Abigail Tetlow on Shalaby's Troublemakers

 This week I read the preface and intro to "Troublemakers" by Carla Shalaby. She is a former elementary school teacher whose radical views have taken the education scene by storm. Her decision to share her views about education have made an impact on many readers and her thoughts and ideas are important to those joining the field of teaching. 

Shalaby believes in freedom. Her writing mainly consists of the impact that the current ways schools discipline students keeps the majority of students from reaching their potential. She empathizes with the troublemakers in classrooms and understands that these behavioral patterns are linked to the system they have no control over. I understand what it is like to be painted as a troublemaker and unfortunately a lot of teachers just don't know why students act the way they do. Teachers are instructed to keep students on their best behavior with rewards and punishments, but this system fails to nurture individuals. My largest takeaway from this reading is that  viewing noncompliance as a problem will not be beneficial to anyone involved. Troublemakers are only sending signals about unmet needs or poor conditions in their environment. (Of course there will always be exceptions and it is important to use discretion!)

Shalaby's persuasive text challenges (future) educators to reconsider discipline and become more understanding about student behavior. She believes this will make teachers more aware of issues in the school system and environment. This mindset will make education more meaningful to each child. 

Empathy will make us all understand each other better.

A website I recommend browsing is TeachingTolerance. This site keeps up to date articles about issues like student behavior and systemic issues in schooling.