Classroom Conduct 101: The Missing Subject in Aussie Schools

How students behave in class is a big problem for teachers, principals, and everyone who cares about school results.

A study has found that nearly half of students felt their classrooms were noisy and disruptive. The other half were likely the ones making all the noise. As a recent comparison of countries found, Australia ranks near the bottom for classroom discipline making Australian students some of the worst behaved in the world.

Students aren’t the only ones struggling. Over 1 in 10 teachers reported that they have been intimidated or verbally abused by students.

But as Dr. Tim McDonald, an expert on classroom dynamics, points out a research paper for the Centre for Independent studies, “Student learning is an adult responsibility. The capacity for students to learn is determined by how well teachers manage their classrooms.”

Teaching kids how to behave in school will help them to learn better and it will help teachers to have a less stressful work environment. Learning isn't just luck; teachers must make a plan to foster a peaceful and welcoming classroom where everyone can learn.

But here's the problem: Teachers aren't taught how to manage their classrooms well when they're in university. To fix this schools should teach kids how to behave as part of their regular lessons. Just like students learn math or science, they should learn how to act appropriately in class.

Every student comes to school with different ideas about what ‘good behaviour’ is, so it’s up to teachers and schools to clarify what they expectations are for classroom behaviour. Teaching students how to behave will increase equity of learning and can help overcome disparities due to geographical location or family background.

Teaching behaviour should be just as important as teaching any other subject. So, in simple words, schools should teach students how to behave in a classroom, just like they teach other subjects. This will help students learn better and improve their school results.

Unruly and chaotic classrooms don’t have to be par for the course in Australian schools.

To learn more check out Dr. Tim McDonald ’s paper, Teaching Behaviour: How Classroom Conduct Can Unlock Better Learning, released on 28 September 2023. Dr. Tim McDonald is the CEO of the YMCA in Western Australia and subject matter expert to the federal government’s Engaged Classrooms Initiative which will develop practical resources for teachers on classroom management strategies, including routines and teacher skills.