Giving Compass' Take:

• In a brain-aligned model of discipline, we must teach the behaviors we want to see in schools and lay the groundwork for prevention systems and strategies. Lori Desautels at Edutopia discusses ways to achieve this. 

• What can nonprofits do to make sure that the culture of data is embedded within our education system?

• A survey reveals that most students don’t believe that school discipline is fair. Click here to learn more. 

There are many perspectives on the topic of discipline in our classrooms and schools, and I’d like to explore the idea of using brain-aligned discipline with students who have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Traditional punishment with these students only escalates power struggles and conflict cycles, breeding an increased stress response in the brain and body. Punishment is used to try to force compliance. The vast majority of school discipline procedures are forms of punishment that work best with the students who need them the least.

With our most difficult students, the current way schools try to discipline students does not change their behavior, and often it escalates the problems.

Discipline, unlike punishment, is proactive and begins before there are problems. It means seeing conflict as an opportunity to problem solve. Discipline provides guidance, focuses on prevention, enhances communication, models respect, and embraces natural consequences. It teaches fairness, responsibility, life skills, and problem-solving.

Read the full article on discipline in schools by Lori Desautels at Edutopia.