| Character-based Discipline |
Character-based discipline:
Using rules and consequences to develop moral reasoning, self-control,
and a generalized respect for others.
Key Ideas
- Discipline must be a tool for moral growth, helping students to
develop self-control and a generalized respect for others. Discipline
without
moral education is merely crowd control — managing behavior without
teaching morality.
- Rules should be established in a way that develops moral reasoning
by helping students see the values (e.g., courtesy and caring) behind
the rules. The emphasis should be not on extrinsic rewards and punishment
but on following the rules because it's the right thing to do — respectful
of self and others. Research shows that emphasis on external incentives
undermines intrinsic motivation.
- Consequences of rule-breaking should contribute to character development,
helping students understand why the rule is needed and increasing their
feeling of moral obligation to respect it.
- The teacher is the central moral authority in the classroom, responsible
for students' moral and academic learning, safety, and general welfare.
While exercising authority, however, the teacher can invite students
to share responsibility for classroom order.
Strategies
- Especially at the elementary level, children need the experience
of helping to construct good rules for the classroom, so that they develop
moral insight into the necessity of rules (groups can't function without
them) and develop a commitment to following them.
- Students also benefit from helping to create at least some of the
consequences of rule-breaking. For example, what is a fair and educational
consequence for putting someone down? (Restitution is needed to repair
the damage done to the relationship.) The teacher can guide students
to see that good consequences do not have the purpose of making someone
suffer but are designed to help them gain control over their behavior
so they can participate effectively in the group.
- Time-out, like other character-building consequences, works best
when it helps students make a connection between their behavior and
the relevant rule or value, and make a plan to improve their behavior
in the future.
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