Disciplinary backfiring

Discipline is, from time to time, a very popular word. There should be more discipline in schools, one might say. Or in advertising or in Parliament or wherever.

The problem about it is that it is a bit like the words learning and teaching. Who is doing what?

Let me elaborate. A teacher may be hard on discipline, a true tyrant, but his students suffer. Another may be lenient, not very disciplined at all, and his students may suffer.  Why? The teacher should demonstrate too his students the importance of discipline. I, as a student, need to be disciplined in the way I learn, not in the way I am taught. I realize there is a fine line here.

Some years ago the teachers union said a new law proposal would cut down learning. They meant teaching but the slogan sounded scarier their way. Teachers teach and they may pour their hearts out but if reception is off a student does not learn.

Discipline – well I started off there. So who’s doing what?

Honestly I am not going to take this angle further but I wonder about disciplinary action sometimes in schools.

I remember, often thinking as a student, that what a great thing it was to be thrown out of class from a boring teacher. Obviously the good teachers hardly ever throw anyone out. So I´m an unruly kid (not stupid) and I am going bonkers learning something I really cannot handle, in a class that is too big and the teacher not taking any notice of my need and behold. I learn a trick. If I piss off the teacher, he throws me out and I can roam the corridors and possibly bond with other kids that are also thrown out.
Punishment? Pavlov’s dogs?

I think some of those sitting behind do not see it that way.  So there you have a routine building up and discipline not growing.

Why am I wondering?

Well, a teacher in Iceland has been put on leave (full salary) for six months for being politically incorrect on his blog (which probably got hundreds of hits due to this action). So a few questions arise:

Should I blog rudely and hope for some quality time off (full pay) to relax, read, write blogs, mind the home etc.?

What do they think this blogger will do during these six months? Change his lifetime beliefs, however rude and ridiculous they may be? In six months? Do they really think he feels punished? Or has he got the attention he craved?

Is this a way to get more readers for my blog?

Put this story in context with a classroom and see what your answer would be.

I ask you...