Republic of the Philippines

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Open University Systems
Lingayen, Pangasinan

The Classroom Problems Faced by a Teacher

at Baybay Elementary School
(a Case Study)

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements of
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP 2013
Teaching-Learning Environment

Mary Ann M. Sanchez

MaEd IL
October 28, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Findings/Discussions
4
Conclusions
Recommendations
Bibliography
Glossary

1
2
3
4

8
8
9
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to my

guide
Dr. Irmina B. Francisco, for her exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant
encouragement throughout the course of this study. The blessing, help and
guidance given by her from time to time, shall carry me a long way in the journey of
life on which I am about to embark.
I also take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to Aimee
Fernandez, for her cordial support, valuable information and guidance, which
helped me in completing this task through various stages.
I thank my husband, Dexter N. Infante, and my daughter, Amber, for their
constant encouragement, moral support, prayers, love and affection, without which
this assignment would not be possible.
Above all, to Almighty God for showing me the way in pursuing this goal.

Mary Ann M. Sanchez-Infante

INTRODUCTION
The classroom management and mastering order inside the classroom are
the most important factors in educational process and basic requirements. They are
considered the basic problems which face the teacher since teachers complain
about mastering the order inside the classroom, and it consumes much effort and
time, and they are considered as sensitive, important and critical factors for the
teachers success or failure in his tasks.
The concept classroom order point to the learners behaviour discipline
according to the followed systems and rules which facilitate the process of
classroom interaction towards achieving the planned goals. Glavin (2002) states
that the behavioral problems may appear as a result of: inappropriate skills which
students learn, choosing inappropriate time for learning, and the restricted learning
opportunities offered to students.
Teachers do not generally want to give control to their students. They are
instructed that the mark of a good teacher is the teacher who controls the class.
The amount of control that teachers have in the class is often seen by the
administration as a measurement of the quality of a teacher. Administrators are
usually happy if a teacher never sends a student to the office and interpret this as
proof that the teacher is in control and must be doing a good job.
There are many academic and behavioural problems regarding students that
face the teacher in the classroom and has direct impact on the teaching-learning
process such as: forgetting school tools, frequent absence, lack of attention, use of
cellphones or gadgets, hyperactivity, inappropriate talk in the classroom, vandalism,
disobedience, aggressiveness, refusal to do tasks and school works.
There is no instruction without any problems as long as the classroom has
different achievement factors and different personalities.

FINDINGS/DISCUSSIONS
Nowadays, teachers face many challenges such as: the spread of behavioural
and academic problems that threaten the educational system in most of the
schools. These problems have direct influence on the learning process. The
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researcher implements this study to review the classroom behavioural problems and
academic problems that is being faced by
a school teacher in Baybay Elementary School.
The reasons of academic and behavioural problems could be classified as follows
(Al-Alga 2006).
School Administration: It plays an essential role in classroom discipline
since the dictatorship and unactual laws and instructions of a school administration
may push students to challenge those laws and instruction and no commitment with
them, which finally reduces the opportunities of discipline and increases the
behavioral problems inside the classroom.
Teachers: They play a role in the classroom problems when they do not
make their objectives clear, and when they do not plan their teaching methods
earlier. When teachers follow traditional methods in teaching, this leads to students
getting bored, and stressed. This triggers the probability of classroom management
problems. A teacher who insists on a classroom full of activities, lead to humiliation
working and activity for the students will make the probability of classroom
problems due to classroom discipline.
Family: The family lifestyle and environment will put its mark on controlling
the behaviours of students. Some students behaviour can be unacceptable at
school. Also, the level of behaviour that is acceptable and allowed in the family, the
way the family acts with one another, leads the student to unacceptable
performance in the school. Parents indirectly share in creating problems when they
insist on their kids grades and achievements to be always high. These lead to
feeling of anger and worry, and create student behavioural problems inside the
classroom.
Students Mental Abilities: Teachers face in the classroom a group of
students who suffer from the slowdown, faltering and failure in learning and they
need more time than their colleagues need to accomplish any learning task. Such
students are characterized by a number of characteristics, including problems of
language, oral expression, and unable to pay attention, memory problems and the
dispersal of attention. In addition, teachers face another kind of problem in the
classroom of gifted students. They are a source of annoyance for the teacher and
students in the classroom since they talk without permission, and the ordinary
students are always jealous of them.

Major Issues faced by Teacher A.

