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Introduction

The topicality of the problem examined is of high importance and will remain so. The term education is closely connected with the ideas of discipline and misconduct. Every act of education could not be held without the cojoint discipline. As the problems of classroom discipline arise the steps should be taken to cope with them. The paper is dedicated to classroom discipline and the problem of misconduct.

The object of the research is children’s misbehavior.

The subject of the research is the problem of classroom discipline.

The aim of the research is to define ultimate ways to maintain discipline.

The following tasks were used to reach the aim:

• to describe the main discipline issues

• to give practical hints for teachers on classroom discipline

• to describe the reasons of problem of misconduct

• to analyze the problem of classroom discipline

• to present the approaches to solving the problems of discipline and misconduct.

In the term paper the following methods of research were used:

• analyses of literary resources;

• generalization;

• systematization;

The structure of the term paper is the following:

The first part of the paper is called “classroom discipline”. The main ideas of discipline and disciplined classroom were disclosed and practical hints were given to deal with classroom discipline problems.

The second part was an analysis of the discipline issues. Approaches to deal with misconduct in the secondary education system were introduced. Effective and ineffective disciplinary practices were examined.

In the end the conclusion was made.

Part 1. Classroom discipline

1.1. Some ideas of discipline and a disciplined classroom

Students are priceless assets and most essential elements in education. It is absolutely necessary to direct students to exhibit acceptable attitude and behavior within and outside the school. In an attempt to achieve an organized and peaceful school environment and maintain law and order, school management specifies rules and regulations to guide the activities of members of the educational organization. Student’s discipline is a prerequisite to almost everything a school has to offer students. In schools where discipline is a serious problem, for example, where students bully others, parents can transfer their children to ‘better’ schools. And because the well behaved usually perform well , their transfer can affect the overall performance of that school. Troublesome students can sometimes make teachers react emotionally to the extent of using punishment. But punishment, instead of curbing behavior, can aggravate it. Punishment does not discourage misbehavior but rather reinforces the pupils’ view of adults as treacherous” .

Child’s discipline is a part of socialization. With recent increase in school enrolment, students discipline problems are bound to accentuate and cause more burdens on teachers and school administrators. Students’ indiscipline has plagued schools leading to series of unrest. It is observed that students resort to unconstitutional measures in channeling their grievances; and it is not unusual that schools have been blamed for the awkward and uncivilized behavior demonstrated by the students. This situation has been a major concern to parents and those in the school community who suggest that disciplinary strategies be applied by teachers and that rapport be created between students and teachers as a systematic way to solving the problems.

In the school system, discipline is necessary for the effective management, if the goals of the schools are to be accomplished. It is an element of managerial tasks that involves the measurement and correction of the performance of the subordinates to make sure that the objectives of the academic industry and plans desired to attain them are accomplished. Discipline in school organization includes any rational approach used by teachers to overcome the problems of the school environment .

To bring about effective discipline of students, the school formulates a set of rules to guide the conduct of students. The power of teachers to discipline students in the school stems from the doctrine of teachers acting in in loco parentis, that is, on behalf of the parents with respect to the education of their children. The doctrine of in loco parentis had been based on the assumption that by sending their children to school parents agree to delegate to school officials the power or parental authority to control their children’s conduct in a manner that will be of best interest to the child. This situation is changing because parents however, agree that when the concept originated, education was voluntary and personal, the parent voluntarily committed the child to the authority of a teacher who usually spent the entire day with the child either in classroom or school thereby, developing something akin to parent/child relationship with the pupil .

Today, most teachers instruct children for only part of the day to have fewer opportunities to form class relationship in large classes and schools. There are alleged cases of teachers being threatened by students in course of discharging their lawful duties. In some cases, the attacks have been violent. In the midst of these problems, there is a growing debate over the declining standard of education due to incessant students’ unrest and the attendant blame on teachers. Whatever the case, it is obvious that the indiscipline in Ukrainian secondary schools is a matter that should be of concern to every individual who has the interest of the youths at heart. This paper therefore, points out that apart from imparting knowledge and facilitating student learning, teachers are expected to maintain security and order in their classrooms . Thus, the issue of student conduct is a factor in their job satisfaction and they can resign from the profession if students’ misbehavior is unbearable .

Students’ misconduct is not only a nuisance to teachers; but the whole society also gets concerned. In the light of the above, the paper will address teachers’ disciplinary approaches such as imposition of corporal punishment, suspension and expulsion, and some civil right issues .

School discipline is an essential element in school administration. This is because discipline is a mode of life in accordance with laid down rules of the society to which all members must conform, and the violation of which are questionable and also disciplined. It is seen as a process of training and learning that fosters growth and development. The aim of discipline is therefore, to help the individual to be well adjusted, happy and useful to his society. The doctrine of school discipline according to Charlton is based on the concept of “loco parentis” which allows school authorities full responsibility for children’s upbringing, the right of discipline and control. In effect, teachers have the right to punish students who contravene school laws. Discipline refers to a systematic instruction given to a disciple, a student. To discipline means to instruct a person to follow a particular code of conduct. Usually, the phrase “to discipline” carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order, that is, ensuring that instructions are carried out is often regulated through punishment .

Consequently, in the field of child development, discipline refers to methods of modeling character and of teaching self control and acceptable behavior. To be disciplined is then, subject to content, either a virtue, which may be referred to as discipline procedure or a euphemism for punishment, which may also be referred to as disciplinary procedure . School discipline refers to regulation of children and the maintenance of order (“rules”) in schools. These rules may, for example, define the expected standards of clothing, timekeeping, social behavior and work ethics. The term may be applied to the punishment which is the consequence of transgression of the code of behavior. For this reason, the usage of school discipline sometimes means the administration of punishment, rather than behaving within the school rules [21, p.144-145].