Justice vs. Mercy, part 2 (Balance)

Hello everyone,

Yesterday I wrote about justice vs. mercy and how teachers must balance the two. Today I just want to make a couple of practical suggestions on how to do it.

I have recommended in other places that, especially at first, you refrain from showing emotion. This is an important way to be fair as well as to prevent throwing fuel on the fires of misbehavior. Be above the fray. Don't get angry or irritated; neither be excessively happy or effusive. (At least not until the class is thoroughly under control--often after the third month; hence the dictum, "Never smile before Christmas.")

Equally important--and somewhat related--is to treat all students the same. You will have favorites; you will also have those that irritate you more than others. Treat them both exactly the same. Never give special privileges to those you like; never give special punishments to those you can't stand. (Ironically, over time, your friendship is likely to deepen with both, and many students that are your implacable enemies now will return to bless you for treating them equitably.)

Another related matter: reward the work, not the student; punish the misbehavior, not the student. If you catch your favorite student cheating, you should behave exactly the same way that you would if you caught any other student cheating; you should punish the cheating, fail the assignments, and recognize that cheating is not always personal. If the most annoying student in your class gives A-level work, you should NEVER NEVER find ways to give that student a lower grade to punish them. (Give two U's if necessary, but nothing less than the grade earned.) Further, NEVER NEVER give A's for good behavior unless the work justifies it.

Sometimes, you will make a declaration in your class that, "If anyone else says a word, I will [fill in the punishment]." Then, one of the good students will talk. This is a moment of truth for you. If you let it slide, you are unjust, and the students will rightly disrespect you. You must carry out your threat and give punishment even to the good student. (It's better to have never made such a threat, but having made it, you must enforce it evenly.)

I think that one time is sufficient to tell students to obey a rule. Assuming that you were clear in what you said, that you gave ample opportunity for clarification if necessary, and that no disability has inhibited the students' understanding, you should not have to constantly repeat yourself about behavior. I am shocked when I see teachers repeatedly tell students to do something or to stop doing something. One time is enough; after that, there should be a consequence.

It is generally a bad idea to give in to students' begging to be given "one more chance." It is always a bad idea to give in to it if you have already given one more chance.

NEVER favor flirts. Treat attractive children or children with charming personalities exactly the same way you treat ugly children or misanthropes.

Of course, life isn't fair, and your classroom can't be--and indeed shouldn't be--perfectly fair. But the sense of justice must prevail, and it will make the mercy more appreciated.

Jeff Combe