1. ABSENTEEISM
Absenteeism, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary means chronic absence.
In the context of the school it is the habitual or intentional failure from going to
school. It cannot be denied that every now and then, students may miss some
school activities and lessons. But it becomes a problem if the student will be away
from school for many days.
Going to school regularly is crucially important for a students education and
social skills. Chronic absentee students are placed at a disadvantage both socially
and academically. They miss out on critical stages of social interaction and
development with their peers and at the same time impacts negatively on their
academic progress. This can result to low self-esteem, social isolation and
dissatisfaction that could well have precipitated non-attendance in the first place.
School absenteeism is an alarming problem for administrators, teachers, parents
and the society in general, as well as for the pupils in particular. Unaccepted
absence has a negative effect on peer relationship which could cause absence.
According to Malcolm, Wilson, Davidson and Kirk (2003) teachers identified effects
of absenteeism on children as: academic under- achievement, difficulty in making
friends which could lead to boredom, loss of confidence. Also, prolonged absence
can have deleterious effects for the child in later life. Students who are absent from
school are at the greatest risk of dropping out of school early.
Absenteeism also affects the teachers ability present class work in a sequential
and organized way. This can have an effect on the progress of all the students
attending the class.
The families of habitual absentees can also suffer. For a poverty-stricken family, it
may mean a continuation of the poverty and unemployment cycle that may run in
the family. This also contributes to family conflicts.
The society also suffers as the children of school age hang around in the
streets. They can be found just gallivanting around. Since they have nothing to do,
they resort to petty crimes like stealing other peoples belongings and properties.
Others may resort to drug addiction and other behavior that is detrimental to
society. Thus, if the student keeps on being away from school for too long, he may
grow up to be a liability of his community and of his country as a whole.

It is the aim of every school to lessen, if not eradicate absenteeism among its
students. One way of addressing this problem is to identify the causes why students
become truant from school. Once they are singled out, understood and analyzed,
specific actions and measures can be undertaken. This will eventually redound to
the better performance of the students, teachers and the school in general.

2. DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR OF STUDENTS

When a child is disrespectful to teachers or classmates, the first source to

consider is the behavior of the adults in this child's life. Children who aren't treated
with respect have no model for respectful behavior.
Self-respect is the other important aspect here. The teacher who passively allows
a child to belittle her or call her names isn't modeling respect for herself. She must
tell the child, "I won't continue to listen to disrespectful language," and then calmly
walk away. Please note that the teacher does not say, "I won't allow you to call me
names." The former statement clearly states what the teacher will do, not what she
will try to make the child do or not do. The difference is critical. With the first
response, the teacher shows respect and models self-control without trying to
control the student.
It is likely to produce improved behavior, especially if followed up with a dialogue
when both teacher and student are calm again. Contrast this response to lecturing,
blaming, and threatening, and then decide which response you would prefer if you
were the student. For another important clue to the source of this misbehavior,
consider how widespread the displays of disrespect seem to be. One wise
administrator said that if a classroom has two or three problem children, then there
are probably two or three children with problems; if a classroom has five, six, or
more problem children then there may very well be a problem teacher. A wise
university professor stated that all teachers have problems with students.
Conversely, all students have problems with teachers.
Every teacher knows that some classes are more difficult than others. Whatever
the situation, a teacher's best tool is control over his or her own behavior.

