clinging vine




	ESE502 : The Class : Discipline : Techniques : clinging vine

Clinging Vine/Teacher's Pet

Technique: Show compassion and maintain clear boundaries.

Some students are emotionally fragile and need the comfort of being close to someone who is dependable and consistent.
Many young people in middle school and high school do not have the coping skills to deal with peers effectively. They may turn to adults for attention and acknowledgement.
Only children, first children and gifted youth may find the most comfort and companionship with adults.
Being socially inept during adolescence has little causal relationship with ability to be successful as an adult.
In some social situations being popular seems to exact a price of illegal acts -- drug and alcohol use, premature sexual intimacy, gang membership, smoking. Some students do not wish to participate but lack the skills or ability to stand alone. By aligning with teachers, the pressure may lessen.

Procedures:

Clarify boundaries and maintain a teacher role.
Provide appropriate times and places for adult / student interaction.
Ask students if they would like help becoming involved in school activities.
Seek reason and clarification of the student need.
Provide opportunities for peer interaction (cooperative learning, values lessons, classroom governance)
Consider referral if student seems troubled or isolated.
Some students may develop a crush on a teacher. It is unethical and illegal to become intimately involved with a student.
1. Do not write notes to students.
2. Do not be alone one on one with a student.
3. Gently nip overtures.
4. Monitor and halt casual “accidental” touching.
5. Do not share intimate details of life with student nor allow
  the student to share intimate feelings and private knowledge.
6. Talk with another teacher or professional when first aware of a potential situation to help in maintaining objectivity.
7. If the situation escalates, share with school administrator and get assistance per recommendations.
Suggest a pet such as a horse, dog, cat, ferret, or rabbit for youngsters who need comforting. Animals provide a wealth of loyalty and a healthy way to change the focus of pain or loneliness from self absorption to nurturance and unselfish caring.

Medical concerns:
Students who exhibit this type of behavior may be alerting the teacher to a past or ongoing experience of sexual abuse. Opposite sex teachers may be at grave risk when comforting a student and should NOT place themselves in a position where they will be alone with a student. Strong reason to believe the student has been abused must be reported to authorities. It is an excellent idea to go through the school nurse in checking assumptions and getting assistance in notifying appropriate authorities.

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E-mail J'Anne Ellsworth at Janne.Ellsworth@nau.edu