Aims: Maintaining order is a fundamental task for teachers in the classroom. Historically, some form of punishment has been the common response to undesirable behaviour. However, over the past two and a half decades, a different approach to classroom management, sometimes labelled 'positive discipline', is being increasingly adopted by schools.…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine the implementation of Restorative Practices in selected elementary schools in southeast Texas. Restorative Practices will generally be defined as a social science that studies how to build social capital and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision…

There is no doubt that the safety of children in schools and in communities is paramount. Incidents of school violence in the United States have motivated researchers and practitioners to explore and employ effective methodologies and strategies to promote safety in classrooms and schools. Still, issues of disruptive behavior top the list of…

Together, a school district and a local union are working to ensure that educators are trained in restorative practices in order to improve school climates and keep students in school and learning. This article describes how, in recent years, administrators and teachers have shifted from traditional school punishments, such as suspension, to…

The retention of "at risk" students in secondary schools is a major challenge to inclusive education policy. Students with non-compliant behaviour at this level are typically dealt with by authoritarian and punitive disciplinary systems that frequently lead to exclusion from school. This paper reports on the successful establishment of a…

For schools, creating an appropriate learning environment is critical. Edwards (2008) said "an improper learning environment strikes at the heart of the school's purpose" (p. 1). School discipline is extremely important because positive strong learning conditions are critical to student success and disciplinary problems are a continual…

The use of a traveling instructional team to provide local inservice workshops to assist New Jersey vocational teachers and administrators in reducing and dealing with discipline problems is described and the effectiveness of the training seminars evaluated. (TA)

A review of 31 research documents found 26 of them relevant to the topic of student discipline and motivation. Variables studied in the 26 documents include time-on-task, achievement, disruptions, student attitudes and self-concept, absenteeism, disciplinary referral, detention, suspension, and expulsion. Among the review's findings are that…

Assertive Discipline (AD) advocates a systematic approach which enables teachers to set firm, consistent limits for students while remaining cognizant of students' need for warmth and positive support. This article describes effective and ineffective teacher disciplinary behaviors, AD competencies, and the implementation of AD at Rice Elementary…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: Program Description: The Assertive Discipline Program at John Swett Elementary clearly establishes student behavior expectation and consequences. In addition to these two outcomes, the program offers varying degrees of positive acknowledgment for students meeting or exceeding the expectations.…

This paper describes a project that was conducted in six Norfolk, Virginia, public secondary schools to explore the problems associated with the disproportionate involvement of black student in disciplinary actions. The paper also relates the project's efforts to implement changes in the school system that the research activities indicated might…

This project evaluated the effectiveness of school safety interventions to improve student interpersonal relationships and academic achievement. The targeted population consisted of middle school students in a growing, middle class community located in central southeastern Iowa. The issues of school safety were documented by means of student and…

Suggests that corporal punishment in the schools be abolished and presents alternatives to physical punishment. Proposes educators and other concerned individuals work together to form student problem committees, adjust classroom environment and improve the curriculum, and exercise their legal rights. (JAC)

This document is the report of a policy forum on interim alternative educational settings for students with disabilities involved in disciplinary actions. The report summarizes outcomes of discussions on the following topics: (1) purpose and goals of the interim alternative educational setting; (2) components of interim alternative educational…

A 3-year program was implemented in eight middle schools in the Charleston County School District (South Carolina) in fall 1986 to cope with high rates of student misconduct. The program sought to improve the clarity of school rules and the consistency of rule enforcement, classroom organization and management, frequency of communication to the…