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Why Do Educators Resist Change?

Barbara Kaiser, MA

November 26, 2018

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Question

Why do educators resist change?

Answer

Often, teachers will resist change for various reasons. Some of these reasons include:

  • Changes that are sprung on teachers without notice
  • Not knowing enough about the change; not seeing a reason for it
  • Feeling that changes are being done to, rather than done by them
  • Concerns that change will require them to question familiar (and comfortable) routines and habits
  • Change implies that the former way of doing things was wrong
  • Educators question their ability: Can I do it? How will I do it?
  • Change in one area can disrupt other projects or activities, even ones outside of work
  • Change often increases workloads
  • Lack of information

When making changes, it is so important to work with teachers. We need to reassure teachers that making changes doesn't mean that what they were doing before was wrong. Find out what supports the teachers need so they can make a change and not feel overwhelmed by it. Share information in staff meetings. When you attend a workshop or take professional development or read articles, share what you learn with colleagues so they can make that information their own.

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Supporting Teachers in Addressing Challenging Behavior: A Team Approach, by Barbara Kaiser, MA.


barbara kaiser

Barbara Kaiser, MA

A graduate of McGill University’s Master's Program in Educational Administration, Barbara Kaiser, MA has been working with early childhood educators, children, and their families for over 35 years. She is the co-author of Challenging Behavior in Young Children: Understanding, Preventing and Responding Effectively, 4th Edition (2017), and is presently working on a new text, The Administrator’s Role in Supporting Staff, Children, and Families When Challenging Behavior Occurs, (NAEYC), which is expected to be available early winter 2021. She has taught part-time in the Faculty of Education at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec and Acadia University in Nova Scotia.

In addition to presenting workshops and keynote speeches on the topic of challenging behavior and related issues in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, and Mauritius, Barbara was the chief consultant for Addressing Youth Violence: An Intersectoral, Integrated Approach for Western Nova Scotia, and designed a webinar series and guide to help teachers and administrators reduce and respond to bullying behavior for the Nova Scotia Department of Education. She also helped to develop teacher training video programs focused on managing children’s challenging behavior, Challenging Behaviors: Where do we begin? with Family Communications Inc. and Facing the Challenge, with Devereux Center for Resilient Children, (DCRC). 


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