Why undisciplined students still test teachers’ limits after decades of debate
Twenty years ago, Bernhard Bueb’s book In Praise of Discipline ignited a fierce debate about education, freedom, and authority. The discussion centred on whether schools and parents were failing to set clear boundaries for children. Today, despite changing times, the core issue remains the same: undisciplined student behaviour continues to challenge teachers more than any other problem in classrooms.
Bueb argued that self-worth and a strong sense of self come from proper upbringing, not just formal education. He criticised schools for stepping back from their educational duties, fearing the assertion of authority. In his view, disciplined practice was not a restriction but a foundation for true freedom—a virtue he believed people only fully grasp later in life. His ideas clashed with the dominant pedagogical trend, which favoured student self-determination and minimised adult control.
By 2020, concerns about classroom management had grown. Werner Klein, former head of Quality Assurance at the KMK, wrote a bleak assessment in the Deutsches Schulportal. He analysed national and international studies showing that German teachers struggled particularly with managing behaviour, even as other teaching aspects received praise. Four years later, the 2024 German School Barometer confirmed the problem: 35 percent of teachers named student conduct as their biggest daily challenge. Experts now emphasise that effective classroom management relies on professional authority, consistent presence, and strong teacher-student relationships. The focus has shifted away from authoritarian methods or fear-based discipline. Yet, as 2026 approaches, external pressures like rising diversity and societal crises have only deepened the struggle. The fundamental question—how to balance freedom, obedience, and responsibility—remains unresolved.
The debate sparked by Bueb two decades ago still echoes in today’s schools. Teachers continue to face undisciplined behaviour as their primary obstacle, despite evolving methods and growing awareness. While modern approaches stress empathy and professionalism, the challenge of maintaining order without resorting to outdated tactics persists.
Read also:
- Executive from significant German automobile corporation advocates for a truthful assessment of transition toward electric vehicles
- Crisis in a neighboring nation: immediate cheese withdrawal at Rewe & Co, resulting in two fatalities.
- United Kingdom Christians Voice Opposition to Assisted Dying Legislation
- Democrats are subtly dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Here's the breakdown
