Administrative Policies And Procedures In High School Pupil Discipline

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Content Copyrighted
by-
Thelma Irene Barnes
1959
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
IN HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL DISCIPLINE
A D i s s e r t a t i o n
P r e s e n t e d t o
t h e F a c u l t y o f t h e S c h o o l o f E d u c a t i o n
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a
I n P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t
o f t h e R e q u ir e m e n ts f o r t h e D e g ree
D o c to r o f E d u c a t i o n
by
T ,
T helm a B a r n e s
J u n e 1959
This dissertation, written under the direction
of the Chairman of the candidate’s Guidance
Com m ittee and approved by all members of the
Committee, has been presented to and accepted
by the Faculty of the School of Education in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of D octor of Education.
D a te ........................ - y -V . H -Q.»-... i iJ. 'JJ.................................
Dean
Guidance Committee /
" . 1
Chairman
t ' / '
V ......
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I . THE FORMULATION AND DEFINITION OF
THE PROBLEM ................................................................. 1
I n t r o d u c t i o n ................................................................. 1
P u rp o s e ............................................................................ 2
I m p o r ta n c e o f t h e S tu d y ................................. 4
D e l i m i t a t i o n s ................................................................. 7
D e f i n i t i o n s o f Term s Used ........................... 10
D i s c i p l i n e ............................................................ 10
D i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r ...................... 10
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c y ................................. 10
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e ...................... 11
P u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r ............................................ 11
Problem parent ................................................. 11
R e f e r r a l ................................................................. 11
C r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t t e c h n i q u e . . . 12
O r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e R e m a in d e r o f
t h e D i s s e r t a t i o n ................................................. 13
I I . REVIEW OF THE L IT E R A T U R E ...................................... 15
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C h a n g in g A t t i t u d e s Toward
D i s c i p l i n e ...................................... 15
P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r ................................................. 20
D i l l o n s t u d y ............................................................ 21
N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n s t u d y . 22
P h o e n i x s t u d y ............................................................ 24
P o w e rs s t u d y ............................................................ 25
C o r p o r a l P u n is h m e n t..................................................... 26
F a l k s t u d y ................................................................. 26
Ja m e s s t u d y ............................................................ 27
S tu d y m ade by F o r d , L a n e , and
L a w s o n ....................................................................... 29
The R o l e o f t h e H igh S c h o o l T e a c h e r
i n P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e ...................................... 30
Summary ................................................................. 35
The R o l e o f t h e H igh S c h o o l A d m in is
t r a t o r i n P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e ...................... 36
T e x t b o o k t r e a t m e n t o f t h e r o l e o f
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in d i s c i p l i n e . . 36
R e s e a r c h on t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s
r o l e i n d i s c i p l i n e ...................................... 38
F r a z e r s t u d y ................................................. 39
V
CHAPTER PAGE
G a r i n g e r s t u d y .................................................. 40
H e n n in g s t u d y .................................................. 42
O ls e n s t u d y ............................................................. 47
D e x t e r s t u d y ....................................................... 49
O l i v a s t u d y ............................................................. 51
C h a p t e r Summary ............................................................. 52
I I I . METHOD OF PROCEDURE .................................................. 57
The C r i t i c a l I n c i d e n t T e c h n iq u e and
I t s Use i n T h is S tu d y ................................. 58
D e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e I n s t r u m e n t . . . . 59
P i l o t s t u d y .................................................................. 60
R e f in e m e n t o f t h e i n s t r u m e n t . . . . 62
S p o n s o r s h i p o f t h e S t u d y ................................. 63
S e l e c t i o n o f R e s p o n d e n ts ................................. 64
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e R e t u r n s ....................................... 67
R e t u r n s fro m C a l i f o r n i a ............................ 67
D i s t r i b u t i o n ....................................................... 67
C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r s ................................. 68
C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . . . . 69
R e t u r n s fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n
C a l i f o r n i a ............................................................. 69
D i s t r i b u t i o n ....................................................... 69
CHAPTER PAGE
R e tu r n s fro m t e a c h e r s in s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .................. 71
R e t u r n s fro m a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in
s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . . 71
T o t a l r e s p o n s e s ................................................. 72
T r e a tm e n t o f t h e D a ta ...................................... 73
C h a p te r Summary ....................................................... 75
IV. EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE TEACHER
REFERRALS OF PUP*L DISCIPLINE CASES . . 77
B a c k g ro u n d I n f o r m a t i o n ...................................... 78
S t a t e s and c i t i e s r e p r e s e n t e d . . . 78
S c h o o l s i z e ...................................................... 80
S c h o o l o r g a n i z a t i o n ...................................... 82
T i t l e o f a d m i n i s t r a t o r ...................... 85
Sex o f r e f e r r e d p u p i l ................................. 87
Types o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r ................ 89
T o t a l r e s p o n s e ................................................. 89
Los A n g e le s C i t y r e s p o n s e s ........... 91
R e s p o n s e s fro m C a l i f o r n i a , E x c lu d in g
Los A n g e l e s ................................................. 93
Combined r e s p o n s e s fro m C a l i f o r n i a . 97
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R e s p o n s e s fro m s t a t e s o t h e r
