It was early in the school year in a nearby school district (Bethlehem, Pa.) when a rookie Special Education teacher – with the best of intentions- stepped in between two 7th graders who were beating each other silly. The scenario was pretty tense. Twenty or so students screaming and running around, furniture being spilled and splintered. And one of the fighters was battered so badly the young teacher was legitimately fearful that he may suffer a severe injury.
So, who can blame her from stepping in between flying feet and fists and commanding both boys to stop fighting, stop fighting now?
Problem is, predictably, the teacher walked directly into the path of a series of vicious hook punches by the larger fighter (by this time, there was only one fighter. The aggressor was fighting and the smaller student was simply a sad punching bag) and folded to the floor like a $2 pup tent in a wind storm while the attack on the poor victim continued.
THE DISRUPTIVE STUDENT MANAGEMENT (DSM) SEPARATING TECHNIQUE(S).
Without going into great detail, the separating technique I advocate is based upon the understanding that both students are under the influence of Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) activation because one is aggressive and the other is in fear, both of which trigger SNS. Under SNS, an individual
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Suffers Tunnel Vision which means that he can only focus on the threat directly ahead and loses over 70% of peripheral vision.
- Suffers Auditory Exclusion, meaning he cannot hear instructions from a teacher.
- Cannot process the consequences of his actions.
- Suffers Inability to Focus, Loss of Near Vision, and other visual and perceptual abilities.
All of which means, in short, that one or both students will most likely mistake anyone stepping in between them as someone trying to join the fight, not break up the fight!
SO, WHAT IS A TEACHER, PARENT, OR SECURITY SPECIALIST SUPPOSED TO DO?
Outstanding Question. In my opinion, under the circumstances I described above, you must do something. Allowing a fight to rage on while you idly stand by invited injury to one or both students, plus panic might ensue with your audience. Here are a few PPCT DSM Principles of Separation.
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ALWAYS APPROACH FROM THE REAR.
- SEPARATE QUICKLY TO A POSITION OF SAFETY AND CONTROL
- PROVIDE CONTINUOUS COMMANDS TO “STOP FIGHTING.”
- CONTINUOUS VERBAL COMMANDS AND THEN REASSURE THE SEPARATED STUDENT EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.
The above principles are all well and good, but some amplification is required. In my next post, “How To Safely Separate?”
Until then, stay safe.
The Hammer