Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community (ASCD) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book questions the assumption that classroom problems are always the fault of students who don't do what they are told. New classroom management techniques are not the answer, he says. Instead, we must reconsider what we're telling students to do and to learn. He shows how a fundamentally cynical view of children lies beneath the assumption that we must tell students exactly how we expect them to behave and then punish or reward them accordingly. Kohn contrasts the idea of discipline, in which things are done to students to control their behavior, with an approach in which we work with students to create caring communities where decisions are made together.

About the Author

Alfie Kohn is the author of many other books about education and human behavior, including Punished by Rewards, The Schools Our Children Deserve, and Unconditional Parenting. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall (January 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130930504
• ISBN-13: 978-0130930507
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,095,963 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From compliance to community, February 23, 2001

By	George Zee (www.frzee.org, Hong Kong) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community (Paperback)

The subtitle captures well the thrust of the book. Alfie Kohn continues to ask probing questions to challenge our assumptions and beliefs and prods us to see things from the child's perspective. Instead of being concerned with classroom management and control--getting children to do what we want, we should first ask, "What do children need?," and "How can we meet those needs?". Very often discipline problems arise, not, as it is commonly believed, out of the students' personal problems or the need for attention or power. Rather it is just because the adults' demands may be unreasonable, or the curriculum may be irrelevant. "When students are 'off task', our first response should be to ask, 'What's the task?'" (p.19). Coercion, use of punishment and rewards, any control measures are not achieving our common goals in fostering depth of understanding, independence of thinking, continuing motivation to learn and concern for others. Students should have their say, participate in making decisions, be given autonomy and responsibility. Students must feel cared about and be encouraged to care about others. Only caring relationships build community. Competition is the worst enemy. Suggestions on building community, solving problems together were given. Also answers to ten common objections. For educators who value democracy, this is a worhtwhile book.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different perspective on "managing" the classroom., December 2, 1998

By	[e-mail] "peyton58" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It offered me insights into classroom discipline that I had never considered. The most powerful statement made in the book--in my opinion-- is that, instead of wondering how to make children behave differently, we should be asking ourselves what we are doing to make them behave the way they are. Too often I make decisions solely for the purpose of being the "boss". This book helped me to stop and think about why I want the children to behave a certain way. I had a very difficult class a few years ago, and I wish I would have read this book prior to that time. However, during the reading, a lot of that class's problems made more sense to me!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In response to reviews..., April 27, 2005

By	Robert M. Madden (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community (Paperback)

To the reviewer who said Kohn has no experience: He was a teacher for several years. Secondary to be specific. He travels the country observing classrooms. This book was written in response to a)his own experience b)exhaustive research but mostly c)to answer the question of why certain classrooms he observed seemed to have "better" learners than others.

To reviewers who say there are no practical solutions within the book: True, with a huge but. Kohn says he does not want to give examples because there are no "right" answers. What he proposes is a philosophy, not a step by step process. He wants us to question our way of thinking. How can we question it if we are following Uncle Alfie's hand dandy instructions? To tell us what to do would undermine the whole premise of the book (telling is futile, doing and creating meaning are worthwhile). The "good" teacher, according to Kohn and this book, is one who is constantly questioning what is going on in their room and how it benefits the child. The "good" teacher is also one who believes the child should be worked with, not done to. When you think the ideas through, the "how"s should become clearer. He does give models, but I feel a book on more practicals would be helpful. People, unfortunately, want their hand held. Kohn should maybe reapply his thought of "addicted to rewards" with teachers who have always been told what to do and how to do it. But if he tells them what to do and they follow blindly, are they truly committed to it?

To reviewers who say he spends half of the book complaining: I would call it refuting at worst, getting us to question our current ways of thinking at best. I somewhat agree with the one reviewer who says Kohn sounds like a broken record. Yes, he has written the same thing before. But look at the educational world? Has it changed much? Suffice it to say, if you've read Punished By Rewards, this one is a good addition to it. Do not go to this book looking for a lot of grand revelations if you have read PbR or a substantial amount of his articles.

To reviewers who claim this book is a godsend: Welcome to the world of Alfie Kohn. Applying the ideas are not simple becuase the kids will "fight" it at first. I believe the words he uses are that it's like coming into a bright room after being in the dark. This is the truth. I am struggling with implementing the ideas.

Lastly, heed his warning: Freedom to choose without structure is chaos (my own words, but interpreted from the book). Structure is necessary. Just question what structures are necessary. Always remember, the kids want to learn. Let them. It has succeeded and will continue to succeed. Get support. Do not lose faith.