MVM Stories Part1: When Fear Faded, Discipline Disappeared

When Fear Faded, Did Discipline Disappear?

Years have passed, and the methods have evolved, but the essence of education remains unchanged - shaping character. I do not glorify fear, but I do miss the discipline that arose from respect and values. Today, empathy and emotional support have taken the lead, yet I often wonder - can love alone maintain order?

Those who once cried under my strictness now smile with gratitude. Their success is my greatest reward. Perhaps true teaching lies not in choosing between fear and love, but in balancing both with wisdom.

The early years of my teaching career were coloured with passion, purpose, and a firm belief that discipline moulds character. Those were the days when the classroom felt like a sacred ground of growth where respect, order, and effort were the keys to success. Looking back today, I realise just how much has changed — not just in schools, but in the very spirit of learning.

My first school experiences as a teacher, sports in-charge, discipline in-charge, and finally as a vice-principal at a very early age still echo in my memory.
As I mentioned in my previous blog From Discipline to Diplomacy, the only things that attracted me towards teaching were love, attention, recognition, and respect.

My golden era - the first phase of Gen Z - was full of enthusiasm, energy, and genuine connections. In those days, I found that fear was the only key to discipline.
As Chanakya wisely said,
“Firmness and strictness build character, while excessive love and care often breed bad habits.”

Times have changed.
Today, psychology and philosophy both emphasize emotional well-being over discipline. Every school now has counsellors — a clear sign of how mental and emotional health has become central to education. Yet, when I look back, I realize that discipline, though strict, built stronger minds and resilient characters.

I must confess - some of my actions were strict and firm. But I take this moment to apologize to all those students who once faced my disciplinary actions. Many of them have later touched my feet, bringing tears to my eyes - a reminder that firmness, when rooted in love, never fails.

Incident 1: The Holi Episode

It was close to the festival of Holi. A few mischievous boys had brought colours to school. During recess, three of them threw colours on girls and shouted,

“Bol Mahadev Baba ki Jai!”

The girls, from traditional and cultured families, were in tears. My principal who is no more with us now and who always treated me like her own son, gave me full authority as the Discipline In-charge to handle the matter firmly.

I took my stick and asked the boys to take disciplinary (the murga) posture for some time. They were punished with a few strokes on their hips, not out of anger, but to awaken discipline.

There were no complaints, no parental interference, no arguments - only silence and introspection. It became a turning point for those learners. They cried bitterly that day, their voices echoing through the campus, but I stayed firm. Discipline was non-negotiable.

Years later, all three met me again, now successful men and touched my feet with tears of gratitude. Their gesture spoke louder than words. That moment made me realize: 

firmness guided by care reforms, not ruins.

When they called me in May 2025 for a grand felicitation, I realized, 
Pain of the past had turned into respect of the present.

Incident 2: The Lesson of Respect

Another unforgettable moment came one afternoon while I was teaching wholeheartedly, as always. A boy came close to my ear and whispered something inappropriate, a body-shaming comment about a girl. His friends laughed, knowing exactly what he had said.

Coming from a traditional and cultured background, I was shocked that a student could utter such words. I couldn’t control myself. I took a wooden scale and hit him lightly on his right palm, enough to make him realize his mistake.

Ironically, he wasn’t even the originator of that comment, only the messenger. But he had crossed a line.

A senior teacher, who was often envious of me, took the opportunity to present the case before the Principal. Before we reached her office, the boy kept saying, 

“Madam, it was my fault. Sir punished me rightly.”

In front of the Principal, the other teacher showed the boy’s palm and complained about my behaviour. Yet the boy himself said, 

“Ma’am, it was my mistake, and I apologise.”

The height of culture at that time still amazes me. The boy’s father, instead of arguing with me, confronted that senior teacher, saying,

“When my son has admitted mistake, why was he brought here? It’s more embarrassing for him.”

He later met me privately and apologised on his son’s behalf. I stood silent, holding back tears, maintaining my dignity. That day, I understood that respect cannot be demanded, it’s earned through fairness and sincerity.

To Be Continued...

There are many more stories from those golden years - moments that shaped my identity as an educator and transformed many young lives.
Stay tuned for the next part, where I’ll share how changing times redefined discipline and respect in classrooms.

The Missing Balance

Discipline once stood as the backbone of education, while fear acted as its silent guide.
But as fear faded, discipline slowly disappeared.
Today, freedom has taken the front seat but without boundaries, it often loses direction.
The need of the hour is balance - where love doesn’t make us blind, and fear doesn’t make us cruel.
Firmness with empathy, rules with reasoning, and care with courage - that’s what our classrooms truly need.
Because discipline is not about punishment, 
It’s about preparing young minds for life.

Note:

These reflections are not stories of authority - they are stories of affection wrapped in firmness.

Every tear, every punishment, and every apology shaped me as much as they shaped my students.

Even today, when those learners meet me with gratitude, I silently whisper,

“Discipline was my duty, love was my intention.”

With reflections from the heart of an educator who still believes,

"Discipline, when guided by love, becomes the purest form of care."

If this post touched your thoughts or reminded you of your own experiences, do follow Mathivation HUB to stay connected with my upcoming reflections on learning and life.

Rakesh Kushwaha

Educator | Writer | Founder – Mathivation HUB

Blending Mathematics, Motivation, and Mindfulness.