Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Inconsistent Disciplining I am a student teacher and I have volunteered to participate in a special group of student teachers who are interested in teaching in diverse settings. One of the participants in our first group meeting was telling us about her disciplinary methods. When the white children in her class misbehave she sternly reprimands them because, she believes, they know the rules and they know what they are supposed to do. However, when the seven African American students misbehave, she gives them another chance because she wants them to know she cares. I have to react to this person and perhaps explain to her what the consequences of her action could be. What should I do and say? I am not even sure if her methods are actually good or bad. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I would first ask her what she thinks she can truthfully accomplish by doing this. As her to honestly think about it and see if it's fair. Though it's not always about being fair in a classroom, your goal as a teacher is to make sure each students' needs are being met but intentionally being stern to one race and giving another race extra chances isn't fair and it's not helping anyone. I would talk to her and ask her how it has been working for her. Ask her if she has noticed if the white children are maybe acting out more now and possibly even the African American students too, since they know they are going to get away with it. You could explain to her there are ways to show them she cares (but that she needs to do it to all children not just the African American ones) but letting them off the hook isn't one of them. I would just ask her to reflect on what she has been doing and think about the results to see if she things they are working. I'm sure once you allow her the chance to think about it, she'll see it's not the best idea and will be willing to change what she is doing.