Coping with Student Aggression

Abstract

Teachers working in settings serving emotionally handicapped (EH) students are frequently confronted with incidents of student aggression. Little is known about the teachers' confidence in their ability to cope with these incidents or the nature and extent of their previous training to deal with interpersonal violence. Survey questionnaires sent to 311 teachers serving EH students requested demographic, factual, and attitudinal information about teachers coping with classroom aggression. The response rate was 57% (178). Results indicate a significant(p < .05) relationship between level of confidence and previous training in methods of coping with aggression. While there was almost unanimous agreement upon the need for such training as part of teacher preparation, the majority of the trained teachers had received relevant training through inservice workshops rather than university coursework, and 68% desired additional training. The need for competence in this area, action by preservice personnel, and components of such training are addressed.