How to Develop Schoolwide Discipline

Make high expectations the norm within the school.

Many parents, teachers and members of the community are concerned about discipline in schools. The most obvious approach may be to tighten disciplinary procedures and institute a punishment system to correct problems. However, the law of diminishing returns tends to come into play. According to Tim Lewis, PhD, evidence indicates that punishment without support only makes discipline problems in a school worse. Research also indicates that many school operate on a crisis management basis rather than tackling the problem in a more consistent, clear and constructive manner. Only a schoolwide approach will work in improving your school's environment.

Instructions

1. Initiate a working party or team to deal with the issues of schoolwide discipline. Involve teachers and representatives, such as parents and people from the local district, and allocate a chair person. Develop a communication system, giving responsibility to one person for developing this system. Organize a series of regular meetings. Write a mission statement, stating simply that your purpose is to make the school a happy, caring safe place where academic excellence prevails.

2. Build working structures within the team, such as looking at problems that now exist and examples of positive behavior within the school. Build on what works well, and use evidence-based practice when developing your rules and disciplinary procedures. Write no more than five rules that everybody in the school should follow, focusing on all of the pupils within the school. Ensure all information, including sanctions and penalties, is disseminated to everybody in the school.

3. Liaise closely with support services within the school. Bad behavior is often linked to learning problems, and learning support can alleviate underlying frustration. Initiate schoolwide social skills classes, where pupils learn about appropriate and inappropriate communication. Hold regular meetings of your working party, and review the situation within the school.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes, a zero tolerance approach to small misdemeanors within the school helps establish a calmer ethos and environment.

• Celebrate positive examples of behavior and academic success.

References

• School-wide PBS: "School-Wide Positive Behavior Support"; Tim Lewis, PhD; 2005
• Effective School-Wide Discipline in Virginia; Frequently Asked Questions