There is no such thing as "fairly consistent", "pretty consistent", or "consistent most of the time"

Every teacher knows that consistency is important in the classroom. It's only those that no longer spend lessons fighting disruptions that understand how important it really is. I have learned the power of inconsistency. It's the number one cause of my bad days. I consider myself to be "fairly consistent" in terms of classroom management. I might "give in" once every eight times a student pushes. I used to think that was pretty good. I know now that there is no  such thing as "fairly consistent". I am just training them to keep arguing and complaining every time they want something. They certainly don't need more training. They are already experts!  Whitaker says that great teachers expect good behavior and that is what they get. I must be truly consistent if I am to succeed in classroom management. Fairly consistent won't work. It's all or nothing. Consistency begins with thinking long and hard about which classroom rules you are willing to enforce every time and then ensuring that you do so. I have set a few rules and each rule has a consequence-a definite, specific, and appropriate consequence. I must stick to it at all times. How can I expect the students to behave if the boundaries are different from one day to the next. Consistency, consistency, consistency!