Discipline Made Gentle

Abstract

Although I see some good in the new movement and I believe in discipline for every kind of classroom, whether open, basic, or somewhere in between, nevertheless I believe that classroom discipline should be made as gentle and innoffensive as humanly possible. To me, such a policy represents classroom application of the Golden Rule: Teachers should aim to treat their students in ways they themselves would wish to be treated if the roles were reversed. Thus, teachers need to search within themselves for feelings, sensitivities, and reactions they would have if they were students in their own class and then tailor their disciplinary procedures accordingly. If this were done, I believe teachers would work to establish a climate of mutual respect within the class and attempt to maintain a dignified and gracious posture with students even under trying circumstances. I also believe that, under pressure from misbehaving students, such teachers would use disciplinary small arms before bringing to bear any disciplinary big guns. Now that I have cast my vote in favor of gentle discipline, what of the troubled teachers who are asking