The competition is tough, the load is weary, the finishing line seems further and the competitors are prepared. The aim is to work harder in order to get up the victory stand and so we work more tirelessly. Gadgets have brought ease but taken away the peace, making us like themselves … fast, accurate, precise and efficient. Of course, this is something everyone knows, accepts and prepares for.

The pressure to excel begins from the prenatal stage when expectant mothers register their soon-to-be-born children in schools. Naturally, you cannot blame them for trying to outdo their capacities so that their children can grow up and outdo themselves. Once this stage is through and schooling begins, it is the second lap of so many that are to follow.

The exterior of the school may or may not be highly impressive but it should be remembered that this is akin to the outer cover of a magazine. What is more important is what comprises the system and more importantly the approach. Every school is a reflection of the vision of the founder principal and therefore though she\he maybe far or within the campus, his\her attitude is intermingled with the atmosphere of each class influencing each child within it, not only then but throughout life.

Some schools are very lenient allowing the children plenty of freedom, leading them to lose their sense of direction, waste time and become unable to focus on work. Whereas others are very high in discipline using a system of rules, punishments, and behavioural strategies appropriate to the regulation of children and adolescents and the maintenance of order. Its aim is to control the student’s action and behaviour.

However, discipline can be both negative and positive and comes with many subtle differences. Positive discipline focuses on the positive aspects of behaviour based on the idea that there are no bad children, just good or bad behaviour. This can be taught and reinforced while weaning the bad behaviour without hurting the child physically\verbally. The aim should be to imbibe discipline without sacrificing the spirit. Yet, this is easier said than done.

While enforcing positive discipline, teachers must be constantly vigilant and look for their children acting in the right way and remember to praise them constantly for these things. Positive discipline is encouraging and helps them climb another rung with happiness within their souls and a song which will guide them in the darker moments of future life. Positive discipline stems from the teachers respect for students in terms of their feelings, self-esteem and confidence.

Provide daily opportunities for success as well as imbibing within students a sense of responsibility through a clear understanding of rules and the need behind them. Information pertaining to the child’s background should prove an important tool in deciding the strategy to deal with the individual child.

Positive discipline contrasts with negative discipline. Negative discipline may involve angry, destructive or violent responses to inappropriate behaviour. It focuses on what children are doing wrong. Its methods are unfair, harsh, and often inconsistent and based on punishment.

Therefore we as parents and teachers, guardians and elders must remember to use their words wisely. Carefully complementing a good effort or ignoring a request made in a whining tone can sometimes be the decisive factor in who first reaches the finishing line and goes up the winning stand.

The writer is a teacher.