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!) You should let her know that continuing this way of disciplining will only cause more misbehavior in the classroom. The black students will continue to act out because they know that they'll never get in any trouble. The white students will act out because they're just tired of getting different treatment. Students sense when teachers treat other students differently. This might also cause some students to be unmotivated in class. While she's constantly showing one group of students that she cares, she's leaving out another group. They may start to think that nothing they do will be able to please her, so they will just give up on everything (school work included).