Consequences

  Discipline is definitely one of the most important factors in having a successful year. After reading Wongs' suggestion over giving students choices on their own behavior in the classroom; I begin to disagree a little with what he attempts to propose. Allowing students to manage their own behavior might benefit some students, but not all, and education is for all students not just for a portion of the class. When speaking about young children, choice is not an option; most educators say that the early academic years are the most important and indeed they are, therefore discipline must be enforced so those students can grow up and develop their academic discipline. As for older students, choices can be allowed once in a while, but consequences must be established between the teacher and the student. Consequences, as Wong states, are the "results of a person's chosen action", meaning that a consequence does not always have a negative outcome. The result of a consequence depends on the action being done, students can prevent negative consequences by acting with discipline at all time, which may be as simple as being respectful.
 Mr. Wong argues that "the number one problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines". I personally believe the number one problem is the lack of both together. Discipline is enforced through effective classroom management, which is having procedures and routines. Any classroom will not function correctly without a well enforced routine. Students can not perform at their highest level if their teacher is not performing at his/hers highest level.  Both discipline and effective routines are what make a teacher a great educator!