Eductaional Issue

Discipline

The last presentation grabbed my attention right away and made me want to listen to what was being said. I found the material interesting in many ways and I also wrote down a few notes that I will use later on in my teaching.
I found myself asking questions as I watched the presentation a second time. What types of discipline works best for what age groups? Does it even make a difference? When using extrinsic rewards to help students follow rules, when should they be phased out to help the student move toward intrinsic motivation? I recognized right away when they mentioned that discipline and motivation go hand in hand. It makes perfect sense to use them together in a classroom.
The one thing that I did not know and that blows my mind is that corporal punishment is still legal in schools in just under half of the states. We are constantly trying to keep students from bullying each other, engaging in physical altercations on school grounds and generally treating each other with respect. And we don’t bother to eliminate a little law that says it is o.k. for the teachers to do to the students the very things we tell them not to do to each other. Freaky!
I feel like I will be using many different types of discipline in my classroom. The choice theory based on needs reflects nicely some of the beliefs of the special education system. Assertive discipline may be necessary for a few of my students that have already seen it all and do not respond well to anything else. Discipline with Dignity is great as the students feel a sense of control over their actions and the outcome of those actions that they may not have previously experienced. It can help to build a trust between a student and a teacher. Conflict resolution or peer mediation, I do not see me being able t use this type in my classroom, however it may be a good technique to use school wide.