Haynes.tv

Today I was observing a special education class and an event happen with one of the children as I was watching which I found particularly disturbing while at the same time a great opportunity to observe first hand some of the things we have been discussing in my class on special education. Is what happened is this boy, who will remain nameless for his safety, started to become increasingly violent. It was a gradual work up and in was not a result of provocation, but seemed to be this child acting out and crying for attention. Now comes the really disturbing part of the story. Is what happened is the child and the teacher were talking, the teacher was in not way was hostile to the child, and simply responded to the child’s outlandish attitude in a calm manner. The child then proceeded to his desk and said he would draw a knife and says something about killing something, I could not quite understand what he said he wanted to kill ( a little while later in the incident it seems to be that it was a dinosaur he was referring to killing, at that point, but there was definitely in his mind some connection with drawing the depictions and the really things), and he also said he would bite the teacher. It was not quite clear to me at that point why he said he would bite the teacher. Then he started to run around the room and punch things and progressively became more and more hostile. He even threatens to kill the teacher, and said he was a tiger, it then became clear to me why he had talked about biting the teacher. Now the teacher was of course good about that and immediately, in a calm manner, told him he was not a tiger, but he just continued to act as though he was a tiger. He started to scratch at things, and eventually ends up scratching himself somehow for whatever reason. I am not really sure why he did that, maybe it was an accident or more likly that there is something inside of him causing him pain, deep down. A little bit after he scratches himself he starts to break down and begins to cry for his mommy and his dad. The teacher than reaffirms him by talking to him about when he will see his parents, but says that he has to be here for a reason (to accomplish his learning task essentially). They then begin to proceed to lunch and the boy is greeted by another teacher who asked him about what happens, and after realizing what he had done tells him in a kind way basically that he needs to use his words and tell what he is feeling, and not hurt himself. I really find this to be very disturbing that this child is acting in this manner he seems to have some deep down emotional issues. If anyone has any insight into what exactly may be driving this child to be so hostile both to himself and others around him I would appreciate your comments.