Strengths and weaknesses of the theory of Democratic teaching

Strengths

• Encouragement (Positive reinforcement)• Redirect pupils’ behaviour• Form mutual respect• Logical consequences works better than

punishments

Encouragement

(Positive

reinforcement)

• According to Dreikurs, encouragement is more important than any other aspect of child raising. Encouragement corresponds to children’s goals.

• Encouragement focuses on effort rather than achievement, Encouragement motivates them to continue trying.

• Praise is very different from encouragement. It focuses on the level of achievement.

Dreikurs - natural/logical consequences and the process of encouragement are the most useful techniques for preventing discipline problems.

What is

encouragement? what

is praise ?

Redirect pupils’ behaviour• Elementary Case Study• Bessie is repeating the third grade. Her learning rate is probably low. In math she

will put anything down for an answer or she might put down no answer at all. She seems afraid to recite. Dreikurs concludes that the child is functioning on a lower level than her ability allows. Bessie's teacher has spoken with the class about the importance of being good listeners. It was decided and agreed upon that while one student was reading aloud other students would wait to raise their hands until the teacher asked for input. This would encourage students like Bessie to recite without feeling nervous or interrupted. Dreikurs notes how this strategy was effective in inducing the whole class to give Bessie support and encouragement. The teacher also began giving Bessie more time to finish her work. By the next week, Bessie had improved a great deal. The teacher remarked that she was proud of Bessie, drew a smiling picture on her paper, and solicited encouragement from the principal as well. Bessie's teacher, by identifying Bessie's fear of failure during recital and removing pressure, allowed Bessie to discover that she could solve the problems. After this realization, Bessie was soon able to work at a faster pace. Furthermore, by encouraging Bessie, the teacher nurtured Bessie's pride in her accomplishments (Dreikurs, 1968, p.178).

Form mutual respect

• A interaction and communication process between the teacher and pupils is often two way.

• Pupils are encouraged to air their opinions through discussion.

• Teacher set rules together with the pupils.

Logical consequences works better than punishments

• Punishments will never let pupils to think logically;

• Consequences enable pupils to think before they act.

• Example: • If a student writes on the walls of the school,

The teacher may keep her after school (punishment)The teacher may ask the student to clean the walls (logical consequence)

Logical consequences works better than punishments (cont)

• If a student damages classroom materials,The teacher may send a note to the student’s parents (punishment)The teacher may prevent the student’s use of classroom materials until he chooses to use them properly  (logical consequence)

• Difficult to respond to non controllable pupils

• May have problem in engaging conversation

• Trouble determining the actual motives

Weaknesses

Difficult to respond to non controllable pupils

• Teacher might face difficulties in teaching non controllable pupils because teacher is not encourage to punish the pupils.

• Dreikurs did not believe that punishment is one of the techniques to prevent disciplinary problems.