Teaching Emotionally Handicapped Adolescents

An efficient teacher attitude is necessary in educating emotionally handicapped adolescents, including the ability to convince students that their problems can be overcome, that every student has some asset upon which to build, and that the classroom can be an enjoyable place. Effective teaching is a performing art and can be learned. The teacher must be able to control tension in the classroom; enlist the aid of students; admit mistakes without excuses; use school work as therapy; communicate interest to students; have the strength of character to maintain order, not as the originator of rules of decorum but merely their enforcer; and be prepared for physically dangerous behaviour. Finally the teacher, administrator and the university as a training facility must all assume some of the responsibility for educating emotionally handicapped adolescents.