Discipline in a Lasallian School
A Lasallian School
is a Christian school with well-managed and disciplined
environment, and
an atmosphere conducive
to learning. In a Lasallian school, everything
depends on the
quality of the teacher. St. John Baptist de La
Lasalle, our founder, expected his teachers to be competent
and effective,
to be highly motivated, to see his profession
as
a ministry, a vocation worthy of a lifetime commitment.
For St.
John Baptist de La Salle, what we might call discipline
per se, comprises
primarily and fundamentally
vigilance on
the part of the teacher: "Vigilance is essential
for the good teacher. Discipline is to be rooted in the teacher's
vigilance,
that is, in the total presence of the teacher
as a person
whose authority is established by competence
and dedication, who
is prepared to anticipate and forestall disruption
in the class, and who acts as a model of firmness and consistency'.
(Conduct
of School 13:13)
The vigilance will
watch over students, will observe them to learn their character.
St.
John Baptist de La
Salle, our Founder,
urged the teachers to cultivate the affection
of students, always aware that vigilance
is the major influence in
properly disciplining the child. (Conduct
of School 13:48)
Because the presence
of the vigilant teacher reduced the likelihood of disturbances,
it
also reduced the frequency
of corrections
and punishment. This itself contributed
to good discipline. De La Salle said that frequent
correction
is a great
disorder in school, and that reducing the
need for correction is one
of the best ways to maintain good order.
To achieve this purpose, all correction
was to conform to a number of conditions.
De
La Salle
reminded the teachers
to
avoid demeaning the student, for this embittered
him to provoke a dislike for school. De
La Salle prescribed
moderation in
punishment. He believed that proper motivation
when administering punishment is one of
the best means of touching and winning
the hearts of those who have committed
some faults and helping to improve themselves
Since De La Salle
saw frequent punishment as a very great disorder in school,
he
urged the
teacher act with skill
and diligence
to maintain the students in good order,
almost without using any correction or
punishment
at all. He believed
that it is
silence, vigilance, and the self- control
of the teachers that good discipline
in a school
can be maintained.
(Based on the article of Brother Luke
Salm)
Guiding principles on Discipline and correction
in school from Our Founder:
