Discipline without anger or tears

Dereck Jackson is a well-known educationist who is much in demand as a guest lecturer at schools, universities and teachers' training colleges. He also frequently lectures to parent groups and extensively in the corporate world, on motivational and management topics.

Without discipline, the classroom would soon disintegrate into a rule-by-mob situation with all the negative side-effects this implies. Why then is a teacher often insecure and nervous about maintaining discipline, although he believes it to be necessary?

Discipline without anger or tears will help a teacher to exercise effective control and create a happy atmosphere in the classroom.

To implement discipline, the teacher has to attend to:

• Personality factors that determine relations with colleagues, pupils and parents.
• Management skills, including the delegation of tasks and the organising of pupils on an individual and group basis.
• The necessity for rules and motivation.
• The adoption of specific disciplinary models to cope with disruptive behaviour.
• The application of punishment, if necessary, in a constructive and just manner.

Discipline gives children a sense of security and safeguards a teacher's sanity. Discipline without anger or tears will make the task of the teacher, whether a born leader or not, easier.