Scenes From The Battleground

These are the reasons why teachers should enforce the rules without any pity whatsoever:

1. If you make an exception for one child then they will expect you to make an exception for all of them.
2. If you ignore a rule then they will expect other teachers to do the same, even in situations where ignoring the rules will create anarchy.
3. If enforcement of the rules is seen as optional for teachers then students will target teachers for “terroring” in order to intimidate them into ceasing to apply rules.
4. They are more likely to remember a rule if they see someone punished for breaking it.
5. They deserve it.

Here are the reasons why many teachers don’t enforce the rules:

1. There aren’t enough hours in the day to give out adequate punishments.
2. They teach subjects where learning is entirely optional and therefore enforcing rules is seen as unnecessary.
3. They believe children (particularly those from deprived backgrounds) can’t be expected to behave.
4. They are worried that senior management will create trouble for them if they give out too many punishments.
5. No student over the age of 12 ever turns up for detentions anyway.