Jasmine Williams

Katie Jones

Raven Ellis

Lee Canter’s Theory of Assertive Discipline

Information

  • Believes if teachers trained to manage their student’s behavior, the student’s outcome will become positive and successful and the teacher will have a positive impact on their students.
  • Developed the Assertive Discipline Plan with help from his wife, Marlene Canter. (has sold over 1.5 million copies)

Canter and Associates, Inc.

  • Started in 1976.
  • Offers instruction for motivation, violence prevention, conflict presentation, and instructional strategies.

Teaching Principals

  • I will not tolerate any student stopping me from teaching.
  • I will not tolerate any student preventing another student from learning.
  • I will not tolerate any student engaging in any behavior that is not in the student’s best interest and the best interest of others.
  • Most importantly, whenever a student chooses to behave appropriately, I will immediately recognize and reinforce such behavior.
  • Assertive teachers are the “boss” in their classroom.

Theory

  • Teachers are placed in the disciplinary role while students are in a subordinate role.
  • No student has a right to prevent a teacher from teaching or another student from learning and it is the responsibility of the teacher to enforce this.
  • The key to this technique is catching students being “good.”
  • Both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors have consequences.
  • Recognize and support students when they behave appropriately.
  • For Canter, students obey the rules because they get something out of it.
  • The success of assertive discipline depends upon the teacher’s consistency and demeanor.

How to use Assertive Discipline in your classroom

  • Dismiss the thought that there is any acceptable reason for misbehavior (other than disabilities and emotional stress).
  • Decide which rules you wish to implement in your classroom.
  • Limit this list to 4-5 main rules.
  • Determine negative consequences for disobedience
  • Determine positive consequences for appropriate behavior.
  • Alongside the rules list the positive and negative consequences.

Positive Reinforcement

  • Encourages appropriate behavior.
  • Increases the self-esteem of students.
  • Creates a positive environment.
  • Establishes positive relationships.
  • This can include: praise, notes, rewards, special privileges, etc.

Consequences

  • Deal with the behavior calmly and quickly.
  • Consequences should already be in place and appropriate for the students.
  • These are things students do not enjoy.
  • Hierarchy from low (warning) to high (administrator) impact on students.
  • Must include a severe clause.

Weaknesses of the discipline

  • According to Canter, there are only three types of teachers: non assertive, hostile, and assertive; there is no other type of discipline system.
  • Canter’s “research” has been doubted by other theorists.
  • Most of Canter’s research was with special needs students. Canter assumes that the system will work with all students.
  • Rules and consequences are determined by an authority figure and students are told they can choose to obey or not.