How good or bad is discipline in the public schools? Even though statistics show an over-all increase in violence in the schools. a fair answer to the rguestion might be: “It all epends It depends on where in America and in what culture. It depends on leadership in the particular school system. It depends on how permissive the particular society, the mix of students, potential for explosive situations, and the tradition for parentstudent-teacher teamwork. A dark outlook of crime in the halls of learning including the murder, rape, and assaults “on another 100,000-plus teachers during the school year” – was forecast in a recent Wall Street Journal commentary. “If the past two years are any guide, the level of violence will rise significantly even as school populations decline.” said the newspaper. “Another crop of children, particularly those in poor inner-city districts, will learn more about fear and trauma than about the three R’s, and this will be reflected in declining literary rates,” But the progection doesn’t present a alanced picture. Out through America are numerous well-ordered school systems. As the Journal noted: “The best administrators somehow manage.” This isn’t to imply that some districts are without problems. We believe most would concede that challenges have increased in recent years. Yet there are reports such as this one by a traveling administrator; “I see many schools, particularly in rural areas, in .which discipline and respect for authority are as evident now as a generation or two ago.” Dr. John W. Bennion, who served as schools superintendent in upstate New York, later in Minnesota, and is current superintendent of Provo schools, says good discipline is essential to a high level of learning. “Any school system which doesn’t recognize this is in for trouble,” he said. ”lt’s up to the leadership to set the tone and make expectations clear to students, teachers and parents, as well as sanctions that can be expected if compliance is not forthcoming.” A lot of factors yet unmentioned combine to make discipline difficult. Among these, the Journal sees attacks (mainly through the courts) on authority of local school administrators as one of the prime problems. Another: The student rights movement in the early 1970s brought some legislation that leaves uncertainties on forms of discipline or punishment that might subject teachers to lawsuit. And consider these: Erosion of local authority through federal or state regulations sometimes associated with funding; declining discipline in many homes; emotion from teacher strikes; unrest through busing programs which uproot children from comfortable surroundings and transport them to unfamiliar settings. School districts whether in areas hard-hit by discipline problems or not – need to work vigilantly to preserve a school environment conducive to effective education; and to develop interesting, imaginative academic progrms that will engross student attention. At the same time, legislation ought to be reexamined continually. If laws on the books work adversely to the public interest, they should be amended or repealed.