Background

   In 1976, Lee Canter, a former teacher, published a book called Assertive Discipline: A Take-Charge Approach for Today’s Educator, with his wife Marlene.  This book was the beginning of an educational philosophy that was the most popular discipline system in the U.S. for the next two decades.  Assertive Discipline is based on the idea that teachers and students have the right to teach and learn in a calm environment that is free of disruption and misbehavior.

     Canter discovered Assertive Discipline in a "classroom in a not-so-perfect city, with not-so-perfect students, but with a teacher with a near-perfect attitude...'I will tolerate no students stopping me from teaching or other students from learning. You are all going to succeed in my class because I am not going to let you fail.' " (Young Children 24).

   Assertive Discipline emphasizes the role of the teacher.  The teacher is supposed to be assertive and take full control of the classroom.  He or she does that by setting up specific behavior rules, as well as the positive and negative consequences that would result from students listening to or breaking the rules.  These rules and consequences are known and understood by the students.  Assertive Discipline allows teachers to handle discipline problems with minimal disruption to the lesson.

Lee Canter

Marlene Canter

Brought to you by Dorothy Gallop, Edith LaChac, and Lisa Menasha.
Student Learning Development & Behavior Management for the SLMS
Fall 2012

(From top to bottom, images from: srhabay.wikispaces.com; www.canter.net; ethics.lacity.org)