3. CELLPHONES IN THE CLASSROOMS

A recent survey indicated that 68% of students in grades 6-12 bring cell phones
with them to school on a regular basis. Most high schools set some sort of policies
regarding the use of cell phones on their premises. Some ban phones altogether.
While there are problems with the use of a cell phone in school, many
advantages to having one available exist. Schools need to weigh all factors involved
in use of cell phones in order to make wise and appropriate decisions. Parents and
students should decide together on the wisdom of taking the cell phone to school.
This is a partial listing of advantages and disadvantages of cell phone use in high
schools.
The first one is students may need to make arrangements for after-school
activities. They may want to go to the library or stay after school to consult with a
teacher about an assignment they don't understand. They can use a cell phone to
text or leave a voice mail explaining what they are doing so parents can better
coordinate with them.
It must be seen that the main reason by parents to let their children continue to
use cell phones is because of safety purposes. If they have the phones, it is easier
to reach them and even know where they are. It is also beneficial during emergency
situations when the child can either call for help or be located in case he or she is
gone missing.
It is good that most of the phones in the market today have what is known as
GPS capability for locating somebody through the cell in case of he or she is lost or
missing. These are some of the quite logical reasons why a child should be let be
with a phone.
A camera equipped phone can be used to take pictures and video related to
school projects or develop photo essays. Camera phones can be used to record
school events and field trips. They can prove quite useful for assignments involving
photographs, particularly anything going to the web. Just snap a shot with your
picture phone and use it for your web classes, which are becoming more and more
important these days. This is especially useful given that cell phone cameras are
getting better and better with time.
Cell phones can be a distraction in the classroom. Students whose minds wander
during a lecture or discussion may find the temptation of texting instead of listening
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hard to resist. They are also potentially a distraction to the class if the student
forgets to set their phone to vibrate rather than ring during calls. Even the vibration
can be distracting, and it does not take much for a teacher to lose their momentum.
Besides, picture phones and other applications such as calculator in particular can
be used to cheat on tests and quizzes. Take a picture of the test, send it to your
buddy, and get a text back with the answer. Or send it to someone who wants to
know what's on the test. The calculator function can be used to cheat on math
tests. The risk of potential cheating on academics is one of the main reasons why
students are not allowed to bring cellphone in school.
Cell phones allow students to communicate not just with students in other
classes, but also other schools and even adults that are not in the school
environment. There is the potential for social disagreements, and even
communication with an adult who is not approved by parents. It can lead to
students having episodes of being upset while a teacher is trying to conduct
lessons. Banning cell phones won't eliminate social break ups or disagreements, but
it can reduce opportunities for these kinds of issues.
Some students like to create bomb threats by calling emergency numbers on
their phones. They may try it in restrooms when no one is nearby. They might do
so between classes. This means that will put a delay for all the classes at school,
before an emergency team arrives. Once the students are accused for the threat,
they could get arrested and suspended.
With the prevalence of cell phones in high schools, it is important for students,
parents, teachers, and administrators to carefully consider how and when they
should be used. Policies need to take into account the advantages and
disadvantages of cell phones in various situations.

CONCLUSION
The problems in the classroom and schools in general, are considered one of
the most serious issues facing the components of the educational process such as
parents, teachers, educational administrators, and supervisors. These includes
frequent absence, lack of attention, use of cellphones or gadgets, hyperactivity,
inappropriate talk in the classroom, vandalism, disobedience, aggressiveness,
refusal to do tasks and school works. From the correspondents point of view, she
cited the top three problems she faces in her classroom which is absenteeism,
disrespectful behaviour of students and cellphones in the classroom, all of which are
behavioural in aspect that creates an impact in the teaching-learning process.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
In the light of the results of this study, the researcher recommends the following:
To increase cooperation between school teachers, administrators and the
different departments of education to reduce the behavioural problems that
faces the teachers in the classroom.
To train the teachers on how to deal with student behavioural problems,
especially in the adolescents, and cooperation between school administrators
and teachers to develop a number of school rules to discipline student
behaviour in the classroom and in the school in order to find a comfortable
physical environment for teaching and learning.
To develop a positive relationship between teachers, students and school
administrators.
Perform similar studies in the future to identify the problems in the classroom
from the students point of view.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Murcia, L. (2012) Action Research on Student and Pupil Absenteeism in School.
Retrieved from http://lorenmurcia.hubpages.com/hub/action-research-on-studentabsenteeism
Nelsen, J. et al (n.d) Disrespectul Behaviour, Positive Discipline. Retrieved from
http://www.positivediscipline.com/articles/disrspct.html
Problems Faced by Teachers in Classroom (2012) Adam the Teacher. Retrieved from
http://adamtheteacher.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/problems-faced-by-teachers-inclassroom/
The Pros and Conds of having Cellphones in High Schools (n.d.) Putnam County High
School. Retrieved from
http://www.pcschools535.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4e6037d2467b9

GLOSSARY

Absenteeism - frequent or habitual absence from work, school,

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 Academic Problems issues that are related to the work done in schools,
colleges, and universities, especially work involving studying and reasoning.
Behavioural Problems- problems or issues relating to any or all of the
activities of a person, including physical actions, which are observed directly,
and mental activity, which is inferred and interpreted.
Classroom Management- is a term used by teachers to describe the process
of ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly despite disruptive
behavior by students. The term also implies the prevention of disruptive
behavior.
Cellphones- (also known as a cellular phone, cell phone, and a hand
phone) is a phone that can make and receive telephone over a radio
link while moving around a wide geographic area.

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