Discipline Through Max's Eyes
...e his discipline. Many of the students at the school where I work often behave like Max. They see rules posted on the wall of the classroom, yet they still do as they please. They too have to deal with their discipline. Students don’t realize that rules are set with a purpose; they are not imposed as a punitive means to control, but to create order. Young children often indulge in misbehavior without a thought to consequences. Max enjoyed his mischief the consequences did not occur to him. He took delight in his actions and failed to remember he would have to accept discipline for his inappropriate behavior. I remember once when my brother found himself in Max’s shoes. He had picked up the habit of spending money that did not belong to him on video games. My mother had already warned him, but one day he deliberately disobeyed. He had some of her money left over from buying groceries and could not resist the temptation to play the video game. He enjoyed himself so much that he forgot the warning my mother had given him. Once he got home, he had to face the consequences. He always remembers that day and now knows the importance of discipline, which has helped him avoid other pitfalls in life. Growing up, many of us thought that our parents took pleasure in disciplining us. Time and again we would hear, “Trust me, this hurts me more than it hurts you. “ In our fury and frustration we would think, “Yeah right, you are the adult who likes to control me and enjoys punishing me.” In reality, parents discipline us because they love us. No one wants to raise a spoiled child with no manners. Discipline is necessary in order for children to grow up to be successful people, respected and surrounded with friends. Parents know that discipline allows them to mold and guide us to the path of achievement and sociability, and therefore they reprimand us when we err. They know we live in a society where order is needed. Just as we need traffic laws to control the reckless drivers, we also need discipline to have stability in a world that would otherwise be chaotic. In Max’s wild adventure, he experiences this parental wisdom. As his imagination grew, he traveled by sea to an island where he would be the king of all the wild things. Once on the island, the untamed monsters ran rowdily...