Discipline constitutes the next important concern of teachers as part of good management. No matter how well-managed a learning environment is, students will occasionally misbehave.

• Discipline occupies the center stage in all learning activities. A classroom where good discipline prevails is most conducive to purposeful activities. Because of the important role that students’ behavior play in achieving learning objectives every school sets its own policies regarding maintenance of appropriate discipline. Schools differ in how they achieve and maintain good discipline.
• Discipline is the students’ responsibility. The students participate in formulating rules for their own behavior and they are expected to observe them. If they misbehave, the teacher accepts no excuses. They must be ready for the consequences.
• Discipline is the teachers’ way of establishing a desirable student-oriented environment for learning.
• Discipline is coupled with effective teaching strategies and techniques. A well-planned learning activity will go on smoothly with less interruptions caused by misbehavior.
• Discipline is achieved through the effects  of group dynamics on behavior. Individual behavior affects the group likewise the group’s expectations win the individual behavior.
• Discipline is believed to be the exclusive responsibility of the teachers. They have the right to insist on proper behavior. Good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is dealt with accordingly. It is termed ‘’assertive discipline.’’

Assertive discipline exercised mainly by the teachers may lead to an ‘’autocratic classroom’’ with no choice but to obey as ‘’set by the rules’’.

Classroom discipline taken as conglomeration of all kinds of responses and manners that are exhibited by a great diversity of learners is never entirely free from misdeeds, lapses or minor offenses. The kind of discipline achieved will depend on the students’ personalities, level of maturity and interests, at the same time on the pedagogical skill and managerial ability of the teachers.

By: Rose Angel Pacheco | T-I | Limay National High School