Specific strategies for working successfully with challenging parents
Parents are a vital source of support for our schools. School personnel interact with parents on a daily basis and fortunately, most of these interactions are pleasant and helpful, keeping students′ needs in mind. Instances of parental aggression, however, do occur. Volatile or confrontational parents present many unique challenges for educators who have long overlooked this important issue.
The Difficult Parent digs deeply into the problem of parental aggression, specifying strategies for a broad audience of educators. The guide is organized into three modules:
digs deeply into the problem of parental aggression, specifying strategies for a broad audience of educators. The guide is organized into three modules:
Comprehensive in scope, the RAID approach targets four steps to working successfully with difficult parents:
- Recognize the potential for a volatile encounter
- A ssess your ability to deal effectively with the situation
- I dentify your advantages
- Defuse the parent′s aggression during the initial approach and greeting
This effective, proven approach is based on real professionals′ mistakes and successes. Specially featured scenarios and anecdotes depict confrontational situations experienced by school personnel, including ‘from the trenches’ interviews with educators who have successfully implemented the RAID approach in their schools. A facilitator′s guide is also included for practical implementation of the RAID approach in the academic setting.
Table des matières
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Introduction
Part I: Parental Aggression Towards School Personnel
1. A Genuine Concern for School Personnel
Are Confrontational Parents a Pertinent Issue?
How Often Does Parental Aggression Occur?
Do Employees Have to Tolerate Parental Aggression?
Could Parental Aggression Affect Me?
Why Does the Topic of Parental Aggression Seem Obscure?
What Makes Parental Aggression a Unique Issue?
Questions for Discussion
2. The Reactive Nature of Education
The Effects of Reactivity
Is a Proactive Approach Necessary?
Why Does This Feel Funny?
Why Do Parents Become Hostile?
Questions for Discussion
3. Confrontational Parents and Your Colleagues
School Administrators
Teachers
Guidance Counselors
School Social Workers
School Health Personnel
Office Personnel
School Psychologists
Other School Personnel
Questions for Discussion
Part II: An Approach to Address Parental Aggression
4. The RAID Approach
What Have We Established So Far?
Seven Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the RAID Approach
Just Common Sense
A Schoolwide Approach to Parental Aggression
Brevity and Simplicity
Questions for Discussion
5. RAID Step One: Recognizing the Potential for a Volatile Encounter
To Meet or Not to Meet
When is it Too Risky to Meet With a Parent?
How Do You Say No?
The ‘Guilts’
Step One in Motion
Step One Summary
Step One Checklist
Questions for Discussion
6. RAID Step Two: Assessing Your Ability to Emotionally Handle the Situation
What Types of Issues Affect Our Emotions and Disposition?
Face Number Four
Early-Warning Colleagues
‘I′ll be Back’
Step Two Summary
Step Two Checklist
Questions for Discussion
7. RAID Step Three: Identifying Your Advantages
Advantages: What′s Available?
Workforce Advantages
Environmental Advantages
Step Three Summary
Step Three Checklist
Questions for Discussion
8. RAID Step Four: Diffusing Anger During the Initial Approach and Greeting
Observing the Parent
Approaching the Parent
Greeting the Parent
Setting Parameters
Step Four Summary
Step Four Checklist
Questions for Discussion
9. Putting the RAID Approach to Work
Case #1: Mrs. Winslow
Case #2: Mrs. Cananski
Summary
Questions for Discussion
Part III: Issues, Questions, and Installation
10. The Worst-Case Scenario … and After
After the Confrontation
I Gotta Unload: The Importance of Debriefing
Summary
Questions for Discussion
11. Four Great Questions
What If a Parent Becomes Aggressive and a Student Is in the Vicinity?
What If a Parent Confronts a Staff Member Off Campus?
Which Staff Member Plays the Most Important Role in the RAID Approach?
How Do You Handle a Parent When He or She Returns to the School?
Questions for Discussion
Resource A: Traumatic Stress Reactions Questionnaire
References
Facilitator′s Guide
Who Should Use This Guide?
Who Should Receive a ‘RAID Approach’ In-Service?
When Should The RAID Approach Be Installed?
How This Guide Is Organized
What Materials Are Necessary?
Materials for Facilitators
Materials for Participants
Module One
Task One: Introduce the Issue of Parental Aggression
Task Two: Identification of Previous Staff Interactions With Aggressive Parents
Task Three: Identify the Possible Effects of Parental Aggression on School Personnel
Task Four: Establish the Value of a Multidisciplinary Approach to Parental Aggression
Module Two
Task One: Introduce the RAID Approach
Task Two: Explain Step One: Recognizing the Potential for a Volatile Encounter
Task Three: Explain Step Two: Assessing Your Ability to Emotionally Handle the Situation
Task Four: Explain Step Three: Identifying Your Advantages
Task Five: Explain Step Four: Diffusing Parent Anger During the Initial Approach and Greeting
Module Three
Task One: Solicit Feedback Regarding the RAID Approach
Task Two: Identify Roles and Responsibilities
Task Three: Discuss Worst-Case Scenarios
Task Four: Establish a Debriefing Mechanism
Overhead #1
Overhead #2
Overhead #3
Overhead #4
Overhead #5
Overhead #6
Overhead #7
Overhead #8
Overhead #9
Index
A propos de l’auteur
Charles M. Jaksec III has served as a school social worker in The Hillsborough County School District for 21 years and has been a member of the district’s crisis intervention team for 18 years. He serves as the chairperson of the district’s Bullying Committee and is a member of the district’s Violence Prevention Committee. Jaksec is the author of The Difficult Parent: An Educator’s Guide to Handling Aggressive Behaviors (Corwin Press 2004) and The Confrontational Parent: A Practical Guide for School Leaders (Eye On Education, Inc. 2003). He speaks nationally and locally on the topics of school crisis intervention and parental aggression. Jaksec has a master’s degree in counseling services from Slippery Rock University, and an educational specialist degree in counselor education and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Florida.
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