ABOUT LEE AND MARLENE CANTER

Lee Canter

Founder of Canter &
Associates, an
organization that provides
training in classroom
discipline and publishes
related materials for
educators and parents.
Marlene Canter

Collaborates in the work.
For many years the Canters
have been refining their
system of discipline, which
they call Assertive
Discipline, to help teachers
may teach effectively.
Assertive Discipline has its basic premise on
the reinforcement of appropriate behavior and
students acceptance of the consequences of
their actions.
Teachers have the right to establish
classroom rules and insist that students
follow the rules.
Assertive discipline is similar to behavior
modification but it involves establishing rules
and following through strictly with some
rewards and punishments as consequences.
Students do not automatically know
how to behave in all settings and
situations. Therefore, teachers must
make sure to teach acceptable
behavior to students through
modeling, explanation, and practice.
The Canters say that the most
important classroom rule is Follow
direction, but students cant be
expected to know automatically how
to do so in all the many classroom
activities.
The Canters Central Focus
Establishing a classroom climate in which
needs are met, behavior is managed
humanely, and learning occurs as
intended.
Attending closely to student needs, formalizing
good class rules of behavior, teaching students
how to behave properly, regularly giving
students positive attention, talking helpfully with
students who misbehave, and establishing a
sense of mutual trust and respect.
The Canters Principal Teachings
Todays students have clear rights and needs
that must be met if they are to be taught
effectively.
Teachers have rights and needs in the classroom as well.
The most effective teachers are those who remain in
control of the class while always remembering that
their main duty is to help students learn and behave
responsibly.
Teachers must continually model through their
own behavior the kind of trust and respect for
students that they want students to show toward
others.
A good discipline plan, built upon trust and
respect, is necessary for helping students limit
their own counterproductive behavior.
Teachers should practice positive repetitions.
Negative consequences are penalties teachers
invoke when students violate class expectations.
Today teachers must both model and
directly teach proper behavior.
Teachers can have success with a majority of
students deemed difficult-to-manage.
Positive consequences are rewards, usually
words or facial expression, that teachers offer
when students comply with class expectations.
The Canters Contribution to Discipline
The rights of students to have teachers who help
them learn in a calm, safe environment and the
rights of teachers to teach without disruption.

Teachers have a right to backing from
administrators and cooperation from parents in
helping students behave acceptably.

Provide teachers with a workable procedure for
correcting misbehavior efficiently.
Moving Toward Good Discipline
Discipline does not depend on ever more
rules and harsher consequences, which have
no effect on students
Good discipline must grow out of mutual trust
and respect.