Discipline and Children

Discipline and Children

Disciplining children these days is like traversing a minefield. Doing it to your own children is tough enough, try being a teacher. My wife has to do this minefield tap dance on a daily basis. She has my undying respect. I deal with it on an occasional basis when I volunteer to do something in her classroom. It’s an education for me every time I do it.

The first time I had a run in with her students was about ten years ago. She was teaching third grade. Even back then budget cuts were severe and one of the first things to go was the art program. Having been a commercial artist for a while, I came in to teach basic drawing and how geometry relates to art.

My wife gave me the basic rundown on how to handle the crowd and she said she would be available if I needed any help. I told her I could handle it. Even if I couldn’t I wasn’t gonna let her know it. I was an officer in the Army Reserve for God’s sake. I wasn’t going to let a bunch of third graders get the best of me. Besides, I had a few tricks up my sleeve.

Most of the kids in her classroom were good but there are always a few trouble makers and they bring the whole group down with them. This class had one in particular.

Damien.

Yup, you got the name right. And he was named after the kid in the Omen too, one of his parent’s favorite movies. He was a troublemaker with a capital “T”. This kid looked like an angel and he’d snow you with his angelic face, and smooth lines, he had a really good act. Until he realized that I didn’t buy it. Then his look changed to something that to this day I can honestly say gave me a shiver and lead me to believe that I’ll be watching the news on TV someday and a story about him will pop up.

He disrupted the class to the point where I couldn’t get anything done. My wife was just about ready to intervene but I signaled her not to. This kid sat smugly knowing every right he had and I didn’t have and would feel triumphant if I broke down and sent him to the principal for some lame talking to that didn’t mean squat. I could see the other kid’s frustration with him so I stopped and addressed the class.

I told them that I really enjoyed coming to teach them art and asked if they wanted me to come back. They enthusiastically said yes. I said that it was a shame because Dr. D (my wife has a PhD) has a policy that if even one student acts badly in the classroom they all suffered and I couldn’t come back.

There was a silence throughout the classroom.

Then I suggested that maybe the class should have a talk with Damien at recess and see if they could solve the problem.

All the little heads turned and glared at Damien who was shrinking down into his seat trying to become as small as possible. My wife slapped her hands on the top of her head in disbelief at what I had just done and glared at me from the back of the room.

I started teaching again. Damien behaved perfectly but continually glanced over his shoulder.

I got an ear full later from my wife. My reply to her was and still is…

Peer pressure is good.