Abstract
Teachers occupy a powerful and influential position in the classroom. This power can be used effectively to inspire student learning, or it can be misused and abused, resulting in a non-supportive, tense, and unpleasant learning environment. Because teachers are not beyond violating their classroom power, this chapter considers teacher-initiated deviance by synthesizing and reflecting on the myriad of characteristics that encompass teachers misbehaving when interacting with students. Some topics that dominate the literature include misbehaviors, bullying, norm violations, compulsive communication, verbal aggression, swearing, anger, biases, classroom management, and cultural insensitivity. This chapter not only defines and explains some of the many ways teachers engage in deviant communication and behavior in the classroom, but it also addresses how the deviance is menacing to the teacher-student relationship and can serve as a catalyst for student misconduct.