Over the past decade the teaching environment in South Africa has changed drastically. One of the thorny issues facing the current education dispensation is that of learner discipline. Traditional views and disciplinary methods have had to give way for the Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In light of this, the Faculty of Education Sciences at North-West University launched a research project on learner discipline and found that where before the emphasis was on reward and punishment, aspects such as co-ownership, mutual respect and co-responsibility are now key to the creation of a learning environment characterised by order and discipline.

A practical guide to discipline in schools introduces some of the information gained from this study in the form of a practical manual and explores creative ways to transform impending chaos in the classroom into opportunities. It discusses the formulation of an equitable, fair and reasonable code of conduct and outlines the correct procedure to be followed for disciplinary hearings.

A practical guide to discipline in schools is for educators and prospective educators, and aims to promote security in education practice through an orderly teaching/learning climate.