Discipline is not a bad thing

Discipline is a word that has many definitions.

Most of them are positive. ----more----

Discipline is basically the training of desirable behavior through conditioning and control.

This can be done in a positive way – where we train ourselves to exercise self-control.

Or it can be done in a negative way through punishment to exert control over others.

As a Humanist, I prefer the first way.

Punishment and the attempt to control other people is abhorrent to me. 

For me, discipline is about self-discipline.

It is about self-mastery. 

And in this sense, we should absolutely be teaching our children self-discipline.  

So don’t view discipline as a bad thing.

Just don’t expect to achieve it through punishment.