Create a safe classroom environment

Olympia Sangcap Galang

There are many ways in support an abused child in school. This author is encouraging the teachers to create a safe classroom environment.

Let us make the school as a place where children rebuild their self-esteem, assert themselves, and see themselves as successful.

Teachers must have a high expectation from the abused children through honouring their strength and courage. It is important to set reasonable goals and to provide the support needed for the child to feel confident in his or her abilities.

Most of the time, abused children may feel powerless to control much in their environment. To handle this situation, they may refuse to even try to control what happens around them. Teachers should express disproportionate feelings whenever the abused children feel threatened. When these children fly off the handle with little provocation, they may be doing so to try to establish control.

Teachers should give accurate information and build trust to help the child feel a sense of control in a positive manner. Allowing expression of feelings when appropriate through art, music, drama, and/or creative writing will also help the child to feel less controlled by pent-up emotion.

Teachers can help by pointing out the child's strengths. We can motivate abused children by saying that they are hard worker, a good friend and they are fun to be with. This will help the abused child understand how others perceive him or her.

Abused children could gain a sense of personal identity by asking questions that help them formulate a position on issues, administering interest inventories, and teaching decision-making and problem-solving skills. These skills will assist in interpersonal relationships as well as in self-understanding.

Let us help them to develop self-esteem though helping them learn that they are valued, accepted, and capable by fostering an environment that honors each child's uniqueness.

Teachers should also appreciate the contribution of children in the completion of a classroom task. With this, they could foster the child’s sense of competency.

Let us help the abused children now. Maybe tomorrow is too late.

--oOo-

The author is Principal I at Mandili II Elementary

School in the Municipality of Candaba.