t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .................................................. 98
Summary o f t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r r e f e r r e d t o
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .................................................. 100
C o m p a riso n o f t y p e s o f r e f e r r e d
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r in j u n i o r
v e r s u s s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s . . . . 101
P l a c e i n s c h o o l w h e r e m i s b e h a v i o r
o c c u r r e d .................................................................. 105
Teacher Procedures Used in Effective
R e f e r r a l s .................................................................. 106
E f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s . . . . 106
A c o m p a r is o n o f e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o
c e d u r e s u s e d in j u n i o r v e r s u s
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s ....................................... 110
A n a l y s i s o f e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
a c c o r d i n g t o g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s . . 114
T e a c h e r P r o c e d u r e s Used i n I n e f
f e c t i v e R e f e r r a l s ................................................. 119
I n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s . . . 119
A c o m p a r is o n o f i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r
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p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n j u n i o r v e r s u s
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .............................................. 121
A n a l y s i s o f i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r
p r o c e d u r e s a c c o r d i n g t o
g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s ........................................... 125
C r i t i c a l I n c i d e n t s Showing E f f e c t i v e
R e f e r r a l P r o c e d u r e s Used by
T e a c h e r s ...................................................................... 130
Im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l o f a s e r i o u s
e m e r g e n c y ................................................................. 132
R e f e r r a l a f t e r u s i n g many
t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s ...................................... 136
R e f e r r a l w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n ............................................................ 138
P r o p e r r e f e r r a l o f an o u t - o f -
c l a s s p r o b l e m ...................................................... 140
C o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h d i s c i p l i n e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r in a d v a n c e o f
r e f e r r a l ................................................................. 142
A ccom panying p u p i l t o o f f i c e . . . . 145
A rra n g e m e n t f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r -
a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e ...................... 146
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R e f e r r a l o f p u p i l f o r h e l p
t h e t e a c h e r c a n n o t p r o v i d e . . . . 149
Im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l i n c a s e s i n v o l v i n g
'’p r o b le m " p a r e n t s ...................... 150
R e q u ire m e n t t h a t p u p i l h i m s e l f
w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l . . 151
S u r r m a r y ........................................................... 152
C r i L i c a l I n c i d e n t s Show ing I n e f f e c t i v e
R e f e r r a l P r o c e d u r e s Used by
T e a c h e r s ................................................. 152
R e f e r r a l o f c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e ,
b e s t h a n d le d by good t e a c h i n g . . . 153
R e f e r r a l w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
c o u n s e l i n g ...................................... 158
R e f e r r a l w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t
t h a t p u p i l b e d ro p p e d fro m t h e
c l a s s ....................................................... 163
R e f e r r a l made w i t h i n c o m p l e t e o r
i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s ................................. 167
A llo w in g s e r i o u s c a s e t o r e a c h
c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e r e f e r r a l . . . 169
X
CHAPTER PAGE
R e f e r r a l t o o f f i c e w i t h o u t n o t e
o r o t h e r n o t i c e .................................................. 171
A d v ic e t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r on how
t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e r e f e r r e d . . . . 173
C h a p t e r S u m m a r y ............................................................ 174
V. EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCEDURES IN HANDLING PUPIL
D I S C I P L I N E ....................................................................... 178
B a c k g ro u n d I n f o r m a t i o n ...................................... 179
S t a t e s r e p r e s e n t e d ............................................ 179
S c h o o l s i z e ............................................................ 181
Type o f s c h o o l o r g a n i z a t i o n ...................... 183
Sex o f p u p i l i n v o l v e d in r e p o r t e d
i n c i d e n t s .................................................................. 185
T ypes o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r ............................ 187
K in d s o f m i s b e h a v i o r r e p o r t e d
in t o t a l s t u d y .................................................. 189
T ypes o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r m e n tio n e d
in i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by Los A n g e le s
t e a c h e r s .................................................................. 191
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T yp es o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e p o r t e d
by t e a c h e r s fro m C a l i f o r n i a
s c h o o l s o u t s i d e o f Los A n g e le s . . 193
T yp es o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e p o r t e d
fro m a l l C a l i f o r n i a s c h o o l s . . . 194
T yp es o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e p o r t e d
fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . 194
A c o m p a r is o n o f r e f e r r e d p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r s in j u n i o r v e r s u s
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .................................... 196
P l a c e i n s c h o o l w h e r e m i s b e h a v i o r
o c c u r r e d ................................................................ 197
S u m m a r y ........................................................................... 201
R e f e r r a l P e r s o n n e l Who H a n d le d t h e
C a s e s R e p o r te d in t h e I n c i d e n t s . . . 202
T i t l e o f r e f e r r a l p e r s o n n e l .................... 202
E x t e n t o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g , . 203
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s Used in
H a n d lin g P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r s ...................... 207
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in
e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s ....................................... 207
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in
