Self – Discipline is emphasized
Closely Linked with intrinsic motivation, and the need to promote it by allowing children to initiate and self – regulate task, activities and ideas, is the development of self – discipline.
Self – discipline is probably one of the most important elements in life. Without it, no matter how imaginative, creative logical, or skillful a person is, there will be no development or persistence to the completion of the work. Froebel, Montessori and steiner all agree that self – discipline emerges from keeping intrinsic motivation intact.
We saw how Froeble emphasizes play as a means by which the child willingly sees things through to completion. This sort of environment favors the development of self – discipline – the strong, confident self with sufficiently high self – esteem not to be distracted from fulfilling an objective, or work towards ideals. Froeble ( 1887) says: The faith and trust, the hope and anticipation with which the child enters school accomplishes everything. The teacher must not destroy this, but through a dialogue with and respect for the child will help self – discipline to emerge, a discipline that is an inner influence rather than an extremely force.
The partnership element of relationship between adult and child is stressed. The adult helps the child to articulate and understand events in which he/ she participate through language, play and activities. Inner influence rather than external force is the key to the emergence of self – discipline; Froebel would shudder to see any kind of extrinsic reward.
At the center of Froebel approach to discipline is his belief the child’s intrinsic motivation should not be damaged. This is encouraged by his belief that humans are basically good. He rejected the notion of original sin. He says:
And infallible remedy for counteracting any shortcoming and even wickedness is to find the originally good source, the originally good side of the human being that has been repressed, disturbed, or misled into the shortcoming, and then to foster build up, and properly guide this good, side. Thus the shortcoming will at last disappear, although it may involve a hard struggle against habit .
Steiner also asserts the importance of self – discipline. Like Froebel and Montessori, he sees it as emerging from allowing the child’s natural willingness to learn, to initiate, create an ability to self- regulate during development. He emphasizes the need to have a broad understanding of the world, which will awaken human potential. Like Froebel. He stresses the community as a powerful influence in the development of self – discipline.
In a Steiner education the aim is to help each person find his or her right place in life, to fulfill his/ her destiny. Self – discipline is a part of this.