There is a widely help perception in many parts of the world today that educational standards are in decline. In the following essay, I aim to identify the sources of this problem as well as some viable solutions to it. From my perspective, one of the most significant obstacles to learning in schools today is lack of discipline. While the teachers of previous generations were able to maintain order through the use of corporal punishment, such methods are no longer permitted. This has left many teachers powerless to control unruly students. The resultant misbehaviour and inattention on the part of students seriously undermines the learning process. If educational standards are to be raised, therefore, it is crucial that classroom discipline be restored. Admittedly, there are numerous alternatives to corporal punishment, which is frowned upon by many these days. Nonetheless, I remain firmly convinced that physical forms of punishment are often the most effective method of behaviour ma...