A Qualitative Study of Effective School Discipline Practices: Perceptions of Administrators, Tenured Teachers, and Parents in Twenty Schools.

• Main Author: Nelson, Faye
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2002
• Subjects: Bullying; Classroom Management; Data Support Systems; Education; Educational Administration and Supervision
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/718; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1875&context=etd

Many educators and parents are gravely concerned about disorder and danger in school environments. In addition to school discipline issues, American classrooms are frequently plagued by minor infractions of misbehavior that disrupt the flow of classroom activities and interfere with learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate common threads of effective school discipline practices as perceived by administrators, tenured teachers, and parents in 20 schools in East Tennessee. I also attempted to determine if the views of administrators, tenured teachers, and parents are consistent with published research on school discipline practices. Data were collected from administrators, tenured teachers, and parents through an open-ended interview form that I designed. The study offers a number of recommendations regarding components of effective school discipline practices. An effective school discipline practice involves all stakeholders in its design. The principal and the teachers are responsible for carrying out the school discipline practices to foster appropriate behavior from the students. However, parents, students and community members should be equally represented in the design of discipline procedures. Administrators and teachers need to have quality professional development opportunities to acquire strategies for classroom and school discipline practices. Rewarding students for good behavior and positive contributions to the school community is important. Effective discipline practices are built through consistency and teamwork. Evaluation of school discipline practices should be ongoing, and strategies for reducing school disruptions should be continuously assessed for improvements.