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i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s ................................. 209
A n a l y s i s o f e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s , a c c o r d i n g t o
g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s ............................................ 212
A c o m p a r is o n o f i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , by
g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s ............................................ 220
A n a l y s i s o f e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s in j u n i o r v e r s u s
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s ................................. 228
A c o m p a r is o n o f i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in
j u n i o r an d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s . 233
C r i t i c a l I n c i d e n t s R e v e a l i n g E f f e c t i v e
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P o l i c i e s and
P r o c e d u r e s ...................................................... 239
G u id a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l . . . 240
S u s p e n s io n o f p u p i l , r e q u i r i n g
p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e ...................................... 243
C o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s ............................ 246
Change in P u p i l ' s p ro g ra m a f t e r c o n
s u l t i n g t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ...................... 249
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Withdrawal of privileges related
t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r ............................ 254
Parent contacts by telephone, letter
o r home v i s i t .................................................. 259
G ro up c o u n s e l i n g ....................................... 262
C o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , t e a c h e r ,
and p a r e n t ................................................. 266
E x p u l s i o n fro m s c h o o l ................................. 270
Arrangement for easy and prompt
a p o lo g y by p u p i l ................................. 272
C r i t i c a l I n c i d e n t s R e v e a l i n g I n e f f e c
t i v e P o l i c i e s a n d P r o c e d u r e s . . . . 274
F a i l u r e t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f a c t i o n
t a k e n , i f an y ................................................. 274
Ineffectual warning to pupil in
c a s e s o f s e r i o u s m i s b e h a v i o r . . . 277
B r i e f s u s p e n s i o n o f p u p i l ................ 282
F a i l u r e t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h and w ork
w i t h p u p i l ................................................. 283
R e p rim a n d in g o f w h o le g r o u p f o r t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r o f o n e o r a few p u p i l s . 286
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B r i e f d e t e n t i o n p e r i o d s b e f o r e
o f a f t e r s c h o o l ........................................................ 287
W ith d ra w a l o f p r i v i l e g e s n o t c o n
n e c t e d w i t h t h e m i s b e h a v i o r . . . 289
R e q u ire m e n t t h a t p u p i l a p o l o g i z e . . 290
C h a p te r Summary ........................................................... 292
V I. DELINEATION OF RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHER
AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR HIGH SCHOOL
PUPIL D I S C I P L I N E ........................................... 297
R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e C la s s r o o m
T e a c h e r in H igh S c h o o l P u p i l -**—'
D i s c i p l i n e ..................................................... 298
P r o v i s i o n o f v i t a l , w e l l p l a n n e d ,
w e l l o r g a n i z e d i n s t r u c t i o n . . . . 299
Use o f ju d g m e n t i n t i m i n g o f
r e f e r r a l ..................................................... 300
D e l e g a t i o n o f f i n a l d e c i s i o n s t o
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r ...................................... 304
A w are n ess o f o u t s i d e - o f -
c l a s s p r o b l e m s ..................................... 304
R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r
in H igh S c h o o l P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e . . . 305
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A d e q u a te c o m m u n ic a tio n w i t h
c l a s s r o o m ...................................................... 306
Use o f g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s ........... 309
E f f o r t s t o s e c u r e h o m e - s c h o o l
c o o p e r a t i o n ................................................. 311
Use o f a u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s . . . . 312
C h a p t e r Summary . - ........................................... 315
V I I . SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................ 317
I n t r o d u c t i o n .................................................................. 317
The p r o b le m ............................................................ 317
The p r o c e d u r e ................................................ 320
Summary o f F i n d i n g s fro m A d m in is
t r a t o r ' s R e s p o n s e s ................................ 321
E f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s 322
F i n d i n g s p e r t a i n i n g t o i n e f f e c t i v e
t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s ...................................... 325
The t e a c h e r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y in
h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e . . . 327
Summary o f f i n d i n g s fro m T e a c h e r s '
R e s p o n s e s ........................................................... 328
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Types o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r ........... 328
E f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s . 330
I n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s ................................................ 332
The a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
i n p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e ........................................ 335
C o n c lu s io n s ........................................................................ 336
R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ................................................ 338
R ecom m end ations t o t e a c h e r s . . . . 338
R ecom m end ation s t o d i s c i p l i n e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ................................................. 339
S u g g e s t i o n s f o r F u r t h e r S tu d y ...................... 342
B IB L IO G R A P H Y ................................................................................ 343
A P P E N D IX E S ...................................................................................... 356
A p p e n d ix A. P i l o t S tu d y Q u e s t i o n n a i r e
A d d r e s s e d t o T e a c h e r s . . . . 357
A p p en d ix B. P i l o t S tu d y Q u e s t i o n n a i r e
A d d r e s s e d t o D i s c i p l i n e
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ........................................ 360
A p p e n d ix C. L e t t e r C o n fir m in g S p o n s o r s h i p
o f t h e S tu d y by t h e C a l i f o r n i a
A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry
CHAPTER
A p p e n d ix D.
