Good Teaching Involves Good Discipline

The only people who think teaching is easy are those who have never taught. Like parenting, this task

is one of the most important jobs in the world, but it is not an easy one—there are many things that can go wrong. Working with young children can be one of life’s most enjoyable experiences, yet it can also become unbelievably frustrating. Educators with romantic notions about teaching often forget that it is impossible to have all children like you and what you are doing. Educating children means that, in addition to nurturing and supporting them, you must also frustrate them on a regular basis—for their own good and for the good of everyone. “Now it’s time to get to work. Now you must take a test. Stop teasing your friend. No, you can’t get a drink of water.” Over and over, firmness and gentleness are required. Unfortunately, when they are frustrated, kids do not usually thank their teachers for trying to discipline them properly. Instead, youngsters have an amazing, natural ability to confuse, sidetrack and aggravate the adults whom the kids see as responsible for their current distress. We call this “testing and manipulation,” and there are six basic types. Testing and manipulation can interfere with learning, eliminate fun, ruin relationships and destroy a classroom atmosphere. Repeat the “Drink of Water” scene above a thousand times and you have guaranteed misery. That’s no way for children and teacher to spend their time at school, and that is also why a teacher must have a discipline plan ready at the beginning of the year.