Disciplinary ChallengesHow do Principals Address This

Dilemma?

Gathogo Mukuria

An Analysis and Critique

Disciplinary Problems

Discipline – degree of order and structure within school

Lack of Discipline Students cannot learn Instructors cannot teach

Disciplinary Problems

Leads to High student dropout rates Student absenteeism

Also for teachers High turnover rate for teachers

Suspensions – temporary Expulsions – permanent

Extreme form – school shootings

Public, Urban Schools

Disciplinary Problems Disruptive behavior Violence (includes fighting) Misbehaving students Drugs Vandalism

Many students with persistent discipline problems eventually drop out of school

Public, Urban Schools

Students are: African Americans Hispanic Americans Poor European Americans

Larger schools tend to have more problems than smaller schools

Public, Urban Schools

African-American urban schools Overcrowded Schools are in poor condition No human resources No technological resources Drop out rates exceed 50% African-American males are more likely to drop

out than females

Purpose of Study

Different leadership styles Difference among principals Principal controls school

High suspension rates Low suspension rates

Superintendent controls whole school district

Purpose of Study

Schools were ranked by suspension rates Include schools where principal was there for at

least 3 years Restrict to urban schools

Study Louisiana Tends to be one of the poorest states in the

U.S. Identified 65 schools with African-Americans

composing 55% or higher the student populaton

Study Background

Statistical techniques Used Spradley’s (1980) developmental

research sequence Domain analysis

Never heard of it If it discriminatory analysis, this is the most

subjective in statistics Sensitive to method and starting values

Hatarini Middle School

800 studentsSchool had:

Broken windows Faded paint Surrounded by old, neglected, and rundown

houses

“Judgment call”

Lafayette Middle School

Large school (no enrollment data)Built in 1926

“Still in good physical condition”

Many residents worked in factories in the city

“Judgment Call”

Molo Middle School

School playground Unkempt Play equipment was either broken or missing.

School was not attractive Racial and obscene graffiti “Tough looking students” High crime area 85% of students eligible for free school lunches

Pwani Junior High School

School has 1,020 studentsBuilt in 1926

Clean Well-planned Attractive to eye

99% of students on free lunch programStudents wear uniforms

All students are equal No difference between rich and poor students

Principal Leadership Style

Low-suspension rate schools

High-suspension rate schools

Low-Suspension Rate Schools

School wide disciplinary programsA joint effort to formulate programs

Students Parents Administration Teachers

I never seen this before.

Low-Suspension Rate Schools

Discipline is a joint effort Principal supports teachers

Respects and values teachers’ opinions Teachers have high morale Don’t want frustrated teachers

Teachers and principal are consistent enforcing rules and discipline

If students can find inconsistencies, then they will

Students always give weak teachers problems

Low-Suspension Rate Schools

Suspension policy is a flexible guideline Not a rigid document.

Flexible guidelines Counseling Reality therapy ???? Behavior clinics ???? In-school suspension Group mediation ????

Low-Suspension Rate Schools

Discipline problem A judgment call by administration A small fight may not result in suspension

Depends on circumstances

Does this violate following consistent rules???

Low-Suspension Rate Schools

Principal has high vision for school High expectations Create a school environment that is safe for

students and teachers Set high academic standards

Low-Suspension Rate Schools

Structured school environment Students play basketball during recess

Keep students occupied “Keep students busy” Keeps students out of trouble

Low-Suspension Rate Schools

Discipline is a community problem School with uniforms Easy to identify which school student attends, if

causing problems in a community

Schools have corporate sponsors

High-Suspension Rate Schools

Principals do not value or respect teacher’s suggestions Teachers distant themselves from

administration

Schools did not have well-established routines in school

Could not articulate a clear vision for school

High-Suspension Rate Schools

Low expectationsStudents lack support from parents (home)Difficult to motivate students to work

“substandard students”

Lack of parental involvementReduces motivation of staff, principal, and

teachers

High-Suspension Rate Schools

Administration saidSchool reflects neighborhood

Drug problems Crime Unemployed parents, etc.

High-Suspension Rate Schools

Followed discipline policy rigidly Policy is a blueprint Whether to suspend or not No flexibility Must suspend students

High-Suspension Rate Schools

To some students, a suspension is a reward Time off from school

Does not address the problem“Detrimental to students”

Criticism

Does this pattern generalize to all 65 schools? Statistics can handle this

Looking at 4 schools out of 65 is a biased sample!

Many observations are judgment calls Was the research consistent?

Criticism

Wished author defined Group mediation Reality therapy

Was not consistent on schools’ descriptions

Criticism

A good paper

Paper cited McCarthy (1991) Schools with behavior problems “there often is

a mismatch between the curriculum and students’ interests and values.”

Consequently students act out because curriculum is imposed on them

Really?????

References

1. Mukuria, Gathogo. May 2002. “Disciplinary Challenges, How do Principals Address This Dilemma?” Urban Education 37(3): 432-52.