A p p e n d ix E.
A p p e n d ix F
A p p e n d ix G
A p p e n d ix H
A p p e n d ix I
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S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s . . . . 363
C o r r e s p o n d e n c e R e q u e s t i n g
P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e S tu d y . . 365
L e t t e r A ccom pany ing Q u e s t i o n
n a i r e s t o b e D i s t r i b u t e d t o
T e a c h e r s and D i s c i p l i n e
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ....................................... 371
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e D i r e c t e d t o A dm in
i s t r a t o r s R e q u e s t i n g R e p o r t o f
E f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r R e f e r r a l
o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r ...................... 374
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e D i r e c t e d t o A dm in
i s t r a t o r s R equest in g R e p o r t o f
I n e f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r R e f e r r a l
o f Pupi-l ’U s b e h a v i o r .................... 376
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e D i r e c t e d t o
T e a c h e r s R e q u e s t i n g R e p o r t o f
E f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e H a n d lin g
o f P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e c a s e . . . 378
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e D i r e c t e d t o T e a c h e r s
R e q u e s t i n g R e p o r t o f I n e f f e c t i v e
x v i i i
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A d m i n i s t r a t i v e H a n d l in g o f
P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e C a s e ................................380
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
I . Number an d P e r C en t o f Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
Distributed and Returned .............. 66
I I . S t a t e s fro m W hich A d m i n i s t r a t o r s '
R e p l i e s W ere R e c e iv e d ....................................... 79
I I I . G e o g r a p h i c L o c a t i o n o f S c h o o l s R e p r e s e n t e d
in R e p l i e s fro m A d m i n i s t r a t o r s . . . . 81
IV. D i s t r i b u t i o n o f A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ' R e s p o n s e s ,
by S i z e o f S c h o o l .................................................. 83
V. D i s t r i b u t i o n o f A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ' R e s p o n s e s ,
by Type o f S c h o o l O r g a n i z a t i o n . . . . 86
V I. T i t l e s o f A d m i n i s t r a t o r s Who R e p o r te d
Critical Incidents .................... 88
V I I . Sex o f P u p i l s I n v o l v e d in t h e I n c i d e n t s
R e p o r te d by A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ............................ 90
V I I I . T yp es o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r R e f e r r e d by
T e a c h e r s , i n O r d e r o f M e n tio n by
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ............................................................. 92
XX
TABLE PAGE
IX. T y p es o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r R e f e r r e d
by T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O rd e r o f F r e
q u e n c y o f M e n tio n by Los A n g e le s
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ............................................................. 94
X. T y p es o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r R e f e r r e d
by T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O r d e r o f F r e
q u e n c y o f M e n tio n by A d m i n i s t r a t o r s
i n C a l i f o r n i a C i t i e s , E x c l u d in g
Los A n g e le s .................................................................. 96
X I. T y pes o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r R e f e r r e d
by T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O r d e r o f F r e
q u e n c y o f M e n tio n by A d m i n i s t r a t o r s
i n S t a t e s O th e r Than C a l i f o r n i a . . . 99
X I I . T ypes o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r R e f e r r e d
by T e a c h e r s , in O r d e r o f F r e q u e n c y o f
M e n tio n by Lhe J u n i o r H ig h S c h o o l
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ................................................................. 103
X I I I . T y p es o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r R e f e r r e d
by T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O r d e r o f F r e q u e n c y
o f M e n tio n by S e n i o r H ig h S c h o o l
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ................................................................. 104
x x i
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XIV. P la c e in S c h o o l Where P u p i l M is b e h a v io r s
R e p o r te d by A d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n C r i t i c a l
I n c i d e n t s O c c u rre d ................................................ 107
XV. E f f e c t i v e R e f e r r a l P r o c e d u r e s Used by
T e a c h e r s , a s R e p o rte d by A d m i n i s t r a
t o r s ..................................................................................... 109
XVI. A C om parison o f E f f e c t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
Used by T e a c h e r s in Making D i s c i p l i n e
R e f e r r a l s in J u n i o r and in S e n io r
High S c h o o l s ................................................................ I l l
XV II. A C om p ariso n A c c o rd in g t o G e o g ra p h ic
A re a s o f E f f e c t i v e P r o c e d u r e s Used
by T e a c h e r s in Making D i s c i p l i n e
R e f e r r a l s , a s R e p o rte d by
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ........................................................... 115
X V III. Number o f I n e f f e c t i v e R e f e r r a l s Made
by T e a c h e r s , a s R e p o rte d by A d m in is
t r a t o r s ........................................................................... 120
XIX. I n e f f e c t i v e R e f e r r a l P r o c e d u r e s Used
