One of a series of practitioner-oriented newsletters, the document provides elementary school principals with strategies for developing a school discipline code. The article recommends: (1) developing a written statement of school discipline policy; (2) launching the discipline policy at the beginning of the school year; (3) ensuring that…

DEVIANCE IS AN INTERACTIONAL PROCESS IN WHICH THE NORMS OF A SOCIAL GROUP HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SUBSEQUENTLY LABELED DEVIANT BY THE GROUP. THUS SCHOOL DEVIANCE--UNDERACHIEVEMENT, MISBEHAVIOR, AND EARLY SCHOOL-LEAVING--IS A CONSEQUENCE OF AN ADVERSE SCHOOL-PUPIL INTERACTION IN WHICH THE SCHOOL IS AN EQUAL PARTNER. SEVERAL…

Reports on a large-scale study which found that sixty percent of students are labeled as "behavior problems" by their teachers at least once during their elementary school careers. Discusses the questions this raises about teacher judgments, school behavior standards, and the impact on student self-concept. (SJL)

Describes one teachers' system of democratic discipline in which the children deliberate and construct the list of rules for the classroom. Addresses: (1) introducing democratic discipline; (2) daily routine; (3) typical problems, typical solutions; (4) novel solutions; (5) recurring problems; (6) unintended results; (7) context for children's…

Studied the extent of use and usefulness of "Turn Your School Round," a behavior management package aimed at promoting discipline, learning respect, and responsibility for one's actions. Found that almost half of 83 schools responding used the program or one of its components; success was reported more among schools using entire program…

Deals with types of behavior that cannot be allowed among staff or campers in the camp community--use of drugs or alcohol, personal abuse, crime, violence, and sexual activity. Urges camp directors to develop a written policy spelling out standards, expectations, and sanctions. Suggests staff orientation strategies. (JHZ)

Forty-five principals were interviewed concerning their experiences with and perceptions about serious incidents of teacher misconduct. The principals protected the image of the school by heading off, dampening, and containing the incidents. They preferred to resolve incidents in-house, but resorted to formal sanctions when necessary. (Author/DC)

Postulates that the use of competition and directed cooperation to maintain orderly classrooms discriminates against those less able to compete. Suggests the use of group projects to foster cooperation and enhance student discipline and morale. (CJM)

A questionnaire given to parents, teachers, and principals of middle-school students shows general consistency among the three groups in ranking student behavior problems--except on student use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, which is ranked high by parents but low by school authorities. (JW)

This article describes the following steps for developing and implementing system-wide behavior support: establishing a foundation for collaboration; building faculty involvement; establishing a data-based decision-making system, brainstorming and selecting strategies within an action planning process; implementing a school-wide program through an…

Strategies for curbing disruptions in the classroom include setting expectations, naming and defining behaviors students must learn, modeling appropriate and alternative behavior, setting up routines showing that self-control is important, settling on predictable consequences for blurting out, having children start over if communication breaks…

A discipline code developed by the staff at the National Center for the Study of Corporal Punishment and Alternatives in the schools is outlined. Development of the code was preceded by a survey of teachers and administrators on their perceptions of pressing discipline issues. The issues selected from the survey were resubmitted to the teachers…

Studies of delinquency have recently shifted their emphasis from social structures that motivate delinquent acts to those that define an act as delinquent. This shift suggests that preventing behavior from being labeled delinquent could prevent the occurrence of additional or more serious delinquency. A study of Chicago communities demonstrated…

This report summarizes the findings of a survey designed to identify strategies that have been found to be successful for dealing with school disciplinary problems. Data were collected through questionnaires responded to by more than 2,000 school administrators, with supplementary data provided by interviews with 100 administrators and information…

This survey of 27 state departments of special education investigated standards and guidelines on behavioral procedures current in 1994 and compared them with 1989 survey results. Types of behavioral procedures, including prohibited/restricted procedures, were identified, and monitoring activities were described. In 1994, more states had standards…