Young men DO NOT need to be fixed.
It genuinely pains me when hear this language when educators describe their ‘pointy ended’ students.
I know this isn’t the case for all teachers, but I hear it far more often than is helpful. it’s usually due to a lack of information, and I hope to help bring this situation to light here.
Let’s start with the issue:
The problem is usually loud and disruptive students, who are typically quite expansive with their actions.
This becomes an issue to the CLASSROOM and TEACHERS, not the BOYS THEMSELVES. This issue to other is also usually exaggerated in an unhelpful manner when the boys have experience traumatic conditions at home that affect emotional development.
School is often the only ‘out’ for these boys.
This requires clarification on my end. These boys do not need to be fixed, because their was nothing broken in the first place.
They are just agitated humans with unmet needs.
The need of validation, love, and competence.
Which they attempt to fill by acting up.
This information can be used to their (and our) advantage.
Because that need is naturally filled with a transparent and connected community.
Here’s our Solution:
We facilitate open, truthful and safe discussions.
One’s that involves topics that are never previously discussed.
With some boys understanding their mates on a level that they never thought possible.
With some of that time even being used to reconcile arguments in a productive, empathetic way, very often for the first time.
Because at the end of the day, we just want to be heard by people we trust.
It’s a big reason why therapists & counsellors exist. Mainly to meet a need not met by an isolated community.
And these ‘pointy ended’ students; they just want to be validated.
So let’s validate them, towards helpful actions.
Crank up the rewards for helping.
And watch them EFFORTLESSLY TRANSMUTE their energy form unhelpful to helpful.
With time, they will become the epidemy of productive and helpful members of society
Because isn’t that the whole point of school education anyway?
Isn’t that why we became educators in the first place?
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Blades weren’t invented for blunting:
They were made for the community’s benefit.
Such are Young men.
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