Date of Award
1-1-1991
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
G. Kuchinskas
Committee Member
Joan Mignerey
Committee Member
David S. Flight
Keywords
academic achievement, at-risk students, behavior management, classroom management, counseling programs, corporal punishment, disruptive behavior, dropout prevention, exclusionary discipline, guidance programs, home-school collaboration, humanistic education, mentoring programs, middle school students, minority students, parent involvement, parent training, positive behavior support, proactive intervention, school discipline, secondary education, self-concept, self-esteem, student behavior, suspension reduction, teacher training, tutoring programs, youth development
Abstract
This report deals with the development of a program of home/school strategies for middle school students. A high suspension rate, use of corporal punishment and other exclusionary procedures were utilized with a continued high rate of disruptive behavior. In addition, many parents revealed a sincere desire for assistance in managing their child, stating they had few or no techniques for positive behavior control.
Analysis of the data revealed a core group of students who were repeaters of disruptive behavior, despite detention, suspensions and other exclusionary tactics. Four solution strategies included a parent training program, with teaching seminars and written materials for parent use: training for teachers in behavior management techniques; a guidance and mentoring system to assist parents in dealing with problems; and a counseling and tutoring system for the repeatedly misbehaving students at school.
The emphasis on a proactive approach to adequate behavior control, with a strong emphasis on developing sell esteem in students decreased the number of Inappropriate behaviors, reduced suspension rates, allowed parents to deal more effectively with their children, and raised academic achievement in the failure ridden Students.