Some Categories of Pastoral Care

The Mischievous Child in Your Class

The Mischievous Child in Your Class

We will try together to search for the reasons that lead to a child’s mischief in your class. These reasons may go back to shortcomings in the child, or in the teacher, or in the lesson, or all of these together:

1. Perhaps the presence of the restless child in your class is a clear testimony that the lesson is not engaging or enjoyable. It failed to attract the child’s attention. We all know that a pleasant, attractive story is capable of silencing even the noisiest children.
2. Or the lesson may be enjoyable, but it does not suit the child’s age.
3. Sometimes the child resorts to mischief out of boredom, either because the lesson is repetitive or because it is too long. A child cannot focus his attention for a long time on one subject unless the topic can possess all his senses. A short lesson is very suitable for children.
4. Perhaps the reason for the child’s mischief is that the teacher does not involve him in the lesson, but rather delivers it in a lecture style, not in a manner of give-and-take, questions and answers. The child wants to speak and move during the lesson; he cannot remain silent for a long time. If you do not give him an opportunity to speak and move—through frequent questions and answers, review, discussion, and recitation—he will move and speak for any reason without restraint.
5. Sometimes the reason goes back to overcrowding in the class, where the teacher cannot control it, and the large number leads to noise. The child may be uncomfortable in his seat, or may feel lost among a group in which he does not sense his own identity, or may think that he is not under supervision because of the large number.
6. Perhaps the reason for his noise is the teacher’s neglect of him or lack of encouragement. In order to feel his personality and draw attention to himself, he resorts to mischief.
7. The reason may be the absence of an emotional relationship between the teacher and the student. Sometimes the teacher forgets individual care and becomes a stranger to the child, with no special bond connecting them. If such a bond exists, the problem is resolved.
8. In all cases, we cannot deny at all that the teacher’s personality has a great role in the calmness of the class. The beloved teacher, skilled in understanding souls, skilled in the method of teaching, the spiritual person who is a source of trust and capability—such a teacher is inevitably respected by his students, and they maintain calm during his lesson.
9. It may be that God has placed this child in the teacher’s path for his spiritual benefit: either to give him the virtue of patience and longsuffering, or the virtue of wisdom and good stewardship of souls, or to train him in prayer as he pours himself out before God for this child, or to teach him humility. Perhaps that teacher thought within himself that he was something, so God wanted him to know that he is weak before leading a child.
10. The reason may go back to the child rather than the teacher: the child may be aggressive in temperament, spoiled, fond of showing off, talkative, or possessing excess energy that he does not know how to use. Such a child can be benefited from if his activity is utilized in a useful way.
11. The reason may go back to a bad example in church education classes or in the school where the child studies.
12. The reason may go back to family problems that need to be solved.

Whatever the reason, we must treat it, whether it lies in the teacher, the student, the family, or the bad example—knowing that our work is directed more toward such a child, because the healthy do not need a physician, but the sick. The Lord Jesus Christ left the ninety-nine and searched for the one who was lost.

But beware of resorting to a wrong method in dealing with the mischievous child, such as pouring out your anger on him, and treating him with beating, expulsion, insults, humiliation, excessive rebuke, and harsh discipline.

By doing so, you relieve your tired nerves, but you do not treat the child. On the contrary, you present a bad example to him and to others.

Remember that you too may have been one day—or may still be—a mischievous disciple among the disciples of Jesus Christ.

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