by T e a c h e r s , as R e p o rte d by
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s .......................................................... 122
x x i i
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XX. A C o m p ariso n o f I n e f f e c t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
Used by T e a c h e r s i n M aking D i s c i p l i n e
R e f e r r a l s i n J u n i o r and in S e n i o r
H igh S c h o o l s ................................................................. 124
XXI. A C o m p ariso n A c c o r d in g t o G e o g r a p h ic
A re a s o f I n e f f e c t i v e P r o c e d u r e s Used
by T e a c h e r s i n M aking D i s c i p l i n e
R e f e r r a l s , a s R e p o r te d by
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ............................................................ 127
X X II. S t a t e s fro m W hich R e p l i e s fro m T e a c h e r s
Were R e c e iv e d ............................................................ 180
X X III. E f f e c t i v e and I n e f f e c t i v e I n c i d e n t s ,
by G e o g r a p h ic A r e a s ................................................. 182
XXIV. D i s t r i b u t i o n o f I n c i d e n t s R e p o r te d ,
A c c o r d in g t o S i z e o f S c h o o l ............................. 184
XXV. D i s t r i b u t i o n o f I n c i d e n t s R e p o r t e d ,
by Type o f S c h o o l O r g a n i z a t i o n . . . . 186
XXVI. D i s t r i b u t i o n o f I n c i d e n t s R e p o r te d ,
A c c o r d in g t o t h e Sex o f t h e
P u p i l I n v o l v e d ............................................................ 188
x x iU
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XXVII. I n c i d e n t s Show ing P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r s ,
a s R e p o r te d b y T e a c h e r s ....................................... 190
XXVIII. P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r s R e p o r t e d by T e a c h e r s
i n C r i t i c a l I n c i d e n t s , L i s t e d in
O r d e r o f F r e q u e n c y o f M e n t i o n ...................... 192
XXIX. P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r s R e p o r te d by T e a c h e r s
fro m J u n i o r an d S e n i o r H ig h S c h o o l s ,
L i s t e d in O r d e r o f F r e q u e n c y o f
M e n tio n ............................................................................. 198
XXX. S c h o o l L o c a t i o n o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v i o r s . . 200
XXXI. T i t l e s o f R e f e r r a l P e r s o n n e l a n d Number
o f I n c i d e n t s i n W hich They W ere
I n v o l v e d ............................................................................. 204
XXXII. E f f e c t i v e I n c i d e n t s M aking S p e c i f i c
M e n tio n o f A d m i n i s t r a t i v e B a c k in g . . . 206
XXXIII. Number o f I n c i d e n t s Show ing E f f e c t i v e
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s , a s
R e p o r te d by R e f e r r i n g T e a c h e r s . . . . 208
XXXIV. E f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
U sed , L i s t e d i n O r d e r o f F r e q u e n c y
o f M e n tio n by T e a c h e r s ....................................... 210
x x i v
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XXXV. Number o f I n c i d e n t s Show ing I n e f f e c t i v e
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P o l i c i e s and P r o c e d u r e s
a s R e p o r te d b y R e f e r r i n g T e a c h e r s . . . 211
XXXVI. I n e f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
U sed , L i s t e d in O r d e r o f F r e q u e n c y
o f M e n tio n by T e a c h e r s ........................................ 213
XXXVII. A Rank O rd e r C o m p a ris o n , A c c o r d in g t o
G e o g r a p h ic A r e a s , o f I n e f f e c t i v e
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s Used in
P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e C a s e s , a s
R e p o r te d by T e a c h e r s ...................................... 214
XXXVIIT, A Rank O rd e r C o m p a ris o n , A c c o r d in g
t o G e o g r a p h ic A r e a s , o f I n e f f e c t i v e
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s Used in
P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e C a s e s , a s R e p o r te d
by T e a c h e r s ................................................................. 221
XXXIX. E f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
R e p o r te d by J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l
T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O rd e r o f F r e q u e n c y
o f M e n t i o n ....................................................................... 230
XL. E f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
X X V
TABLE PAGE
R e p o r t e d by S e n i o r H igh S c h o o l
T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O rd e r o f F r e q u e n c y
o f M e n t i o n ........................................................................ 232
XLI. I n e f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
R e p o r te d by J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l
T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O r d e r o f
F r e q u e n c y o f M e n tio n ............................................ 236
X L II. I n e f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
R e p o r t e d by S e n i o r H igh S c h o o l
T e a c h e r s , i n Rank O r d e r o f F r e q u e n c y
o f M e n t i o n ........................................................................ 238
CHAPTER I
THE FORMULATION AND DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
I . INTRODUCTION
S c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e i s n o t a new p r o b le m . More t h a n
two th o u s a n d y e a r s a g o , S o c r a t e s sp o k e w i t h c o n c e r n a b o u t
t h e young p e o p le o f h i s day whom he d e s c r i b e d a s h a v in g
c o n te m p t f o r a u t h o r i t y , show ing d i s r e s p e c t t o a d u l t s ,
l o v i n g c h a t t e r r a t h e r t h a n w o rk , and t y r a n n i z i n g t h e i r
t e a c h e r s .
