In the often-tense period before Christmas many parents are especially likely to tell their children that if they don't go to sleep promptly Santa Claus will not bring them any presents. Or that he will bring them only a lump of coal.

Is anybody else here familar with Glasser's Noncoercive Discipline or Kagan, Kyle, and Scott's Win-Win Discipline? I'm getting my MA to teach art and I find a synthesis of these two models to be complimentary to TCS and probably the most preferrable method for facilitating classroom interactions. What does anyone else think? I've also found a great curricular model called Choice-based Art Eductation.

Why freedom in the matter of academic study is inseparable from freedom in the matter of chores, bedtime and everything else.

Tom Robinson has a satirical ‘warning’ about TV and books. Essential reading for all except those who don't appreciate satire.

Suppose that somebody told you that if you were exposed to a particular pattern of flickering, coloured lights it would cause you later to take unwise or immoral actions without being able to control yourself. You might well be sceptical. After all, how a person responds to a pattern of flickering light is dependent on their interpretation of that light.

Alan Forrester investigates.