ABSTRACT
Just reading the heading above will bring to mind immediately a particular student or, in some cases, groups of students. Simply looking at the timetable is sufficient to put many teachers and support staff into reactionary mode. It is easy for some teachers to allow themselves to be drawn into an adversarial style of arguing to try to maintain credibility. Teachers are role models and should be able to distance themselves from confrontation and use their skills to guide and help the student. The student who intends to have the last word or is prepared to attempt to argue with the teacher will be focusing primarily on their own responses and the effect they are having on both the teacher and other students in close proximity. In this situation the teacher needs to be able to assess the problem quickly, use a well-practised self-calming technique and focus on a scripted response.