S c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s h a v e lo n g r e c o g
n i z e d t h e n e c e s s i t y o f e s t a b l i s h i n g a d e q u a t e p u p i l c o n t r o l ,
f o r w i t h o u t i t t h e s c h o o l s a r e s o r e l y h a n d ic a p p e d i n t h e i r
e d u c a t i o n a l t a s k . D i s c i p l i n e i s a n a t u r a l and e s s e n t i a l
p a r t o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a l p ro g ra m ; i t h e l p s t o a s s u r e t h a t
b o y s and g i r l s s h a l l l e a r n s t a n d a r d s o f good b e h a v i o r ,
d e v e l o p t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e p e r s o n a l i t y p a t t e r n s , and p r e p a r e
t o a c c e p t t h e many r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f a d u l t l i f e . A c h i e v
in g good d i s c i p l i n e i s one o f t h e c e n t r a l a im s o f m odern
e d u c a t i o n .
2
I I . PURPOSE
The p u r p o s e o f t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n was t o d e t e r m i n e
t h e p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s u s e d by h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a ~
t o r s in h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . I t was d e s i r e d t o
o b t a i n a c c o u n t s o f s u c c e s s f u l and u n s u c c e s s f u l h a n d l i n g o f
d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s , a s f u r n i s h e d by t h o s e m ost i n t i m a t e l y
i n v o l v e d in t h e p r o c e s s - - t h e h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r and t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o whom t h e d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l i s m ade.
The d a t a o f t h e s t u d y w e re t h e a c c o u n t s f u r n i s h e d by b o t h
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s .
C la s s r o o m t e a c h e r s p a r t i c i p a t e d a s o b s e r v e r s o f
e f f e c t i v e an d i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s a s
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s d e a l t w i t h d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l s ; a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s p a r t i c i p a t e d a s o b s e r v e r s o f e f f e c t i v e and i n e f
f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s a s t e a c h e r s made d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l s .
S p e c i f i c p ro b le m s i n v e s t i g a t e d w e re t h e s e :
1. What t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r a r e b e in g
r e f e r r e d t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ?
2. When t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r b e in g
r e f e r r e d t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in Los
A n g e le s a r e co m p a red w i t h t h o s e b e i n g r e f e r r e d
in o t h e r c i t i e s in C a l i f o r n i a and in s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , w h a t d i f f e r e n c e s c a n be
o b s e r v e d ?
3 . When t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r b e i n g
r e f e r r e d t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l s a r e c o m p a re d w i t h t h o s e b e i n g
r e f e r r e d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , w h a t d i f f e r
e n c e s c a n be o b s e r v e d ?
4 . What p r o c e d u r e a r e t e a c h e r s u s i n g i n r e f e r r i n g
c a s e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ?
5. What t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s a r e e f f e c t i v e ?
6 . What t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s a r e
i n e f f e c t i v e ?
7 . When t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d i n
Los A n g e le s a r e c o m p a red w i t h t h o s e b e i n g u s e d
in o t h e r c i t i e s i n C a l i f o r n i a and i n s t a t e s
o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a , w hat d i f f e r e n c e s c an b e
o b s e r v e d ?
8 . When t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d in
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a r e c o m p a re d w i t h t h o s e
b e i n g u s e d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , w h a t d i f f e r
e n c e s c a n be o b s e r v e d ?
9 . What p r o c e d u r e s a r e b e i n g u s e d by h i g h s c h o o l
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in h a n d l i n g p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e ?
4
10. What p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
a r e e f f e c t i v e ?
11. What p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
a r e i n e f f e c t i v e ?
12 . When p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n
Los A n g e le s a r e co m p ared w i t h t h o s e b e in g u s e d
in o t h e r c i t i e s i n C a l i f o r n i a and i n s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , w hat d i f f e r e n c e s can
b e o b s e r v e d ?
