Managing Classroom Problems in the Primary School

Not all children are happy and successful at school. A significant minority are unhappy, some of them to a degree which can ultimately threaten their well-being as adults.

There are many reasons for such disenchantment. Classroom work may present insurmountable problems; there may be embarrassment about clothing or appearance; there may be bullying. Such fears may seem trivial when viewed from the relative security of adulthood, but to a child they can be the cause of endless misery.

The author′s stance in helping the teacher to cope with this kind of "problem" is that interaction between pupil and school is two-way - the teacher has to look at the regime and environment which is being offered as well as the pupil′s response to it. The book lays strong emphasis on striving for understanding and for a co-operative atmosphere in the class and in the school. Most importantly, the crucial nature of the home-school relationships is made clear, and there is much advice for the teacher about making contact with home and about the conduct of parent-teacher discussions.

Aware of the fact that relatively inexperienced teachers are faced daily with pupil unhappiness, the author has provided a practical guide suitable for teacher education students as well as for more experienced members of the profession.