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School Discipline. Jason Selhorst Michael Meyers. Does the punishment fit the crime?. Corporal Punishment. Policies regarding corporal punishment vary from state to state and district to district. Long, controversial history in the United States Statistics of Corporal Punishment.
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School Discipline Jason Selhorst Michael Meyers
Corporal Punishment • Policies regarding corporal punishment vary from state to state and district to district. • Long, controversial history in the United States • Statistics of Corporal Punishment
States with legal corporal punishment: • Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, S. Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming.
Ingraham v. Wright 1977 • Dade County, Florida. James Ingraham and Roosevelt Andrews were paddled leading to hospitalization, missing several days of school. • Ingraham was paddled for being slow to respond to teachers directions.
Outcome • The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of corporal punishment (split vote 5 to 4). However, many institutions around the country have banned its use. • Schools must abide by specific criteria to use corporal punishment
Critics of Corporal Punishment • “Corporal Punishment is neither a necessary nor an effective response to misbehavior in school”- Slavin • “The practice is archaic, cruel and inhumane and an unjustifiable act on the part of the state”- LaMorte • Arguments against: the practice is degrading, psychologically damaging, teaches the wrong lesson, it is abuse.
Arguments In Favor of Corporal Punishment • Corporal punishment only punishes the guilty • Corporal Punishment in the scale of punishments • Child-rearing and parents' liberty interests
Suspension:The most common form of school discipline • Is it truly effective? • Pro: Allows time to reflect on their actions, returning fresh with a new attitude. • Cons: Simply removes the troublesome student, without changing the environment to prevent/reduce discipline problems. • Majority of suspensions done over irritating/annoying acts instead of serious offenses. • “Despite its prevalent use suspensions usually have little or no effect on student behaviors.”- Cameron • Suspension statistics
Promoting Positive Behavior in the Classroom • Establish and communicate high expectations for student behavior • Make clear to students the consequences of misbehavior • Enforce classroom rules promptly, and equitably starting the first day of school • Monitor classroom activities and provide feedback for students regarding their behavior • “Rewarding students reinforces a particular response, and that response is more likely to happen again”- Helmstader
When Discipline Problems Arise: • Intervene quickly • Teach misbehaving students pro-social skills • Use reasonable punishments • Use of behavior contracts • In-school suspension • Provide counseling for misbehaving students
Other Ineffective Practices • Avoid vague, unenforceable rules Avoid ambiguity in discipline approaches, and rules DO NOT IGNORE MISBEHAVIOR!
Teacher Surveys • Approximately 30 teachers were surveyed ranging from grades 9-12 • Every teacher surveyed felt corporal punishment is inappropriate and not practiced in their schools • Majority of teachers said their best approach in discipline was talking to the students one on one about their conduct • Other good ways mentioned were; letter of apology, in-person apology to either student or teacher, the use of positive reinforcement is crucial in promoting positive behavior
References • Cameron, M. (2006). Managing school discipline and implications for school social workers: A review of the literature. Children & Schools, 28 (4), 219-227. • Helmstader, G. C. (1970). Research concepts in human behavior. New York: Meredeth Corporation. • Nissan. (2006). Teacher-tested classroom management strategies. Upper Sadle River, NJ: Pearson. Schoolwide and Classroom Discipline http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/5/cu9.html. Retrieved Februrary 2008 • Benatar, David. Corporal Punishment. http://www.corpun.com/benatar.htm,. Retrieved February, 2008. • States with corporal punishment in school. http://school.familyeducation.com/classroom-discipline/resource/38377.html. Retrieved February, 2008. • U.S.: Corporal Punishment and Paddling Statistics by State and Race. http://www.stophitting.com/disatschool/statesBanning.php. Retrieved February, 2008. • Suspension and Expulsion At-A-Glance. http://idea.gseis.ucla.edu/publications/suspension/index.html. Retrieved February, 2008.