Case
Vandalism

Last week students made posters about their favorite things. The teacher hung all of the posters on the bulletin board directly outside the classroom. This morning when she walked in, 3 of the posters had been written on with foul language. How should the teacher address this situation?

Posted on: 10/10/17 | Views: 1033
Solution #1
Top Solution
Depending on the age group, I think there are different courses of action to take. I work as a paraprofessional with third graders and we recently just had a case of a child stealing all of the teacher's reward skittles. She simply had the students write whether they did or did not steal the skittles on a sticky note and hand it into the teacher. They would do this every morning until the child confessed, and until then they did not get recess or any special rewards until they did so. It worked very effectively and the student stepped forward on the first time. I would NOT make any false assumptions, but rather prompt the students to come forward on their own. Do not threaten or scare them off from coming forward, rather just let them know the whole class will be punished until they confess.

I definitely thought this solution would be most effective when handling this particular situation. I like that it doesn't single out a particular student but still encourages them to admit their fault

This would be hard, but maybe effective.

While it may not get the student(s) to admit to it at first, I believe this would be the best way to allow students to come to the conclusion about how they should behave on their own, and correct the behavior. This also allows you to handle the punishment for the student privately, so that others do not become disruptive in their behaviors as well.

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Solution #2
I would address the issue with the students in the classroom, to see if anyone has heard anything. If the students do not speak up openly. I would give an option for the students to write their comment on a paper and put it in a box for me to read. That way the student who did it or knows who did it, can speak up anonymously without the class knowing.

If I were in this situation I would do exactly this. Students will be able to share information anonymously and the appropriate measures can be taken.

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Solution #3
First, remove the posters. Second, since it seems as if anybody could have vandalized the posters, I would bring them to admin and have them take a look at it. I would also speak with my class to express how any type of vandalism is unacceptable and wrong, regardless if it were them or not.
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Solution #4
I would mention it to the classroom and see if it happens again. If it happens again I would try to find out who did it and punish them because vandalism is a crime.

I would address the class and involve the administration so students know this is unacceptable. Explain that if they find out who the culprit is there will be punishment.

I agree, I think administration should be immediately involved.

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Solution #5
I would definitely talk to the whole class about how the act of vandalism was a serious offense. I would express that I was very disappointed that one of my students would do this and communicate how this act most likely really hurt the feelings of the people who worked so hard on creating their posters. I would tell students that whoever was responsible had until the end of the day to come and talk to me privately about what happened, and that if they did not come forward I would go to the principal to get to the bottom of it.
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Solution #6
This is something I would talk to administration about. It seems like a something another student from outside of class did. Perhaps the whole school and all the parents need a note home from admin about vandalism at the school.
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Solution #7
I know that it is always better to handle these matters internally, but most school policies on issues like this are dictated to the admin/SRO they have methods in place to prevent this from happening again or catching the student(s) who are doing this. I would start with speaking to the vice principal.
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Solution #8
The teacher should immediately take the posters down before the whole school sees them. The teacher must report this to administration and or the principal right away. It may be even useful to have a discussion with the entire class about vandalism and unacceptable language.
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Solution #9
I would first see if the students who's paper got destroyed would have any ideas on who would ant to mess up their paper. It could be result of bullying or someone wanting to mess with their work intentionally. I would look to see if the schools cameras caught who did it. Depending on the grade level, I would discover who did it, why, and provide a consequence equal to their age.
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Solution #10
ask the students if they know anything about the situation and if they do to speak with the you after class privately.
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Solution #11
This needs to be something she first discusses with her class. If the behavior continues, then it is time to take it higher up.
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Solution #12
I would first talk to the class as a whole. I would then ask students to tell the teacher any thing they may know about the vandalism. I would then conduct individual interviews if needed.
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Solution #13
I don't know what grade this is, but I would have the SRO speak to the students and them know that defacing property is against the law.
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Solution #14
This really is too much. Get the administration involved and contact her parents.
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Solution #15
I would mention to the class the consequences of this action and let the administrator know
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Solution #16
If your school has video cameras I would see if this vandalism was recorded and than handled the situation appropriately. If your school does not have video cameras or this act was not recorded I would go to the hall teachers and ask them to address the issue with their students and that if anyone knows anything to report it. Ask the teachers to explain how this behavior and vandalism is a crime and wrong.
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Solution #17
You should bring it up to the class and see if anyone comes forward. Depending on the age you take things away like recess for the younger students and for the older students you make them write an essay on why vandalism is wrong and how it will not be tolerated. If someone confesses before the students write the essays then you make that student write the essay. Let them know they will not have any fun activities until someone confesses to it.
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Solution #18
Have a serious talk to the class and if it continues send to principal.

Not sure that this solution would be the most effective if the culprit of the behavior is not determined.

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Solution #19
Talk to the class.
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