One of the issues I find to be a little controversial is childrearing/discipline. This topic can be seen in so many different ways and ones views are based on things such as upbringing, parenting and education. There are many of us that were raised with corporal punishment as a norm. Those of us who were submitted to harsh discipline either believe in it, (spare the rod, spoil the child syndrome) or feel the opposite and would never subject our children to a harsh punishment. Once one starts parenting, sometimes they may have a change in their mindset one way or the other. Then there are those of us in the education field who want to believe and practice what we preach under the idea of what is best for the child.
Hitting children unable to defend themselves teaches them it
is okay for bigger people to hit on them and does little for their self-esteem.
Last week while speaking with a group of early childhood
teachers we discussed appropriate discipline in the classroom as opposed to
guidance. There was a lot of discussion
about being appropriate with the children, not threatening them and using
logical consequences. It can be a very
hard job for teachers who don’t fully believe that respecting the children and
talking with them will work when it comes to guiding them to the right
choices. Not only is it hard to apply,
they must also encourage it with their grandparent volunteers to practice while
interacting with the children. Also,
they must educate their parents and actively let them know they are mandated
reporters and there can be better ways of handling situations than harsh discipline.
So, I wonder which type of adult disciplinarian you are. Do you believe in punishment, logical
consequences, discipline or spankings?
Do you totally think harsh discipline is the worse act to guide a
child? Does your thinking flip-flop
depending on who you are dealing with? Some
educators may know all the right things to say, do and teach in an educational
setting but do not practice what they preach at home.
I know my work is not over with the center I am working with
but I now know they are having second thoughts when it comes to classroom
discipline.
