Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Maryanne Roesch
Committee Member
Ann Barefield
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
discipline, educational environment, Grades 9, Grades 10, Grades 11, Grades 12, high school students, out-of-school suspensions, parent communication, program implementation, referrals, Saturday School, school administration, school discipline, school safety, Spotswood High School, student behavior, student conduct, suspensions, teacher morale, teacher support
Abstract
This applied dissertation addresses the discipline problems at Spotswood High School in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. During the years 2001 and 2002, there were a yearly average of 1,350 referrals reported to the Spotswood High School (SHS) administrative team for student behavior that violated the district’s discipline code. Within the 1,350 referrals there were 689 incidents resulting in out-of-school suspensions. Many discipline referrals were never addressed, which led to the encouragement of student misbehavior.
To address the discipline problems at SHS, the administrative team united in purpose and developed a discipline plan that empowered the staff at SHS to communicate with parents and to have the authority to maintain discipline within the school setting. The discipline plan also includes the implementation of Saturday School as an alternative to suspension of students with behavioral problems.
As a result of this study, and after an analysis of the discipline data, discipline improved as measured by the number of referrals reported to SHS administrative staff. Discipline referrals were significantly reduced, teacher morale improved, teacher support improved, individual student behavior improved, and parents and the community recognized improved student conduct at SHS.