The Agitator

Mistakes: Common misjudgments and errors in managing the child which may perpetuate or intensify the problem.

• Openly and publicly accusing certain students of being agitators.
  
  
• Failing to see the real fear of being discovered that underlies the agitator's behavior.
  
  
• Believing the agitator's actions are directed personally toward us and, therefore, reacting personally toward the agitator and his/her behavior.
  
  
• Getting into an argument, causing division among the class.
  
  
• Issuing punishments to the group, causing strong student reactions.
  
  
• Jumping to the conclusion that the agitator is responsible for a current situation, based on past history.
  
  
• Overreacting to all incidents of criticism and calling them agitation.
  
  
• Making threats to stop the behavior and backing ourselves into a corner.
  
  
• Feeling that "I must have the last word if I am to be the winner."
  
  
• Becoming involved in a power play.
  
  
• Openly confronting the student in class. This action can only cause serious difficulty for all. And our concern about losing respect may readily become a reality.
  
  
• Accusing a student too harshly and/or in the presence of class members.
  
  
• Playing detective, and acting unfairly when we aren't able to pinpoint the culprit.
  
  
• Attacking the followers rather than confronting the agitator.