There is a type of learner who comes to school in their early days in a rude manner. The learner arrives crying, trying not to separate from their father or mother, refusing to enter the classroom, attempting to return home, and using many excuses and trivialities. They may even go so far as to be disrespectful to the teacher or a school staff member who intervenes to convince them to join their classmates. This situation can last for days, months, or even until the end of the school year, especially in the first year of primary school.
The only reason that makes the learner refuse to join their peers in the classroom during their first year of primary school is pampering and their failure to be psychologically prepared to leave the cocoon of home – their private world, which they know nothing else beyond – and enter the world of school, which is a mini version of the real world, where they learn responsibility and the basics of living independently.
The responsibility for this situation lies primarily with the caregiver, whether it is the mother, father, or others whom the learner trusts during this stage of their life. Therefore, an additional responsibility falls on the teacher, with a new task to integrate this school-resistant learner into the school's internal system and the overall learning process.
I want to clarify that the task of integrating the school-resistant learner is not solely the teacher's responsibility. The caregiver who brought them on the first day and who welcomes them at home every day after school has a crucial role in the success of the integration process. The caregiver should avoid opposing the teacher's decisions concerning this learner, especially the strict ones, and should not interfere with what the teacher does. The most important thing is not to speak ill of the teacher, especially in the presence of the school-resistant learner, as this could break the image of the teacher in their mind, making them more averse to school and trying to evoke sympathy from those around them while refusing to comply with what the teacher asks them to do.
As for the teacher, they must use a "silk hand in an iron glove" with this particular learner. This means they should joke with them and encourage them in everything related to the lessons they are receiving, much more than they encourage the other classmates. This will help the learner feel the teacher's love and excessive attention toward them, as well as their preference over the other classmates. On the other hand, the teacher must deal with them harshly and mercilessly when they make mistakes, and should avoid forgiving them, because forgiving them at the moment of error makes the mistake a habitual action for them, leading to its repetition whenever they wish.
The hardest thing for the teacher to do is to try to walk a very careful line in dealing with this school-resistant learner. The teacher must use harshness to instill the classroom's internal rules and impose them forcefully to break their rebellion. At the same time, the teacher should bring the learner to a point where they realize that the teacher loves them as long as they adhere to the rules of conduct, whether with the teacher, classmates, or others.
However, to avoid the phenomenon of the "school-resistant learner," I found that the "Grade Power Learning" site, which I visited in the British capital – London, and spoke with the people in charge of it, explained the psychological preparation process that the caregiver/educator must undertake to help the new learner join school without problems. They summarized it in the following points:
Encouraging the learner to be successful in the future, clarifying that school is the only way to achieve all their dreams.Talking about the positives of learning in school and showing great joy at the beginning of studies, emphasizing that school is an excellent place to spend time with teachers and classmates.Emphasizing the importance of the learner respecting the teacher and listening to them.Organizing time and discipline, setting aside time for recreational activities.Waking up early and avoiding electronic devices as much as possible before bedtime.Paying attention to personal hygiene and the quality of food as a form of motivation.