ABSTRACT
There was a lot mentioned in the last chapter about the learning environment and how this helps pupils to learn, but you will not be able to start from scratch. You will be working in someone else's classroom or laboratory with pupils for whom you are not ultimately responsible. You are neither their class teacher nor their parent or carer, so whatever you do will be set in a context which is not totally under your control. Teachers sometimes say, 'I could teach such and such a group or class if only their behaviour were better' as though poor behaviour is totally responsible for the lack of learning going on in the class. This is particularly felt about low level disruptive behaviour over which teachers can spend a lot of time and energy. Often it is just a few members of the class which cause the trouble; most pupils just seem to accept their lot and do what they are told. Discipline is a word often used in the negative sense meaning dealing with poor behaviour but properly used it should cover the positive as well as the negative aspects of behaviour.