13. When p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a r e co m p a red w i t h t h o s e
b e i n g u s e d in s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , w h a t d i f
f e r e n c e s c a n b e o b s e r v e d ?
14. What i s t h e r e l a t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e
c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r and t h e h i g h s c h o o l d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in h a n d l i n g c a s e s o f
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r ?
I I I . IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
The s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f a l a r g e c i t y s c h o o l s y s te m
s a i d r e c e n t l y :
D i s c i p l i n e i s a p ro b le m o f a l l s c h o o l s i n t h i s
c i t y , i n e v e r y c i t y , i n e v e r y c o m m u n ity , b e c a u s e
5
d i s c i p l i n e i s an i n h e r e n t p a r t o f e d u c a t i o n . A l l
s c h o o l s h a v e p ro b le m s o f d i s c i p l i n e w h e t h e r t h e y
r e c o g n i z e them o r n o t . (105)
G r e a t i n t e r e s t i n t h e p ro b le m o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e
i s e v id e n c e d i n c u r r e n t p r o f e s s i o n a l e d u c a t i o n a l l i t e r a t u r e .
S u b j e c t s c o v e r e d r a n g e fro m c h a n g in g a t t i t u d e s to w a rd d i s
c i p l i n e , p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t, t h e r o l e
o f t h e t e a c h e r in c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l s , and s c h o o l - w i d e and
c i t y - w i d e d i s c i p l i n e p o l i c i e s , t o t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r f o r m a l i z i n g and p u b l i c i z i n g t h e
s c h o o l ' s p h i l o s o p h y o f d i s c i p l i n e . T i t l e s su c h a s
" P o lic e m a n F i r s t - - T e a c h e r S e c o n d " (57) and " D i s c i p l i n e I s
No P ro b le m " (6 2 ) show t h e w id e r a n g e o f i n t e r e s t .
T h is i n v e s t i g a t i o n was c o n s i d e r e d e s p e c i a l l y a p p r o
p r i a t e a t t h i s tim e b e c a u s e t h e r e i s some e v i d e n c e (1)
t h a t c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s c a n n o t be r e c r u i t e d i n t o t h e t e a c h i n g
p r o f e s s i o n in s u f f i c i e n t num bers m a in ly b e c a u s e o f t h e i r
f e a r o f w i d e s p r e a d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , and (2) t h a t e x p e r i
en c e d t e a c h e r s a r e l e a v i n g t h e p r o f e s s i o n f o r t h e same
r e a s o n ( 6 7 , 5 7 , 4 6 ) .
T h e re i s some e v i d e n c e a l s o t h a t t h e i n c i d e n c e o f
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r i s on t h e i n c r e a s e . "O ur c h i l d r e n a r e
g ro w in g m ore and m ore d i s t u r b e d , " s a i d a New York C i t y
6
h i g h s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l . " D e li n q u e n c y h a s t a k e n a s h a r p
u p s w in g . So h a v e u n m a n a g e a b le c h i l d r e n , t h e o n e s who
d r i v e you n u t s " ( 8 8 : 3 2 8 ) . A C a l i f o r n i a c o l l e g e p r o f e s s o r
s t a t e d : " T h e r e i s a b u n d a n t e v i d e n c e t h a t m i s b e h a v i o r i s
g ro w in g b o t h i n volum e and v i o l e n c e , e s p e c i a l l y i n c i t y
a r e a s " ( 8 2 : 3 1 ) .
A c c o r d in g t o some t e a c h e r - a u t h o r s , many a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s a r e d o in g l i t t l e o r n o t h i n g r e g a r d i n g d i s c i p l i n e
c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o them . In " F e a r I s t h e R oot o f A l l
D i s c i p l i n e , " a C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r
c r i t i c i z e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in t h i s m a n n e r:
L e t ' s n o t h a v e a r e - h a s h o f w e l l - m e a n t
e v a l u a t i o n s d e v e l o p e d d u r i n g r o u n d - t a b l e s o f
e d u c a t o r s who h a v e n ' t b e e n i n p u b l i c s c h o o l
c l a s s r o o m s s i n c e t h e y f i r s t d i s c o v e r e d t h e i r
f l a i r f o r p o l i c y m a k in g . ( 7 5 :1 6 5 )
And in " T h e r e I s No S u b s t i t u t e f o r D i s c i p l i n e , " an I l l i n o i s
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r d e c l a r e d :
W hoever im a g in e s t h a t f r i e n d l y c h a t s [b e tw e e n
a d m i n i s t r a t o r and e r r a n t p u p i l ] a r e a c u r e - a l l
f o r p u p i l s ' u n d e s i r a b l e s c h o o l b e h a v i o r h a s n o t
w o rk ed e x t e n s i v e l y w i t h m ixed g r o u p s o f c h i l d r e n .
