Discipline or Punishment

As Zohreh mentioned in her blog, "Discipline is different from punishment because it teaches students to learn from their mistakes rather than making them suffer." I agree with Zohreh that discipline is about setting limits with children and helping them identify inappropriate behaviour. Punishing a child in front of their peers humiliates a child. As a result of being punished a child will start to hate school and he or she won't want to learn. Teachers must be proactive by going through the classroom rules with the students so they know what is expected of them.

In our textbook "Classroom Management" Bennett and Smilanich state that, "There should be a class discussion of rules and for arrival at acceptance through some form of consensual process (page 207). Which would allow the students to be accountable for their behaviour in the classroom.

I feel it is important that a teacher wins over their students. Which will increase the chances that students respect and like you as a teacher (Classroom Management Page 214). From my personal experience I respected my teacher more when he or she was polite and demonstrated a personal interest in the students. As a result, students will be inclined to learn and not be a disruption in the classroom.

Finally, it is important that young teachers be assertive and deal with misbehaviour as soon as it happens. Otherwise, if the misbehaviour is not dealt with than it undermines a teacher's authority in the classroom. Punishment only leads to students hating a teacher and creates a hostile learning environment.

Written By: Sagar