I set up boundaries and rules in my classroom; things i know they’re going to do, i don’t punish severely – it’s certain things that they know are beyond the pale… they know as they’re doing it that they’re crossing a line. When a kid lost a parent, even the worst kids didn’t cross that line. My kids all knew i don’t have kids of my own (not that i made it public… Things come out) and no matter jow many times they cursed me out, that was something no one thought of doing.
In another class, maybe some kids would – it depends on the circumstances.