How can I Deal with Violent Anger in the Classroom?

A lot of mental health disorders, like Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder, result in students not being able to handle their emotions and responding in a violent manner. Most students with mental health disorders may be watched carefully for signs of violence and a plan may be made to deal with such a situation.

In case a student with a mental health disorder has difficulty controlling his/her anger or has the tendency to get violent, the teacher may develop a plan with the school. The agreed upon plan would vary with every individual and may include allowing the child to cool down outside the classroom, having them go to a pre-determined location, medication, etc.

If a child is showing unreasonable anger or paranoid thoughts towards anyone in the classroom, special precautions may need to be taken to ensure that the student does not have access to any potentially harmful instruments like a knife or scissor. The child may also be asked to leave his bag in a locker outside the class so that they are not able to bring such instruments into the classroom. Other possible precautions may be to leave the door to the hallway open or the installation of an emergency alert alarm.

If the child’s clashes with a particular student or teacher is disruption the class on a regular basis or the student has some paranoid delusions related to the teacher or another student, a transfer in classes may be a sound solution.

If a student is out of control and threatens to get violent, the teacher may use the following responses:

• Remain calm and stay in control. Most students with mental health disorders who display violence or anger in the classroom are confused and unsure about what they are doing.
• Negotiate and may be allow the student to discuss the issue outside the classroom in order to keep the other students safe.
• Offer the student something that they like in order to “bribe” the student out of their behavior.
• Avoid threatening the student as this may create additional stress or fear.
• Avoid disputing their irrational thoughts in the middle of a potentially violent situation.

Learn More… Take this course: Recognizing Early-Onset Mental Health Disorders in Children

Discuss Here: What are some ways you have dealt with situations of violence and anger in the classroom?