3 Reasons Why Elementary Teachers Are So Strict

During a conversation with a fellow educator, she mentioned that she had observed how elementary teachers were stricter than their counterparts at middle and high school. She wondered why these teachers practiced such a stringent classroom management approach and how this impacted students. If the judgment is accurate, then why are elementary teachers so strict?

Most elementary teachers are strict because, at this level, rules and regulations are unestablished concepts for very young children. Social behavior is a critical part of a child’s learning in elementary school, and being stern is one of the most effective ways of enforcing rules, boundaries, and routines.

If you’ve been curious about why elementary teachers are so strict, this post is for you! Follow through to get an insightful look at the logic behind the toughness exhibited by elementary educators. I’ll also discuss the importance of balancing between being strict and lenient.

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Reasons Why Elementary School Teachers are Strict

Here are three key reasons why elementary school teachers are strict:

1. Children Respect Strict Teachers

As much as it may sound controversial, this is accurate. Children admire teachers who are strict (but not mean or bad-tempered). When a class turns disorderly, the students can become irritated and anxious. They thus prefer a teacher who can run a class smoothly with control and conviction.

An unruly class breeds room for mischief, such as bullying and fighting. And since children aren’t always impartial and considerate of each other, they feel reassured to have an authoritarian figure who is.

Moreover, kids are egalitarians. They instinctively desire justice and fairness. They’ll want instant retribution when one of them defies a classroom rule. Hence, a firm teacher who can implement an unbiased system is greatly appreciated.

2. For the Safety of Everyone

Younger children are more energetic and adventurous. At this age, they are still learning right from wrong, and if left unsupervised, they are more likely to do boisterous things that may hurt themselves or others.

Without proper supervision, students will engage in all sorts of disorderly behavior, including fighting, running in class, throwing things, you name it! Hence, being firm is necessary for establishing boundaries and routines among elementary school students.

Ultimately, the safety of students should be every teacher’s top priority, and being strict is an effective way of ensuring that you create a safe environment for everyone in the class.

3. Strictness Improves Students’ Academic Outcomes

Strictness on elementary students is a fundamental aspect that propels students to perform academically. It is a building block that makes an elementary class steer toward success while creating a suitable environment for teaching.

In a study by Chris Baumann, a professor at Macquarie University, findings indicated that students in countries that maintained strict, high discipline in the classroom performed better academically than those without strict rules. These countries enforced classroom rules, rewarded good behaviors, and gave demerit points for indiscipline and poor performance.

Strictness stimulates a serious learning environment. For instance, holding students accountable for being organized promotes self-management skills, making them better prepared for class. Similarly, setting boundaries and establishing order can eliminate unwanted distractions, thus facilitating learning.

Should Elementary Teachers Be Strict or Lenient?

Whether teachers should be strict or lenient with elementary students is a long-standing debate.

While many educators suggest that teachers should forge friendships with their students, a lot more are concerned about how this can be counterproductive. They believe that being friends with your students may increase cases of disrespect and disregard for authority and rules.

These concerns are genuine.

However, a teacher’s choice between being strict or lenient shouldn’t be an either/or scenario. It would be best to learn to strike a balance between being strict and friendly, as each of these is beneficial. Integrating these benefits will help create the most favorable learning environment for your students.

Nonetheless, most people may use the term ‘strict’ with a negative connotation. However, strictness doesn’t equate to being mean to your students. Neither does it imply punishment, using curse words, or any kind of abuse.

On the contrary, being strict denotes the following;

Being firm on values and principles.
Defining boundaries and ensuring the students respect them.

Setting clear expectations.
Holding your students accountable.

Being strict will help keep your students on track. It helps them understand that they are in class to learn and that they are responsible for their results. Moreover, students will easily respect you; hence, they’ll be more likely to concentrate, listen to instructions, and put their best foot forward to achieve the best results.

Here’s a YouTube video that best discusses the importance of being strict with students.

Having said that, you also need to know that excessive strictness towards a student may trigger negative emotions, lowering their performance in the long run. Some students may interpret your strictness as you not liking them or, worse, you being mean to them.

This is why it is essential to strike a good balance between being both strict and friendly.

Similarly to being strict, being friendly to your students can help improve their academic experience, contributing to their success.

Teacher-student friendships can enhance engagement in the learning process. Students will happily and actively participate in the classroom, boosting their learning outcomes.

Besides that, as friends, students will admire and look up to you as their role model. You’ll quickly earn their trust, and consequently, they’ll be at ease confiding in you their concerns and dilemmas. This kind of bond will make your students feel safe and comfortable with you, as well as relaxed in the classroom.

Moreover, such friendship will cultivate a feeling of importance in your students. Knowing they matter will enhance their confidence, empowering them to do better and be better. This prepares them to face the real world confidently, which is an integral aspect of life.

Nevertheless, as alluded to earlier, being overly friendly can lead to students overlooking rules and your role in the class. Moderation is, therefore, essential. As a teacher, you should know where to set a boundary that will allow the students to be free with you while respecting you as an authority figure. This will result in more positive learning experiences.

Final Thoughts

Strictness is one of the most effective strategies that you can use to enforce safety and order in the classroom. It ensures that students keep boundaries and follow the rules and routines, making learning more accessible. On the flip side, if applied excessively, strictness can cause adverse effects on elementary school children. Hence, being moderate is crucial.

It is best to be strict and friendly. These two traits are not mutually exclusive as most people think. Achieving the right balance will create the perfect environment for your students to take instruction and learn comfortably.