School discipline

From ArticleWorld

School discipline refers to the set of rules or code of conduct implemented within a school community. Students within a school community are expected to follow each code or rule. Deviation from such can result in the student being disciplined by the administration of the community.

Corporal punishment

Formerly, school discipline was doled out physically. The administrators of the discipline would often cause the student in question some sort of physical pain or exhaustion. From hitting and prolonged exercise to sleep deprivation and, in some cases, starvation, corporal punishment relies on physical pain to enforce rules and codes. Corporal punishment is no longer a legal form of discipline in American public schools and has disappeared from many private institutions as well. Unfortunately corporal punishment is still practiced in nations throughout the world.

Positive reinforcement

Today school discipline is promoted through positive reinforcement. A teacher is required to be assertive while promoting self-awareness. With positive reinforcement, punishment is usually swift and tailored to the infraction. Many find current forms of school discipline weak and assert that many schools allow students to do as they please. If teachers would assert themselves more effectively, many say that discipline issues would disappear.

Problems

Often times, schools do not maintain strict adherence to their own guidelines. Some students may be allowed to “get away with” a certain behavior while others are quickly admonished for the same. Schools that are not consistent and swift with punishment often lose the respect of its students and thus lose control. In addition, there are some administrators who use their position of power as a form of discipline. The abuse of their rank often disillusions students into breaking rules.