Galatians 6:1 …if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.

Galatians 6:1 …if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.

Discipline without restoration leads to bitterness and long-term malice.  Students are children.  Even eleventh and twelfth graders are kids in large bodies.  They think like a child and act like a child.

Discipline should direct students to the right path.  When the teacher explains the correct response and appropriate attitude for a particular situation, students begin to understand right from wrong.  They learn from our patient instructions and our consistent examples.  However, unless our own actions portray maturity and grace, we will negate the words we teach by what we do.  Our actions will speak louder than our words!

Love must permeate our speech as we correct our students.  We must discipline “for” them–not for ourselves.  When this is true, we will never allow anger to rule in our hearts.  We will understand that the student’s actions were not against us, but against the position of authority that we represent.  Defend that position with actions not with anger.

Once the consequence of discipline has been discussed and administered (whether it is loss of privilege, instruction, or some other form of correction) it is time to restore the child.  Restoration can usually come quickly by reaffirming the child–“Johnny, I care about you and about your future.  I know that you want to do better, and, with God’s help, you will.  Let’s get back to the classroom and get on with our work.  Okay?”  The greatest message that can be given to a person who has messed up is — You are still okay; everything’s back to normal; let’s try again; I am not mad at you.  A smile, a pat on the back, asking the student to do something for you during the class period, or asking him a question during class discussion assures the student that everything is back to normal.

Dear God, Help me to always restore my students–not just to right action but also to right attitude.  Prick my heart when my attitude becomes vindictive instead of loving toward the offender.  May I never drive my students to bitterness and resentment.