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Assertive DisciplineThe following is taken from: Classroom Discipline and Management by Clifford H. Edwards, John Wile & Sons, Inc.; 2000

ASSUMPTIONS FOR ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE

1. Students must be forced to comply with rules2. Students cannot be expected to determine appropriate classroom rules and follow them3. Punishment will cause students to avoid bad behavior and engage in good classroom

behavior4. Good behavior can also be encouraged can also be encouraged by positive

reinforcement5. For proper classroom management, parents and school administrators must help to

enforce rule.

Summary of Assertive DisciplineAssertive discipline is a system in which negative consequences are consistently meted out for rules infractions. Rules are determined by the teacher or other school personnel and given to students to be obeyed. The severity of punishments is increased when students persist in misbehaving. When students continue to misbehave, teachers can enlist the help of parents and the principal. Conferences with the principal or parents are held in an effort to force unruly students to change their behavior. In addition to rules and punishments, teachers should use a program of rewards to encourage students to behave properly in school. The best discipline program is one in which both rewards and punishments are given in proper balance.

Some research on punishment shows that it promotes resistance and rebellion on part of students. In addition, instead of eliminating undesirable behavior, it is likely to promote the very behavior it is designed to curtail. Punishment must be applied in very specific ways for it to be effective. Most teachers find meeting these application conditions nearly impossible to achieve.

CENTRAL IDEAS

1. Canter believes that teacher have the right too Establish classroom ruleso Insist that students follow the ruleso Receive help from parents and school administration in disciplining their students2. Being assertive is the key to discipline. Teachers must create and enforce rules

assertively to be successful in the classroomo Assertive discipline involves

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o Establishing ruleso Punishing students who violate rules3. Rewarding students for good behavior4. What Canter calls consequences is the same as punishment in the view of other

discipline theorists5. Punishment stimulates rebellion and usually promotes the very misbehavior it is

designed to eliminate

Strengths and Weaknesses of Assertive DisciplineStrengths

1. It is simple to use2. The personal desires of the teacher can be enforced3. It involves parents and administrators in the discipline process

Weaknesses

1. The practice of warning students by putting their names on the board may entice some students to misbehave who otherwise would not

2. Students angered by warnings and sanctions may go further in their rebellion than they ordinarily would

3. Students may be embarrassed by having their name on the board4. This approach fails to promote self-direction in students5. It fails to deal with the underlying causes of discipline problems, such as emotional

illness, divorce, poverty, racism, and so forth6. It advocates suspensions for extreme misbehavior when far too many children are out

on suspensions already7. Although Canter recommends using positive reinforcement while emphasizing negative

consequences, in actual practice, positive reinforcement may be excluded.8. Canter recommends strictly enforced rules in the cafeteria. Children frequently go to

fast-food restaurants for lunch without supervision and cause no problems. Perhaps schools could learn something from this fact

9. Negative consequences or punishment stimulates rebellion and promotes the very behavior it is designed to eliminate