The Troublesome Child in Your Class
The General Committee of Sunday School Education
The Troublesome Child in Your Class
Let us try together to explore the reasons that may lead a child in your class to be troublesome. These reasons might stem from flaws in the child, the teacher, or the lesson itself — or perhaps from all of these combined.
The presence of an unruly child in your class might be clear evidence that the lesson is not engaging or enjoyable enough to capture the child’s attention. We all know that a pleasant and captivating story can silence even the noisiest children.
Or perhaps the lesson is indeed interesting, but it does not suit the child’s age.
Sometimes, the child resorts to mischief out of boredom — either because the lesson is repetitive or too long. A child cannot focus for a long time on one topic unless that topic captures all his senses. Therefore, a short lesson is very suitable for children.
Another reason may be that the teacher does not involve the child in the lesson, but rather delivers it in a lecture-like manner without interaction or dialogue. The child wants to speak and move during the lesson; he cannot remain silent for long. If you do not give him a chance to speak and move — through frequent questions, discussions, reviews, and recitations — he will end up speaking and moving for any reason, and without control.
Sometimes, the cause lies in the overcrowded classroom, where the teacher cannot maintain discipline. The large number of children leads to noise. A child might be uncomfortable in his seat, lost among a group where he feels no individuality, or believes he is not being watched because of the crowd.
The cause of his disturbance might also be the teacher’s neglect or lack of encouragement. To draw attention to himself and affirm his presence, the child resorts to mischief.
There might also be a lack of emotional connection between teacher and student. Sometimes the teacher forgets the importance of personal attention and becomes a stranger to the child. Once such a bond is established, the problem often disappears.
In any case, we cannot deny that the teacher’s personality plays a major role in maintaining classroom calm. A beloved teacher — experienced in understanding souls, skilled in teaching, spiritual, trustworthy, and capable — will always earn his students’ respect, and they will maintain order during his lesson.
It could also be that God has placed this child in the teacher’s path for his own spiritual growth — to teach him patience and forbearance, or wisdom in guiding souls, or to train him in prayer as he pours out his heart before God for this child. Perhaps also to teach him humility — for maybe the teacher once thought highly of himself, and God wanted to show him his weakness before the challenge of leading a single child.
The cause might, of course, lie within the child himself — if he is naturally aggressive, spoiled, attention-seeking, overly talkative, or full of excessive energy that he does not know how to use. The latter type can actually be guided if his energy is directed toward something useful.
The reason might also be a bad example within Sunday School classes or at the child’s regular school.
Or it may stem from family problems that need to be addressed.
Whatever the cause, we must deal with it — whether it lies in the teacher, the student, the family, or poor examples — knowing that our mission is especially directed toward such a child. For, as the Lord Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” The Lord left the ninety-nine and went searching for the one lost sheep.
But beware of using the wrong methods in dealing with the troublesome child — such as pouring out your anger upon him, treating him with beating, expulsion, insults, humiliation, excessive rebuke, or harsh discipline.
By doing so, you only relieve your own frustration but do not help the child. On the contrary, you set a bad example for him and others.
Remember that you too, perhaps once — or still are — a troublesome student among the disciples of Jesus Christ.
Article by His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education – El-Keraza Magazine, Second Year, Issue No. 7 – September 1966.
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