| Is it better to run your classroom by love or fear, | | | | you really loved - were they your B.F.F. - in most |
| should you be a nice or mean teacher, should you be | | | | cases no. That's not quite the answer either. |
| friendly or unfriendly, approachable or distant, smile or | | | | What about fear? I like to equate teaching to |
| frown? | | | | parenting. I find as a parent you love your kids |
| I would gather to say that most of us have | | | | unconditionally and they love you right back. You |
| entertained this question from time to time | | | | encourage them, you play with them, you're friendly |
| throughout our teaching careers. As a new teacher it | | | | with them, you're silly with them and they like you. |
| is a question that you will invariably ask yourself again | | | | However, if you're a good parent you can turn the |
| and again. So what is the answer? What is the most | | | | switch when the time comes. You have set the |
| effective way to manage your classroom? | | | | boundaries and limits and you teach them to your |
| When answering this question it got me thinking | | | | children and when it is necessary you provide |
| about a book I read a long time ago called The Prince | | | | discipline. However, even in the midst of discipline you |
| by Nicolo Machiavelli. So I Googled it to get a | | | | never stop loving your kids and they never stop |
| refresher. The book speaks of the best way for a | | | | loving you. There is a balance between being friendly |
| Prince to rule. I guess as teachers we could be | | | | and being strict. So your kids love you like crazy but |
| considered the rulers of our mini-kingdom so let's | | | | who didn't have a little fear of their parents when |
| take a look at his answer. | | | | they laid down the hammer. |
| "Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to | | | | Rather than calling it fear I would call it respect and |
| be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may | | | | rather than calling it discipline I would call it guidance. |
| be answered that one should wish to be both, but, | | | | Kids need structure and they need to be guided. This |
| because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is | | | | requires a manager not a B.F.F. |
| much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the | | | | So Machiavelli may have struggled with this question |
| two, either must be dispensed with... ...and men have | | | | when it came to a classroom vs a kingdom. After all |
| less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one | | | | we are having to unite many qualities to be |
| who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of | | | | successful in our classrooms. So when it comes to |
| obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is | | | | the best personality you should have in the classroom |
| broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but | | | | I would provide these suggestions: |
| fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which | | | | Remember it is your personality and you must come |
| never fails." | | | | up with an approach that fits you. It is very difficult |
| "...Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a | | | | to become someone you are not. However keep in |
| way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; | | | | mind that just because you are friendly or loved |
| because he can endure very well being feared whilst | | | | doesn't mean you are weak. One does not imply the |
| he is not hated" | | | | other. Fear is usually a short term fix where love can |
| So, he suggests a little of both as a good measure. | | | | promote long term positive change. You can still be |
| But when it comes to teaching, fear alone may work | | | | loved and strict. |
| against you because as he suggests hatred is it's | | | | Usually we resort to the fear and discipline approach |
| close cousin. Remember that we are nurturing the | | | | when our students are acting out. This may be the |
| development of humans and not just ruling a | | | | result of our classroom management plan and have |
| kingdom. Think back upon teachers that you | | | | nothing to do with the personality you project in the |
| considered to be your best. | | | | classroom. If you have a good classroom |
| Did you hate them and fear them or did you like | | | | management plan and follow it consistently then it |
| them and respect them? Did you look forward to | | | | may free you up to have the personality that makes |
| class or did you dread class? Did you feel | | | | you happy. I myself have run the gamut of |
| comfortable approaching them with a question or | | | | personalities in the classroom. I started out trying to |
| were you shaking in your boots like the lion | | | | be a friend, which didn't work, then turned into the |
| approaching the Great OZ? | | | | militant dictator, which didn't work and eventually |
| So does that mean we should try to be their B.F.F | | | | realized if I focused on having a well run, organized |
| (best friends forever)? Think back to that teacher | | | | and efficient classroom I could just be me. |