The parade commander gave the order, and the soldiers moved
forward briskly as one man. The parade was a grand success, thanks to the hours
of hard work and discipline that had gone into making it a precise and orderly
event. This same principle applies to life as well. Discipline is crucial in
making living smooth and peaceful. Law is simply community discipline, and those
who abide by the law accept the discipline of the state. Conversely, criminals
show their refusal to be disciplined by defying the law.
Discipline is instilled from birth and is especially critical in a child's
development. It regulates a child's feeding, sleeping, bowel-training, and
behavior. A child must learn to be respectful and unselfish to avoid turning
into a young savage. School life is where discipline is most commonly
associated, and the term is defined as "instruction, training, and mode of life
in accordance with rules, and subjection to control." The goal of schooling is
to teach children to discipline themselves, and true discipline comes from
within, not imposed from without.
Discipline should not be confused with order, which is the result of discipline.
True discipline is self-discipline, which becomes increasingly important as a
person grows more independent. A disciplined person can remain cool and sensible
amidst the stresses of life and overcome temptation to evil. Disciplined
children grow into disciplined adults who play a constructive role in their
community. Life will inevitably have trials and disappointments, but discipline
enables a person to overcome them and emerge stronger.
Some misguided psychologists believe that a child should be left to develop on
its own with "free" discipline. However, this approach leads to an undisciplined
child who cannot develop healthily. In contrast, a child craves guidance and
needs discipline to see their way through the mazes of life.
In summary, discipline is crucial in life and cannot be based on fear of
authority. It is instilled from birth, taught in school, and must be
self-discipline as a person grows more independent. Discipline enables a person
to remain calm in times of stress, overcome temptation, and emerge stronger from
trials and disappointments. |