Blog Post #9

This is a very powerful piece to read. Coming from a family of teachers, and having worked with kids at a few different jobs, I have seen a lot of situations with children who Shalaby would call “canaries.” Shalaby’s idea that students who act out are not just “troublemakers,” but students who are actively being failed by their education system. I do not believe all students deemed “troublemakers” are “canaries” but there are still many situations where students are not given an equitable education. 

It has become more and more apparent to me throughout the years that many schools and teachers focus only on discipline and control over real connection with their students. Shalaby does a good job of reminding us that in many cases, a child acting out could be seen as a cry for help. That shift in perspective is so important because it changes how we respond to their misbehavior. Instead of trying to “fix” the child, we start to question what in our own system could be changed. 

Humiliating punishments are still seen in classrooms today

This text also carries an important message about how we should treat and look at neurodivergent students. These students are frequently misunderstood and disciplined for behaviors that reflect their brain processes. A child who fidgets, speaks out of turn, or struggles to sit still might be labeled as defiant, when in reality, they’re communicating discomfort or trying to regulate themselves. I personally struggle to sit still in class, and this was a bigger deal in my younger years of schooling, but is not anymore. 

We as future teachers should be challenging our current system. A quiet and orderly classroom is not the best place to learn for many students. Especially in early years, we should be inviting children to express their feelings and frustrations so that we can help them grow. The ideal classroom should give children the freedom to express themselves, while still giving important lessons.