Heated debate sparks after parents demand ‘old-school’ discipline be re-introduced to Australian classrooms

Australian parents are debating whether ‘old-school’ discipline should be reintroduced into classrooms in a bid to put an end to rowdy behaviour.

The fierce debate between parents, scientists and teachers came after a Senate inquiry into classroom behavior recommended a return to ‘old-fashioned’ discipline to improve the way students behave at school.

The recommended guidelines, which have been made available to schools across Australia, include teaching primary and secondary school students how to walk into a classroom, sit correctly and ask questions.

Desks are also arranged in a row, facing the teacher.

Students are encouraged to practice “super walking,” which involves walking single file around the school.

Some parents believe the problem starts at home, while others agree that children need discipline.

This comes after research from the Australian Education Research Organization (AERO) found that teachers spend 20 per cent of their day dealing with disruptive behaviour.

Dr Jenny Donavan, the CEO of the Australian Education Research Organisation, told FEMAIL that teaching students how to behave in the classroom goes hand in hand with the explicit education model being rolled out in NSW this week.

The former teacher, who spent 10 years in the classroom before working for the Department of Education and taking on her current role, said students need to be explicitly taught how to behave.

Some parents believe the problem starts at home, while others agree that children need discipline

She added that teachers should then let them practice these skills, and that what they are asked to do should be taught and practiced consistently throughout their school years to maintain high standards.

These behaviors can be learned and are part of classroom management, she said.

Following a Senate investigation, AERO proposed changes to the way primary and secondary school teachers discipline students.

The new guidelines will be available in all Australian states, but it is up to the teacher how the methods are implemented.

‘I think you should cane the parents, to be honest. That’s what it’s all about for me. Children are the product of their mom and dad or their parents… discipline starts at home,” one parent told Sunrise.

‘They have to learn to listen and learn to lead. Just no respect (in class). That’s the biggest problem,” another added.

Former director Adam Voigt spoke to Nat Barr on Monday, describing the topic as a “complex problem” (stock image)

Former director Adam Voigt spoke with Nat Barr on Monday and described the topic as a “complex problem.”

Mr Voigt said consistency between schools would be useful, especially to prevent teachers leaving the profession.

And while it may seem like a quick fix to adopt a “red card” approach and send a misbehaving student straight to the principal’s office, Mr. Voigt argued that may not be the answer.

He claimed that some answers lie in the present and future method rather than in the ‘old days’.