School Refusal (Essay Sample)

School Refusal
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School refusal develops when a child or student tends to stop attending school for various reasons such as emotional distress or an illness such as headache. Research shows that most children refuse to attend school at the kindergarten level or during a transition from an elementary school to a middle school. Researchers also argue that untreated school refusal may cause consequences such as emotional disorders, family conflicts and poor academic performance (AAHE, 2001). The main objective of this summary paper is to describe the incident of school refusal focusing on the characteristics of children with habits of school in- attendance, signs of school refusal and possible intervention measures that could be used to help children who refuse to attend school. Information provided will be useful to teachers and parents.
Some common features of students with school refusal include fear of being separated by their parents, fear of taking exams or other school competition activities and fear of interacting with teachers and other students (Thambirajah et al, 2007). Other characteristics of children with school refusal include fear of bullying form fellow students, lack of interest in school activities and frequent health complaints. (Thambirajah et al, 2007).
Teachers should be keen to identify the signs of a child’s school refusal. Some of the sins include frequent visits to the school nurse, continuous complaints about school activities, and frequent in- attendance during important school days such as exam days (Thambirajah et al, 2007).Worrying about parents while in school is also a sign of school refusal. In this regard, teachers should be alert for any of the signs. Teachers should consult parents about their children’s fears. They should also offer support and advice regarding their school performance and fears (Thambirajah et al, 2007).
It is with no doubt that school refusal is a habit that develops gradually and if not treated early, it would lead to consequences such as poor academic performance. It is clear that both parents and teachers have a role to play in helping a child refrain from habits of refusing to attend school. Just like teachers, parents should talk with their children regarding their fe...