Real Talk
Bored Teachers Comedian Leslie Rob’s viral video reel highlights the need for swift discipline from the administration to protect teachers and other children from violent student behavior.
In this Bored Teachers video role-play, Ms. Rob is a music teacher who struggles to get Amelia to stop playing her instrument. Ignoring every plea to stop, Amelia takes things up a notch by launching her xylophone mallet like a tiny, wooden missile straight at the teacher. Nothing says “I respect my educator” quite like an airborne weapon thrown directly at her face.
What follows is an all-too-familiar scene for educators. First, the teacher calls for administrative support. When the admin arrives, she just says to “build a relationship” with the disruptive student to keep suspension rates down. The student remains in class, their behavior escalates, and the cycle repeats.
Back in my day, students who said no to a teacher were slapped with an RPC, and parents were required to meet with the administration. Now, students say F….U….. to a teacher, and life continues as usual. It is no wonder that student behavior is on the short list of reasons teachers leave the classroom for other careers. No one can learn in an unsafe environment.
The consequences of inaction
Instead of fostering an inclusive learning environment, these bans on consequences and suspensions create a chaotic atmosphere where well-behaved students are ignored while disruptive students dominate the classroom.
The result? A learning environment with nonexistent discipline, leading to decreased engagement, higher teacher turnover, and very unsafe classrooms. Teachers also hesitate to report extreme misbehavior due to fears of administrative backlash, further exacerbating the problem.
Students see the teacher has no power to do anything about disrespect, defiance, and out-of-control outbursts. Without consequences, this behavior spreads like rust on metal, destroying every bit of structure and stability.
Rethinking student discipline
Many administrators today shy away from delivering consequences to students. Whether that’s because of angry parents or worrying about their school rating, these administrators are not doing their job to protect students and teachers. Safety should be their first priority.
While suspensions alone do not reform student behavior—especially if students spend their time at home playing video games—there needs to be a balance, and sometimes suspensions are needed to protect the others in the room.
Ms. V from California says, “Students know if I send them to the office for blatant disrespect or even threats, they will be sent right back to the classroom after ten minutes.”
This is not okay. All it does is set a terrible precedent in the classroom where the teacher loses all respect.
Consequences for misbehavior are crucial. Instead of shying away from giving consequences, admin should prioritize the well-being of students and teachers in their disciplinary strategies.
Disciplinary strategies that actually work
1. Structured reflection time.Implement reflective detention or “think time,” during which students must write about their behavior and how to improve.
2. Community service within the school. Assign tasks such as helping in the library, assisting custodians, or tutoring younger students as a way to take responsibility.
3. Loss of privileges. Revoking participation in extracurricular activities, school events, or having students walk at recess instead of play can serve as important consequences.
4. Behavior contracts. Set up a formal agreement between the student, teacher, and parents outlining expectations, consequences, and rewards for improvement.
5. In-school suspensions with academic support. Instead of sending students home, provide structured environments where students complete assignments under supervision while also engaging in behavior intervention programs.
6. Mentorship programs and mental health support. Pair students with mentors (teachers, counselors, or older students) to guide them in making better decisions. Understanding the trauma behind the behavior is essential in developing meaningful progress.
The call for change
School administrators must support their teachers and prioritize classroom safety over discipline statistics.
Without effective consequences for disruptive behavior, students, teachers, and the entire education system will crash and burn to the ground.
If we truly care about student success, we must recognize the destruction of classroom safety. Admin (and parents!) must hold students accountable for their behavior to restore sanity and the well-being of our entire school communities.
