Thomas Gordon, colleague of Carl Rogers, believed that only truly effective discipline is
self-control, developed internally in each student. Discipline As Self-Control is based on
the idea that teachers must give up their power (controlling) authority and replace it with
influence or persuasive authority in an effort to help students develop self control.
Students are worth all the time, energy and effort it takes to help them become
resourceful, responsible, resilient, compassionate human beings.
Golden Rule: Treat children as adults.
Punitive actions are ineffective and harmful.
Effective discipline develops within the character of each child.
Children can make positive decisions, be self-reliant, and control their own
behavior.
Reasonable consequences can be negotiated by students and educators.
Power is Perceived As
Student-centered.
Teachers must trust students with this responsibility and power.
Teachers must give up control and replace it with persuasive authority.
Contributions
Advantage Disadvantag
The more a person tries to control, the less positive influence can be exerted.
Influence instead of control can avoid the coping mechanisms of fighting, taking flight and
submitting.
2. Preventive Skills
Often problems in a classroom are owned by the teacher because the consequence is
undesirable for the teacher. Solutions can only be found once it is identified on who owns the
problem.
4. Confrontive Skills
5. Helping Skills
Educators asks for a solution that allows each side to preserve their egos and their relationship.
Student’s behavior is causing problem for Student only – Student owns problem – Employ
Helpings Skills Strategy
Student’s behavior not causing problem for Student or Teacher – No problem – Employ
Preventive Skills Strategy
Student’s behavior causing problem for Teacher – Teacher owns problem – Employ Confrontive
Skills Strategy
Charles, C.M. (2007). Building Classroom Management, 9th ed., Pearson: New York, NY.