Dear Editor,

Every teacher has a big responsibility to keep the children in their care safe, happy, and growing. Too often we see and hear about serious issues when authority is misused under the name of “discipline”. As experienced educators we need to see this as a major ethical failure.

Schools should be safe spaces where students can learn and grow without fear of violence or abuse from other parts of their lives. It’s our job to use our authority to guide and nurture young minds, not to punish them. We have to aim for better and actually make it happen.

A teacher’s position shouldn’t be used to dish out unfair punishment or to hurt a child, whether emotionally or physically. While correcting behaviour is a necessary part of teaching, it should always be done fairly, consistently, and without any negativity. We live in a world that often focuses on small issues while overlooking the essential work of building character and helping students behave better.

To promote the good behaviour we want to see, teachers should use a variety of proven techniques and strategies, such as:

1) Positive reinforcement to encourage good behaviour

2) Restorative practices that work on fixing relationships and mending harm

3) Social-emotional learning (SEL) to help students handle their feelings and resolve conflicts positively.

Respect leads to respect. By really listening to each child and treating them with the courtesy we hope to see in return we set an example of the behaviour we want to teach.

Ricardo Smith

ricardo.professional.edu@gmail.com