Children With Emotional And Behavior Disorders

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The inability of teachers to manage behavior problems in the classroom is rated the most serious problem facing teachers (U. S. Department of Educaiton). Many years ago, children with emotional and behavior disorders were believed to be possessed by a demon and therefore the problem of clergy. It was up to the holy man to cure them. Over time, the school system has assumed the greater responsibility for their treatment. Parents and professionals looking for the reasons that some children have externalizing disorders need to examine an array of potential influences that include the individual’s family factors, societal influences, biological makeup, and cognitive ability.
It is not easy to define emotional and behavior problems in children. The federal definition of Emotional and Behavior Disorders is a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects educational performance:
A. An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors
B. An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.
C. Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances
D. A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression
E. A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems
F. The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance.
Although, this definition attempts to give guidance to education professions, it still falls short in that it places all the responsibility on the child and none on the environment in which the child is educated or reside...

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...affect the treatment of the child. The parents are experts on their own child and on their child’s feelings and behavior. They are case managers, policy makers, teachers, and legislative advocates. The professionals are experts in such general fields as special education, mental health, and should be experts in the diagnoses the child has received. Their responsibility is to ensure the parents have the latest research and information that will attempt to understand the misbehavior and provide positive behavior support. The teachers’ role in the partnership is to assist the student in assuming responsibility for their behavior rather than being externally “forced” to change by various external controls. Through self-management, students will gain increasing awareness, competence, and commitment to eliminating negative behaviors and acquire new constructive ones.

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