Maintains that early childhood educators should employ a child guidance approach rather than punishment in disciplining young children in the classroom. (BB)

Questions the use of the Canter model of assertive discipline in preschool and the primary grades because of its impact on the self-concepts of children, the learning atmosphere of the classroom, and the sensibilities of the professional teachers. (BB)

As early childhood teachers apply principles of guidance rather than punishment in their classrooms, they face the challenge of avoiding a slippage into traditional discipline practices and transcending the punitive aspects of discipline. Guidance is designed to teach children democratic life skills and therefore goes beyond discipline. Teachers…