Question

I am so frustrated. Since face-to-face classes resumed, I have been so
stressed and it seems as if the students have returned worse than before the
pandemic. Firstly, my class of 35 students is only 15 at the start of the lesson each
day. In fact, at no time do I have more than 25 students in my class. At least 10
are missing on any given day. So many of them arrive late, and it seems to be the
same set every day. When they get to class, they ask me to reteach what they
missed or ask their friends to explain what was done. If that was not bad enough,
some of them come in and do absolutely nothing for the entire time, except chat
with their friends. No matter what I say to try to motivate them, they do not show
any interest in the lesson. Their attitude to toward school was not great before the
pandemic and it is worse now that they have returned.
Speaking of their attitude, I have never experienced so many fights in a day
in all my years of teaching. It seems as if for no reason at all, something leads to
an argument, which then escalates to an all-out war in my class. They argue and
fight about whose seat it is, who had the ruler first, whose answer is correct, or
some other ridiculous thing. It’s just crazy.
The thing that bothers me the most is that more than half of the students in
my class are performing below the school’s pass mark. I write the notes on the
board, I print worksheets, I give homework, which they don’t do and no matter
how angry I get and how much I shout at them after a test, they perform just as
bad or even worse on the next test. They just don’t care. When the supervisor and
principal see their low grades, it will appear as if I am a bad teacher.
I really need your help. I am about to lose my mind.
Describe THREE undesirable behaviors being faced by the teacher, and using the theory of B.F. Skinner justify a possible cause of each.

Answer 1

The teacher is facing several undesirable behaviors in the classroom, and we can identify three specific behaviors along with a justification based on B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory.

1. **Chronic Absenteeism and Tardiness**:
- **Behavior**: Many students are frequently absent or arrive late to class. On any given day, 10 or more students are missing from a class of 35.
- **Skinner’s Justification**: According to Skinner, behaviors are influenced by their consequences. In this case, students may be receiving positive reinforcement for skipping class or arriving late, such as additional time to socialize with friends or avoid academic pressure. If the negative consequences of being absent (like missing lessons) are not significant enough to deter this behavior, they may continue to prioritize socializing over attending class.

2. **Disengagement and Lack of Motivation**:
- **Behavior**: When students do attend class, many display a lack of interest in the lessons, choose to do nothing, and engage in chatting with peers instead.
- **Skinner’s Justification**: Skinner’s theory suggests that behaviors that are not reinforced will likely diminish over time. If students do not perceive any immediate rewards for engaging with the lesson (such as praise, good grades, or a sense of achievement), they may choose to disengage, opting instead for social interaction that they find more rewarding. If the teacher’s motivational efforts do not yield positive reinforcement, the students have little reason to change their behavior.

3. **Increased Aggression and Fighting**:
- **Behavior**: There is a notable rise in fights and arguments among students, often over trivial matters.
- **Skinner’s Justification**: Aggressive behaviors can sometimes be reinforced if students continue to receive attention (even negative attention) from peers or adults when they fight or argue. Skinner would argue that if these aggressive outbursts result in heightened attention, social status, or a response (even if that response is punitive or disciplinary), the behavior may be reinforced, leading to its recurrence. In a chaotic environment, some students may resort to fighting as a way to navigate social dynamics or establish dominance.

### Conclusion
Understanding these undesirable behaviors through the lens of B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning emphasizes the importance of reinforcement and consequences in shaping student conduct. To address these issues, the teacher might consider implementing more structured reinforcement strategies to promote positive behavior, increased engagement, and effective classroom management techniques to minimize disruptions and foster a more constructive learning environment.