The Independent: Teachers told to praise the unruly as strike looms over discipline

Schools have been ordered to take a "softly, softly" approach to school discipline by praising difficult pupils, despite teachers' leaders vowing to step up strike action to protect themselves against attacks. The guidelines, introduced yesterday by the Secretary of State for Education, Alan Johnson, ask teachers to praise difficult pupils and give special prizes to encourage good behaviour.

Teachers should, on average, reward children five times as often as they punish them for disrupting lessons, the guidance says. Read more