Quote:
Originally posted by Sir Michael:
From Magik:
quote:
Good luck in teaching kids who know they have nothing to fear from you and who know you cannot discipline them....not an enviable position to be in, in my view.
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Why can't I discipline them, Magik? Yeah, we're not allowed to touch (as in hit) them, but my parents didn't believe in that anyway. Punishment is effective only in very short term situations anyway. It undermines intrinsic motivation, and creates a sense of fear and hatred and desired revenge in the classroom, all of which are not conducive to an effective learning environment. The days of the teacher relying on an overbearing personality and domination of the classroom in a test of wills and carrying out threats with corporal punishment are long gone. They are replaced with new theories of classroom management and classroom discipline, based on structure, mutual respect, giving kids choice, and meeting their needs. Logical consequences (as in: a student writes on desks, he gets to clean them) of actions are used instead of punishments. My favorite system actually uses a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators for students, and is called the SCORE system.
Success
Curiosity
Originality
Relationships
Energy
The important thing to remember is that the teacher is more intelligent and more educated than the students, and should act as such. Objective management and discipline in the classroom are the keys to successful learning. Besides, I don't believe in violence, and hitting kids to punish them is the easy way out for parents who are too lazy to figure out a better way to discipline them, IMHO.[/QUOTE]I will differ with you over the idea that "punishment" is only effective short term. Weak and ineffectual punishments yes, but strong and properly applied punishments and rewards has worked quite well all thoughout history. I also will never be convinced that PAIN is not natures most effective teaching tool, however I would hope that by the time kids get to school they would be better behaved than to require corporal punishment...altho this is not a popular view these days, it did get us to this point. My kids were spanked when they were younger and now at age 8 and 11 it isn't an issue. No they aren't perfect but they no longer commit offenses that require that level of punishment and know how to earn the rewards. [img]smile.gif[/img] Im a hard daddy but a good one....but the real kicker will be to see how they handle puberty and their teens.....I will see for sure then.
I want to also say that the idea that fear of punsihment by authority in a child is not such a bad thing. I can't know what is in anyone elses mind but I know what I went through as a kid and fear of doing something that would tick off my father was a STRONG motivator for me and for my friends judging from my discussions witht hem growing up. Terror no...fear yes, I want my son to have a smidgie of fear of me when he thinks about experimenting with drugs or doing something equally stupid.
[ 05-15-2002, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]