Positive discipline everyday
DIRECTOR’S Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO IV, Regional Director, Deped Region 11 to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education). "Let me assure you that in the performance of my official duties and even my private acts will be guided and guarded by my Oath of Office, The Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, the Philippine Constitution and all the laws that govern our actions.”
- o0O0o – In this era of modern technology, classroom discipline poses a challenge to educators and administrators who are encountering this phenomenon every day of their lives. The Department of Education through E-Net Philippines and Save the Children Foundation produced a primer on Positive Discipline in Everyday Teaching: A Primer for Filipino Teachers. Its purpose is to help teachers apply a positive discipline approach in classroom management. It outlines steps teachers can follow and situations they can refer to in applying positive and nonviolent discipline.
According to Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affair, Atty. Alberto T. Muyot, this Primer consists of four main parts. The first is mainly a discussion on Corporal Punishment, its magnitude, and the legal basis for prohibiting its practice in school. The second part is a brief introduction on the Positive Discipline Model or the PDET Building Block, which identifies the key elements of the PDET approach. The third and main sec- tion is a twenty two (22) page spread on “Examples of Responding with Positive Discipline”. Also, contained in page 41 is a note on the teachers’ well-being to support and help them cope with stress. The Primer is capped with a list of references and helpful reading materials for further study on positive discipline.
Muyot added that the ten common classroom cases presented in this Primer were compiled through inputs of teachers, pupils/students, and experts during a series of focus group discussions conducted by E-Net Philippines and Save the Children. These were further reinforced by information on the common cases reported to the Department of Education. The cases presented show how to respond with positive discipline.
However, Muyot warned that the steps and methods outlined in the Primer are not the only ways in which we can apply positive discipline and handle challenges. It is encouraged that teachers explore other ways to teach students how to manage their emotions and resolve conflict without hurting them physically and emotionally. In order to cultivate an environment where the children thrive and grow healthily, we must find ways to help rear them in the most positive way we can.
The Department of Education launches this Primer on Positive Discipline in Everyday Teaching as a small contribution to the universal duty to protect children.
Muyot further said that as our children grow, we must recognize that how they think and how they act also evolve, consistent with their development as children and adolescents. Children are not small adults. In school, their actions can easily be seen as misbehavior that requires disciplinary action. But discipline imposed by teachers and school administrators, for it to be in the best interest of the child, should be positive and non-violent.
The Deped official emphasized that this Primer, developed in collaboration with Save the Children and E-Net Philippines, aims to help teachers implement positive and non-violent discipline in the school.
The Primer outlines easy-to-follow steps for the teacher in using positive and non-violent discipline to address the common challenges posed by children’s
behavior in school. Likewise, a note on teacher’s well-being is included in the Primer to help teachers manage stress.
Finally, Muyot hopes that through the continuing efforts of the Department and all partners and stakeholders, the policy on zero tolerance for any act of violence against children in school, including corporal punishment, enshrined in the Deped Child Protection Policy (Department Order No. 40, s. 2012), shall be observed and implemented more effectively. As teachers, we play a vital role in shaping the lives of these children. How we treat them in school could have a long-lasting effect, whether it be positive or negative. Therefore, let us perform our duties as teachers with full awareness of the consequences if our acts on the lives of our learners. Let us work together to ensure a nurturing and safe school environment for all children.
This Corner hopes that the teachers, after downloading the said primer available in the official Deped website, http://www. deped.gov.ph will be able to apply it by heart not only to keep in mind of disciplining their students but showing their genuine love to them as their real kids. - o0O0o You can access Deped Updates, latest issuances, photos and other relevant information through our website: http:// www.deped.gov.ph and our Facebook Page: http://www. facebook.com/deped.regionxi. For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, send your email to region11@deped.gov. ph. For queries, complains and other concerns for the different schools divisions email them to davao.city@deped.gov.ph, davao. delsur@deped.gov.ph, davao. delnorte@deped.gov.ph, tagum. city@deped.gov.ph, panabo. city@deped.gov.ph, igacos@ deped.gov.ph, davao.oriental@ deped.gov.ph, digos.city@deped.gov.ph, mati.city@deped.gov.ph and compostela.valley@deped.gov.ph.