Welcome students to another lesson in the Open School on Aggressive Behaviour. The school is open to parents, guardians, teachers, students and members of the public. This is the third in a series of lessons which is done in the Open school every two weeks. It is my hope that students will acquire knowledge and skills which will enable them to help children and students to demonstrate non-aggressive behaviour.
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to (a) explain, in a simple sentence, the meaning of aggression. (b) students will be able to list four ways in which parents, guardians and teachers could help children demonstrate non-aggressive behaviour.
At the end of the lesson, we will reflect on how much we have learnt through a simple evaluation.
Aggression or aggressive behaviour has been demonstrated in our country from as far back as historical time. However, there is a rapid increase in aggressive behaviour in our communities today which is creating worry for our people. Aggression at home; aggression in school; aggression in our communities.
What is aggression? Very simply, aggression is an action intended to cause bodily or emotional pain. By emotional, I mean that your feelings get out of control.
But what causes man to be so aggressive against each other? Is aggressive inborn or is it learned. There are two schools of thought on the issue of aggression.
On one hand, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a philosopher born in Geneva has said in his work, that man was born good. He insisted that it is the environment, over time, which causes man to bring about a change in his behaviour.
On the other hand, Thomas Hobbes, an English Philosopher concluded in his work that human beings in their natural state are brutes and that only by enforcing the law and order of society could we curb his aggressive behaviour.
By brute I mean a person who is violent, rowdy, lacks compassion, insensitive, quarrelsome, fierce, lacks intelligence among other things.
Now why is our world so violent? Why is our region so troubled? Why crime and criminal activities have become so prevalent in our beautiful island today?
The answers to these questions can be found in the home, the local commune and the wider society. Anger and aggressive behaviours are fuelled by several issues some of which are very complex. But we as parents, teachers and members of the society can take hold of the situation to prevent, control and manage aggression or aggressive behaviours.
At the time I grew up as a child, the whole community helped to train up a child. However, It’s not so anymore!
But what can we do as parents to improve the situation?
I would like to share some ideas with you to prevent, control and manage aggressive behaviour.
1. Parents must be a model to their children. That is parents must not quarrel or show anger in the presence of their children. In a previous article, I emphasized that children observe the behaviour of their parents and copy what they see.
2. Parents and teachers should promote free expression; help children to speak about things that bother then or get them angry. Ideally, free expression should be a part of teaching and learning.
3. Parents and teachers alike must avoid severe punishment as a first response. I am suggesting that punitive measures must be gradual
4. Punishment must fit the offense. Parents and teachers should administer several punishments for the same offence. In our judicial system we call it ‘fine and confine’.
5. Help your child develop positive values and morality. Indeed, those positive values must begin at home. By morality I mean behaviours must be viewed as right or wrong. The right behaviour must be reinforced, and the wrong behaviours eliminated.
6. Know what programmes your children view on television It is a fact that a lot of violent movies play on television which children are likely to copy. Avoid your child viewing of aggressive or violent behaviour, on television.
7. Be always loving and kind to your child. There should be no loss of love for your child. Loving must be continuous and genuine.
8. Avoid fulfilling unnecessary wishes of your child. Many parents believe giving a child whatever he or she asks is showing love. Psychologists indicate that frustration tolerance could be generated when parents fulfil the genuine needs of their children.
9. Early training of children in positive behaviours could go a long way in minimizing aggressive behaviours.
Time and space do not allow me to discuss the several areas of behaviour management. Therefore, I would conclude here.
Now an evaluation exercise for you.
1. In a simple sentence explain the meaning of aggression.
2. List four ways in which you can help your child control or prevent aggressive behaviour.
Open school closes for the Christmas term break. Join me in the New Year, in January 2022 for the Open School. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2022.