What Happened to Self Control?
I am a HUGE football fan – especially college football. I grew up in Nebraska and love the Cornhuskers. Living in Texas now gives me a large number of teams to choose from, but I love the Baylor Bears almost as much as the Huskers!
The 2024 football season is different than any year in the past. Granted, a new twelve team playoff system was added, increased use of the transfer portal, and the creation of NIL money being paid to college athletes is all different. While these changes definitely changed the face of college football, I am referring to something much more concerning.
August 24 – during the SMU-Nevada game, an SMU player spit on a player from Nevada. September 21 – during the North Carolina-Clemson game, an NC player spit on a Clemson player. It was reported later that the Clemson player spit first, so the NC player spit back in retaliation. October 12 – there were two spitting incidents. An Oregon player spit on a player from Ohio State. Then a Memphis player spit on a player from University of Southern Florida.
Fans get Involved
Fans show displeasure and frustration by pelting objects onto the field from the stands. October 19 – Trash and water bottles is thrown on the field during the Texas – Georgia game causing a delay while the trash was cleaned up. October 25 – during the Ohio State-Nebraska game, fans also threw trash on the field after a targeting call.
Total Chaos
On November 30, six of the rivalry games included fights on the field. Alabama vs. Auburn, Ohio State vs. Michigan, North Carolina State vs. North Carolina, Florida vs. Florida State, Arizona State vs. Arizona, and Houston vs. Brigham Young University all had upset players throwing punches. Several of these outbreaks occurred because of players not “respecting” the midfield team logo. The police were even forced to use pepper spray to stop the fighting at Ohio State.
What is Happening?
I ask myself each week, what is happening? Why do we have 18-23 + year olds spitting on each other and fighting over an outcome they do not like? I believe the answer comes from a complete lack of self-control. Our children are raised by social media, video games, TV sit-coms and advertising. They are taught by media that they “deserve” what they want. They are told that if they “want” something, they can have it – a new car, the body shape they desire, a paycheck on their timeline. Everything is instant. Buy now – pay later. Just take a pill – no need to change lifestyle.
How Does This Impact Classrooms?
All of this moves into the classroom and the effects can be devastating! Teachers are expected to teach massive amounts of content simultaneously dealing with students who lack self-control. Of course, not all of our students fall in this category, but the chaos created by the increasing number of students who display these behaviors affect the entire learning experience.
Children, today, are masters at getting us to take the “debate bait”. They are quick to comment, for example – “Why are we doing this?”, “This is boring”, “Mrs. Smith doesn’t do it this way”, and the list goes on and on. Time to Teach incorporates powerful strategies to help teachers squelch these disruptions with confidence and respect. The proactive strategies will eliminate 80-90% of these low-level behaviors that interrupt learning everyday. These are not gimmicks like marbles in a jar or marks on the board, but research-based, practical, proven strategies tested in classrooms for the last four decades.
If you are tired of giving up valuable teaching time dealing with constant interruptions, please contact me. I offer powerful Classroom Management training and resources that will eliminate multiple warnings and repeated requests, motivate your students, and ensure maximum student success.
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