Schoolboys and college
students dislike the word “discipline”. This is because to them means simply
punishment. When they are finding or kept in or otherwise punished, they are
told it is in the interests of “discipline”. But, though punishment is part of
discipline, discipline means much more than this. This word comes from
“disciple”. A learner pupil or follower of a teacher; and it means properly
training. A disciple puts himself under a teacher to be trained and taught.
If a disciple is to
learn anything’s from his teacher he must be ready to obey him and follow his
instructions. The very essence of discipline is obedience. We may say that
discipline means the learning to obey necessary rules of conduct. To be of any
use in society, a child has to be trained by his parents and teacher from his
earliest year. The first lesson he has to learn is the lesson of obedience.
Then he has to be taught how to behave—how to from good habits, and how to
avoid wrong and unbecoming conduct.
The methods of such
training are patient instruction, good example, and, necessary, punishment. The child has to be taught how
to behave well—what we must do, and what he must not do. If he refuses to learn
or disobeys orders, h has to be corrected by punishment of some sort. This teaches
him that disobedience brings unpleasant consequences. He will learn still more
from a good example set before him by his parents and teachers. He will then
try to copy them and their behaviour.
When men wish to act
together in societies or companies. They have to agree upon certain rules of
conduct; and the enforcement of obedience to such rules is called discipline. A
society that has no rules or that does not see that its rules are kept, will
soon fall to pieces. A regiment or any army without discipline is a mere mob.
Even in games, rules and discipline are necessary. If a hats man refused to go
out when he was bowled, or footballers defied the referee’s whistle when he
gave off-side or a foul, there would be an end of cricket and football. In the
same way no school or college could exist long without discipline.
Lastly, there is
self-discipline -- the hardest task of all. Each of us has to learn how to
govern and rule himself, how to control his passions, resist his e ii desires, and
obey his conscience. “He that ruled this spirit is greater than he that takes’
city.”