ABSTRACT
Teachers are always more powerful than their pupils if they can learn not to be afraid of them. Teachers who are not afraid can be firm without arousing antagonism because they can make the majority feel secure; once this happens they will find that majority on their side. Young teachers often aim at a too-controlled class in their fear of complete chaos, just as often as they go in for the dreaded permissiveness. Once the level has been established in the teacher’s mind, then the start of any deviation from it can be noted immediately and if possible nipped in the bud. The school had so many problem children that many teachers took the easiest way out and ignored, as far as possible, bad behaviour. Reinforcement of good behaviour rather than bad is an excellent maxim, easier to carry out in a primary than a secondary school.
