Democratic discipline in learning communities

Assumptions

• Students can guide their own learning experiences
• Learning communities allows children to freely express themselves
• Also allows them to develop better relationships
• Students can satisfy their own needs
• Allow children to engage in self discipline

applications

• Implementing children’s natural means of learning through self-directed inquiry.
• Teachers initiate the community building in their classroom
• Teachers provide experiences that allow children to explore concepts
• Teachers allow the students to have a lot of power in the classroom
• Can accomplish these things through class meetings

compatible teaching methods

Use of rules

results of misbehaviour

• Class creates the consequences
• The teacher has to step in when the class gets out of control

strengths

• Allow students to construct their own knowledge
• Allows self-governance
• Prepare students for a democratic society
• Allow students to develop stronger relationships
• This may decrease the occurrence of bullying

weaknesses

• Everyone may not be in agreeance with this model
• Teachers need to adjust their teaching methods
• Teachers need to allow the students to have a large amount of power
• Learning communities require commitment and time to be formed