about indulging in these acts
(Magolda, 2014). I think the role of the parents is crucial in this context. This is in terms of the
behavioral changes, which comes within the students as a result of gaining a different kind of
happiness upon indulging in the negative act. According to me, the behavioral changes destroy
the balance in the lives of the students. Due to this, they suffer from sleepless nights, which make
them unable to pay attention to the lectures delivered in class. In such a situation, if the teachers
scold them, they become depressed. It is at this stage, where the parents need to take the
assistance of the counselors, as self-attempts can be harmful for the physical and mental
development of the students (Moy, Renshaw & Davids, 2016).
I am elated at the fact that some of the schools have introduced the subject of behavioral
psychology. Apart from this, counselors have been appointed for solving the issues, which the
students are facing during their stay in the schools. I think if a period is devoted to counseling,
the students would be beneficial in terms of getting a deeper awareness of their psychological
wellbeing. In view of the adolescent period, counseling can be one of an efficient means for the
students and the parents. I think if the counseling is provided to both the students and parents,
they would be able to achieve effective solutions for the behavioral changes.
I think the schools and the educational institutions are taking initiatives towards catering
to the development of the students. However, lack of strategic vision compels the personnel from
the achievement of positive outcomes (Salend, 2015). I think development of a framework for
educational curriculum is of utmost importance in terms of delivering the lectures in an efficient
and effective manner. I can give the example of Australian educational curriculum, which would

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enhance the clarity of the administrative personnel to create a positive learning environment for
the students. Within this, inclusion of proper pedagogical methods is crucial. This is because of
giving proper lessons to the students regarding the events, which are taking place in their
surroundings. I think the teachers, principles and the board panel needs to be involved in the
meetings for deciding the courses. After the meeting, the students need to be informed about the
courses included in the curriculum.
The courses need to be made interesting, so that the students get the knowledge through a
play way method. This process would generate interest within the students regarding the courses
(Spratt & Florian, 2015). I think if practical knowledge is levied to the students, they would not
feel bored. Consciousness of the teachers and the principals in this direction would reduce the
mischievious behavior of the students. I also feel that group discussion between the students
from different backgrounds would be fruitful in terms of reducing the instances of harassments
and discriminations. The teachers need to inculcate moral values of sharing and kindness within
the students (Tadesse & Gillies, 2015). Here I can say that if moral science is included in the
subjects, the students would get good guidance on being a good human being in their future.
I can relate the Reality Therapy here. The mentally retarded students need special
assistance from the teachers in order to grasp the lessons being taught in the schools. Here,
negligence would mean shredding off the responsibilities regarding their development from the
adolescent stage. Along with this, careless attitude from the teachers would deprive these special
students from knowing the difference between the right and the wrong things. Delving deep into
the issue, this mentality of the teachers and the administrative personnel can be considered as an
escape from the real scenario of education, which they are to provide to the students (Tintiangco
et al., 2015).

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I think every student is instructed to maintain the discipline of the school. Here, little
mischief needs to be allowed for catering to the entertainment needs of the students. In this
context, Assertive Disciple proposed by Lee canter is appropriate as it is needed for effective
management of the classroom environment. Most of the teachers are unable to control the
students, as they expose unruly behavior in the classroom. The previous sentence acts as an
answer for the question proposed by the assignment. Controlling the behavior of the students
enables the educators to estimate the learning environment, which would help the adolescents to
achieve proper development from the current stage. Adoption of appropriate pedagogy is the
means towards the achievement of educational development.

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References and bibliography
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