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Resilience
Avoiding and Navigating Power Struggles in the Classroom
Teachers can lead by example by treating students with respect.
Posted October 18, 2022 Reviewed by Ekua Hagan
Key points
- A power struggle is the use of threats, force, or coercion in response to a behavior.
- Frustration is a key reason for power struggles.
- Teachers need to remember to support, not control.
- Maintaining good rapport with students is vital for avoiding power struggles.
Every day in classrooms across the country, teachers and students clash, and what oftentimes results is a power struggle. This not only makes an already challenging situation even more difficult, but it can also escalate the emotion and frustration of the encounter to a point where any sort of resolution becomes much more difficult. Fortunately, there are some specific ways in which to manage a power struggle or, even better, avoid it altogether.
What is a power struggle?
A power struggle is an attempt to use threats, force, and coercion in response to challenging behavior. This can happen when a teacher begins to place demands on a student when the student’s behavior is starting to escalate or even when the student is in crisis. When teachers use expressions such as “Stop that now!” or “You better do what I say or else!” those are clear signs of a power struggle. The teacher and student are both asserting themselves to gain control over the situation and the other person involved in the struggle. It is, essentially, a sort of “co-escalation” between the student and teacher. When this occurs, it can trigger dangerous behavior that puts everyone at risk and creates obstacles for future teacher-student rapport. Engaging in a power struggle is almost always counterproductive.
Examples of power struggles may include physical intimidation, such as bullying, posturing, angry or upset facial expressions, getting uncomfortably close or moving too quickly; talking in a negative tone or being loud, angry, or sarcastic; making humiliating statements as a form of retaliation; making threatening statements that are excessive, inappropriate or aggressive; escalating criteria of success by increasing triggering demands upon the challenging behavior; and using unnecessary or unwarranted force.
Why do power struggles happen?
Frustration is a key element of power struggles. A classroom can, at times, be a frustrating place. In addition, both teachers and students may be experiencing various forms of frustration in their private lives that they cannot leave at the doorstep, and it ends up impeding the ability of teachers and students to successfully resolve issues with dignity and respect.
School districts should work hard to create a culture of support for all levels of staff. Such a culture teaches staff how to successfully identify a power struggle and engage in solutions and strategies that will work. Additionally, a multi-tiered culture of support both values and encourages staff resilience.
There are many successful alternatives to power struggles. At the outset, however, it is important for teachers to remember that their job is to support, not control.
Strategies for avoiding and navigating power struggles
Communicate respect and promote dignity. Teachers can lead by example when students are always treated with respect and dignity, no matter the situation. Being respectful is a key element of de-escalation; however, it also models correct behavior for the student. If the teacher cannot display good emotional self-regulation, it’s hard to expect the student to do better. When the teacher displays respect toward the student (even when the student is not behaving respectfully), the chances of avoiding a power struggle go up exponentially.
Build and maintain good rapport. When a teacher has a good rapport with students, it can be the difference between success and failure. Rapport supports teacher resilience and encourages a healthy and productive environment. With some students, rapport may be difficult to earn or difficult to maintain. There are always going to be those students who can make even the most “Zen” teacher feel insulted, irritated, or intimidated. The danger here is when teachers feel frustrated or provoked; this is when a power struggle typically ensues.
Q-TIP (Quit Taking It Personally). In other words, teachers need to manage their own emotional reactions. A student may be directing hurtful statements or even racial/gender-based slurs toward the teacher, but it’s not about the teacher; it is about the circumstances that surround the teacher. Awareness of personal triggers, understanding one’s own behavior, and being mindful of physical presentation can help teachers remove themselves from what may seem like a personal attack.
Provide choices. Providing two or three acceptable choices to a student is a powerful way to help teachers de-escalate a situation and circumvent a power struggle. Offering options can level the playing field and empower the student while enabling the teacher to still be in charge. An acceptable choice is one that the teacher would provide quickly if the student expresses a desire for it.
Pick your battles. Pick the battles big enough to matter, not small enough to win. Teachers should be aware not only of what they are asking students to do but also of why they are asking them to do it. Is it helping them meet their goals? Is it an important part of the curriculum? Is it contributing toward the productivity of the classroom? If not, why is the student being asked?
Reinforce desirable behavior. Teachers can work to replace challenging behavior with more desirable behavior by reinforcing that desirable behavior and withholding reinforcement from the challenging behavior. Teachers should put more focus on “good" behavior than on correcting “bad” behavior.
Simply be helpful. Teachers by nature are helpful, so it is important to not forget this while trying to avoid a power struggle. Students have all kinds of difficulties and teachers can play an important role in being supportive and lifting them up.
Give the person more time. Students who are having behavioral challenges may also be experiencing limitations in communication which will add to their frustration. Additionally, when situations start to escalate, language processing becomes more difficult. Teachers should be patient and give students enough time to process and even a little bit more time to decide what they want to do next.
Change staff. As a power struggle begins to build in the classroom, the situation may become too triggering, and it would be best to enlist the help of another teacher. It could be the student is mad at the specific teacher or there is not the rapport needed to alleviate a power struggle. This could be in the form of another teacher stepping in or even taking a break from working with the student.
