Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
William Thayer
Committee Member
Marcia O'Brien
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
behaviors, community, conflict resolution, D School, disciplinary action, discipline, interventions, kindergarten, multiethnic population, neighborhood schools, parents, peer mediation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, school district, staff, students, suspension, suspensions
Abstract
The researcher’s intention in this applied dissertation was to identify an intervention or interventions that would help decrease the number of suspensions at D School (the subject school). Based upon the research, the most prominent interventions that appeared to be effective were conflict resolution and peer mediation. The use of these interventions resolved conflicts before they surfaced.
D School serves kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and serves a multiethnic population. About 30% of the students are bused to the school from more culturally isolated sections of the city due to overcrowding in their neighborhood schools.
In 2000-2001, there was a 100% increase in the number of suspensions over the previous school year, 1999-2000. As a result, the school district required a decrease in the number of suspensions at the school. A decrease of 15% was achieved during the 2001-2002 school year and 23% in the first 60 days of the 2003-2004 school year based upon the data retrieved and the interventions used at D School.
The conflict resolution/peer mediation program assisted the entire staff, students, parents, and community to promote appropriate behaviors among the students at the school, the surrounding community, and the neighborhoods from which 30% of student population came.