ABSTRACT
Effective teachers “defuse” potentially volatile situations in the classroom. In the case of Albert Wilson, Mrs. Adams “defused” the situation and did not take Albert’s behavior personally. Diane Adams could have chosen to display the same reaction to frustration as did Albert. She could have added fuel to the fire (that Albert had managed to spark) by allowing herself to be reduced to the level where emotions rule. She could have yelled at Albert, pointing out how disrespectful and rude he was being (which, of course, were his intentions to begin with). She could have ordered him out of the room, to the office, or chosen some other familiar course of action to which less effective teachers are accustomed. Thank goodness she didn’t!
