Working in a school, especially in an elementary setting, the non-certified staff is something like a doting aunt. Even though we are always mindful that we are modelling for our students, we typically have no supervisor duty.

It’s hard not to feel protective of the little ones, and when we are in the situation where a student is sent to the office for discipline reasons, it is hard to frown upon the baby-faced perpetrator. Regardless of our feelings, however, we are in a support role and must keep our thoughts to ourselves. Even if we think the teacher is making too much of a situation, or is expecting the children to complete a ridiculous amount of work, we should never comment or act upon our feelings.

Teachers are burdened with being the taskmasters at times, as well as rectifying inappropriate behaviors. I truly believe that they take no pleasure in disciplining a child. While discipline may be difficult, however, these hard learned (bitter) lessons are imperative for the education of the child.