Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You take both students to the principal's office.
There are only two teacher aides working lunchtime supervision for over 200 students. If you were to focus too long on this situation, that would mean the other aide would have to take care of 198.
You want the students to see that you can't get away with violence. By setting the example, you feel that will lessen any future occurrences.
You talk with each of the students. After a few minutes, you realize that this can't be solved quickly, so you decide to send them to the office. You can leave the discipline in the principal's hands and continue with your lunchtime supervision duties.
"Lunchtime supervision is a time where you are required to use many of your skills as a teacher aide," says aide Jill Dykeman. "Sometimes you are first aid, sometimes a referee, and sometimes just a friend."
There will always be situations where the teacher would be better suited to handle the event. You have to be able to decide where to draw that line.