Anyone in children’s ministry knows the challenges of maintaining classroom discipline. It becomes even more difficult when we have a “problem child” who constantly disrupts the class. We can become frustrated by it and simply apply a quick solution, or we can seek real change.
The Objective Will Determine if We Seek Real Change or Apply a Quick Solution
If our objective is mere crowd control and somehow making it through the lesson, we’ll tend to apply quick fixes. We’ll do whatever it takes to quiet the child or get them to stop their negative behavior. Often that involves bribing them. Or, we might throw our hands up in despair and permit children to do as they please.
When our goal is to help the child truly learn and grow, we’ll look at discipline problems as opportunities to disciple them. We will want more than external conformity, so we’ll work with the child to correct the problem from the inside out. This means we take the time to identify and address the root cause of the problem.
Results of Our Approach to Classroom Discipline
Quick solutions leave unresolved issues which could become worse and keep the child from learning and growing. Bribery in classroom discipline could translate into them thinking the Christian life is about mere outward conformity rather than heart transformation (1 Sam. 16:7; Ps. 51:10; Lk. 6:45; Rom. 12:2). Ignoring misbehavior can give license to other children to do the same which can eventually erupt in chaos. We’ll find ourselves merely tolerating the “problem child” rather than loving them.
When we seek to use discipline problems as learning tools, we’re helping children learn for the future. We’re getting beyond temporary external conformity. In so doing we’re communicating that we truly care and want what’s for their good. — “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11)
Get help with pursuing real change in classroom discipline:
The Classroom Discipline Bundle will provide a comprehensive understanding leading to a greater likelihood of accomplishing real change through discipline efforts. Each of the resources in this bundle can be ordered separately.
While quick solutions might temporarily fix discipline problems, what are the potential drawbacks of relying on them in the long run? Real change takes time and effort, but what lasting benefits can it bring to a classroom environment compared to quick fixes?
Yes, Teknik, real change does take time and effort. While it should eventually lead to a more conducive learning environment, the greatest benefit comes to the long-range effects on the children. When we rely on quick fixes we might find some immediate external conformity but the heart tends to remain unchanged. God is most concerned with the heart.
How can educators or parents develop a mindset that views discipline challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than problems to be solved quickly?
Sometimes it’s a matter of re-training our hearts and minds. Having an example to look at can help. The best example we have is God Himself (Hebrews 12:4-11). Also, address the issue of biblical authority. We need to learn to discipline in accordance with God’s ways and intent, not the ways of the world (Rom. 12:2) or past conditioning. Here’s a worksheet that can help with that: Biblical Authority versus the Authoritarian and Permissive Teachers Worksheet — So, let’s provide training that gets beyond mere techniques to a big picture perspective. Only when we step back to look at the big picture will we be prone to look at discipline through the lens of opportunity rather than problem. Here’s a workbook that can help with that: Effectively Handling Classroom Discipline Workbook