Discipline

[nclib]

From the political compass...

I voted 'strongly disagree'.

[??????????]

How can you not agree with discipline? Obviously you don't have children.

[nclib]

I agree with discipline, just that it's not the most important thing.

[??????????]

What is the most important thing for children to learn in your opinion? I don't know if you would classify "respect" with "discipline" but I definately put the two very close to the top of the list.

[nclib]

Children should learn non-violence, trust, kindness, and honesty.

[Nation]

Discipline is an important aspect of parenting, but I believe must think of a creative way to punish a child for doing something wrong. I am strongly against corporal punishment or any kind of physical disiplicine, no matter how small it may seem.

But as I've grown up around spoiled brats whose parents give in to whatever it is they want, yes, disiplicne is needed. I also think, as nclib say, honesty and kindness are also very important.

[Gabu]

Depends on what is meant by "discipline".  If it's "honestly teaching, in a caring manner, what is right and what is wrong", then yes, I would agree.  If it's "irrational parental assertion of dominance", then no, I would not.

[nclib]

Depends on what is meant by "discipline".  If it's "honestly teaching, in a caring manner, what is right and what is wrong", then yes, I would agree.  If it's "irrational parental assertion of dominance", then no, I would not.

I interpreted the political compass question as implying the latter.

[Akno21]

Strongly disagree, although it depends on interpretation

[J. J.]

The most important thing to teach a child is to ask questions.  :-)

They won't know what discipline is without that.

[J-Mann]

Children should learn non-violence, trust, kindness, and honesty.

Through discipline and respect will come these other aspects.

[Akno21]

The most important thing to teach a child is to ask questions.  :-)

They won't know what discipline is without that.

I agree 100%. It can be short-term annoying "Are we there yet, Are we there yet?", but long-term, it's indispensible.

[John Dibble]

Discipline is a means, not an end. They don't have to learn to accept it - the important thing is they get the lesson behind it. For me that's earning your own way and personal responsibility - doesn't matter if I have to discipline them or if it comes by them naturally, that's what I want them to learn.

[True Democrat]

Disagree
Democrat

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Hear hear, J.J.

The most important thing to teach a child is to ask questions.  :-)

They won't know what discipline is without that.

[Alcon]

Disagree. There is a measure of importance, but punishing a child for every minor thing does not - contrary to what many people think - make them a better person, it makes them submissive and self-loathing.

However, discipline varies in meaning. I assume this means punishment.

[Nym90]

Disagree. Respect is the most important thing. The parent needs to earn the respect of the child. Children need to learn that they can trust their parents to make the right decisions.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Most important?  Follow your heart, don't hurt anybody, be a good person. 

I never accepted discipline too well, and I'm ok, just somewhat rebellious.

[minionofmidas]

The question is supposed to be about corporeal punishment, this much is clear.
Taking it literally, though, I still disagree. In that case, I'd basically define discipline as obeying orders no matter how little sense they make, clearly not a positive quality in people in most situations.

[Tory]

Strongly disagree, although discipline is important.

[A18]

I voted strongly agree, only because all this talk about "respecting the child" is total crap.

[Alcon]

I voted strongly agree, only because all this talk about "respecting the child" is total crap.

Yes, damn that respecting children crap! Next they'll be expecting us to allow children to hold opinions!

[dazzleman]

I voted agree, though I don't really like the way the question is worded.

I think the right type of discipline is very important when raising kids, but there are other things that are equally important, like opening doors to positive thinking for kids.

Discipline doesn't mean punishment; it means teaching.  It may sometimes include punishment, but there must also be a positive aspect to it.

Parents who love their kids will discipline them because if they don't, somebody else, like a judge or police officer, will, and it will be a lot worse.  In order to be successful as adults, kids need to internalize the lessons they were taught through discipline, and discipline themselves increasingly as they get older.  Those without discipline always fail in life.

Personally, I have a conflicted attitude toward discipline.  I hated to be disciplined as a kid, especially when it was strongly skewed toward the negative without positive reinforcement, as it sometimes was.  I rebelled terribly against discipline as a teenager.

I enjoyed (and still enjoy to some extent) breaking rules, and as I got older, I found I didn't mind discipline as much.  Rather that fighting it directly, I took a passive-aggressive approach of outwardly accepting my punishment without a fight, but inwardly vowing not to change my behavior because of it.  It became a challenge to do something wrong, endure the punishment, and then do it again, only being just a little more careful not to get caught.  I also discovered that discipline from disinterested parties, like the adminstration at school, was preferable to a nasty confrontation with my parents, so I was careful to keep the level of trouble I got into at school below the threshold at which they would call home.

With discipline, like many other things, it's not so much what you do, but how you do it.  An affirmative discipline that is done with love and some positive reinforcement, is very important for kids to develop into productive adults.

[12th Doctor]

Agree

The application of discipline from parents, teachers and other adults teaches children how to discipline themselves.  While there are other important things to learn as a child, how to discipline one's self is the most important.  You can't get through life without it.

[opebo]

Strongly disagree.