In today's public secondary schools, administrators face challenges that prior generations never anticipated, one of which is the T-shirt conundrum. The T-shirts that students wear to class contain all sorts of messages and images, many of which administrators may well consider inappropriate. This article is intended to help beleaguered educators…

This article argues that school choice/competition ought to play a central role in determining school discipline policy. Unfortunately, the status quo emphasizes disciplinary rules established by central authorities and school choice is often limited. The author provides an overview of these issues and presents a model of rules- versus…

Is it appropriate to implement punishment strategies in the home and school settings when children display disrespectful and inappropriate behaviors? This article depicts the advantages and disadvantages of teachers and parents utilizing an array of punishment strategies including: (a) reprimands, (b) response cost, (c) timeout, and (d) corporal…

The Virginia Board of Education's "Student Conduct Policy Guidelines" were first developed in 1994 in response to action by the 1993 General Assembly requiring the Virginia Board of Education to establish such guidelines. In 2004, the "Guidelines" underwent a major revision in response to requirements of § 22.1-279.6. of the…

As more children are placed under foster care, schools often have difficulty in responding to newly placed foster teens. Foster teens often exhibit both academic and behavioral adjustment issues, leading to disciplinary problems and high failure, and dropout rates. Attachment theory related to placement disruptions, school performance and…

The purpose of this article is to propose that a combined response to intervention (RTI)-psychoeducational assessment model be used for expedited evaluations required during disciplinary proceedings [Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 20 U.S.C. Section 1415(k)(5)(D)(ii)]. An expedited evaluation would determine if the child…

Describes use of a checklist, giving immediate feedback on specific items, to control individual behavior problems of students. (LD)

Maintains that getting tougher with disruptive youth does not get at the causes of their problems. Urqes administrators to develop alternative programs as the most effective and humane approach to these students. (Author/JM)

The method of suspension described here is both legally and educationally sound. The authors say the additional expense of a suspension-room teacher is economical when considered in light of costs incurred to school, child, and society under the old system. (Editor)

Teachers should think in terms of preventing discipline problems by carefully analyzing their own behavioral expectations, treating children in an adult-like manner, and being thoroughly organized for instruction. (JC)

Discusses classroom discipline and presents suggestions on how teachers can become more assertive in their classrooms. (CM)

Offers some suggestions that cover twelve areas of human relations in which students and teachers are involved in the day-to-day task of teaching and learning. Their intent is to provide new teachers with methods for avoiding discipline problems while building a positive interaction with their students. (Author/RK)

Suggests that parents, teachers, and administrators must accept responsibility together for maintaining an effective discipline policy. Presents five suggestions for working out a solution to the discipline problem. (RK)

To stem the tide of student misbehavior, teachers and administrators must present a united front. Cooperative discipline procedures can be effective when they are firm, fair, and offer the misbehaving student a personal option. Practical suggestions on disciplinary procedures are offered here. (Editor/RK)