The Role of Positive Discipline in the Classroom

Dino Manuel E. Prestado

Teacher III, Nabua National High School

Psychologists believe that learning is best achieved when learners are enabled to
reach their potentials in an environment where they find learning conducive. In the past,
learning is a rigid practice where the teacher serves as the sole authority in the classroom.
All his/her acts are considered beyond questioning even by parents. Discipline is instilled
in such a way that students are forced to follow rules strictly. At some point, physical
contact between the teacher and students is used to reinforce discipline. This, however,
proved to be too crucial that it somehow imparts a negative effect to some, if not most,
learners.

In the Philippines, Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and
their Children Act of 2004 was passed to protect women and children from the negative
effects of all forms of violence – be it physical, verbal, emotional or otherwise. For its part,
the Department of Education issued DepEd Order No. 40 s. 2012 to promote a zero-
tolerance policy for any act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying
and other related offenses. The child protection policy has established corporal
punishment as improper and illegal. Corporal punishment pertains to any kind of
punishment or penalty imposed for an alleged or actual offense, which is carried out or
inflicted, for the purpose of discipline, training or control, by a teacher, school
administrator, an adult, or any other child who has been given or has assumed authority
or responsibility for punishment or discipline.

As such, some teachers have reacted negatively towards this provision which they
believe, would deter them from carrying out appropriate disciplinary actions for students
who are misbehaving. But, what exactly should teachers do to instill discipline among
students, especially those in the junior high school? Teachers should take into
consideration that junior high school students, who are aged 13 to 16 are at the peak of
transition from children to young adolescents. Thus, their mindsets, behavior, frame of
thinking are much more different than teachers who are full-pledged adults.

This is where the role of positive discipline becomes visibly important. Positive
discipline is a more effective way to manage misbehaving students in the classroom. It
allows students to learn and adapt their behaviors to meet expectations in the classroom,
while simultaneously teaching them how to make better choices in their path to adulthood.
How can positive discipline be implemented in the classroom and be instilled in our
students? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are many types of
positive discipline and whatever technique is used to prevent or minimize misbehavior will
only be effective if: a) both the student and the teacher understand what the problem
behavior is and what the expected consequence is for the misbehavior; b) the appropriate
consequence is consistently applied every time the misbehavior occurs; c) the manner
you deliver the technique matters; and d) it gives the student a reason for a specific
consequence to help them learn.

The impact of discipline on students can be very detrimental, from inducing emotional or
physical pain to not being effective in reducing future misbehaviors. In most cases,
using punishment or rewards is not needed, as the majority of problems or
misbehaviors can be dealt with using positive discipline.