T h e re m u st b e some r e c o u r s e f o r t e a c h e r s o t h e r
t h a n i g n o m in io u s d e f e a t a n d d e m o r a l i z i n g t o l e r a
t i o n o f o f f e n s i v e p r a c t i c e s . ( 8 6 :3 2 )
The q u e s t i o n h a s b e e n p o s e d : " J u s t w h a t i s t h e
s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r d o in g t o a s s i s t new and
e x p e r i e n c e d t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d in p ro b le m s o f p u p i l d i s
c i p l i n e ? " In t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n t h e a t t e m p t was made t o
o b t a i n a n s w e r s t o t h i s q u e s t i o n fro m a l a r g e num ber o f
c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r s .
A ls o o f c o n c e r n t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , t e a c h e r s and
l a y p e r s o n s a r e t h e q u e s t i o n s : "What i s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
o f t h e t e a c h e r in h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e ? " "How
d o e s t h e t e a c h e r e f f e c t i v e l y r e f e r c a s e s t o t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r ? " T h is i n v e s t i g a t i o n h a s a l s o u n d e r t a k e n t o o b t a i n
a n s w e rs t o t h e s e q u e s t i o n s fro m a l a r g e num ber o f d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
B e c a u s e o f w i d e s p r e a d i n t e r e s t i n a l l a s p e c t s o f
p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , b e c a u s e t h e r e c r u i t m e n t and r e t e n t i o n
o f good t e a c h e r s i s r e l a t e d t o s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e p o l i c i e s ,
and b e c a u s e o f a n e e d t o e s t a b l i s h u n d e r s t a n d i n g r e g a r d i n g
t h e r e s p e c t i v e r o l e s o f t e a c h e r and a d m i n i s t r a t o r in p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e , i t was c o n s i d e r e d i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r t a k e t h i s
s t u d y .
IV. DELIMITATIONS
The m a g n itu d e o f t h e p r o b le m u n d e r t a k e n i n t h i s
i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e d t h a t c e r t a i n d e l i m i t a t i o n s be
8
a p p l i e d .
1. O nly l o c a l s c h o o l p o l i c i e s an d p r o c e d u r e s i n
h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r w e r e s t u d i e d .
S y s te m - w id e p h i l o s o p h i e s o f d i s c i p l i n e a n d d i s
c i p l i n e c o d e s a d o p t e d by b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n
w e r e e x c l u d e d fro m c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
2. No a t t e m p t w as made t o s t u d y i n d i v i d u a l p r o
g ram s d e s i g n e d t o im p ro v e m o r a l e i n a s i n g l e
s c h o o l , o r t h o s e p l a n n e d t o d e v e l o p i d e a l s o f
s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e o r t o p r e v e n t m i s b e h a v i o r .
O nly p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s a c t u a l l y u s e d by
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n h a n d l i n g c a s e s o f p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r r e f e r r e d t o th e m , a n d t h e r e f e r r a l
p r o c e d u r e s o f t e a c h e r s , w e re s t u d i e d .
3. No a t t e m p t was made t o s t u d y t e a c h e r p o l i c i e s
a n d p r o c e d u r e s in d e v e l o p i n g c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l s ,
o r t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s i n h a n d l i n g i n d i v i d u a l
o r g r o u p m i s b e h a v i o r s . O nly r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s
a c t u a l l y u s e d by t e a c h e r s w e r e i n c l u d e d i n
t h e s t u d y .
4 . The i n v e s t i g a t i o n u s e d t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t
t e c h n i q u e , a t e c h n i q u e w h ic h d o e s n o t r e q u i r e
9
t h a t d a t a b e c o m p l e t e l y o b j e c t i v e . R e p o r ts
o f a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n s o r i n c i d e n t s w e re s o u g h t ;
i t was e x p e c t e d t h a t s u b j e c t i v e f a c t o r s w o u ld
p e r m e a te e v e r y one o f t h e i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d
fro m t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . W h e th e r any
g i v e n i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d c r i t i c a l b e h a v i o r o r
n o t d e p e n d e d l a r g e l y upon t h e s u b j e c t i v e
ju d g m e n t o f t h e t e a c h e r o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r who
o b s e r v e d and r e p o r t e d i t . C r i t e r i a w e re s e t
up w i t h i n t h e i n s t r u m e n t , h o w e v e r, t o a s s u r e
a s much o b j e c t i v i t y a s p o s s i b l e i n t h e i n t e r
p r e t a t i o n o f r e s p o n s e s . M o re o v e r, t h e
p l a u s i b i l i t y o f t h e i n c i d e n t s and t h e a p p r o
p r i a t e n e s s o f t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s w e re c h e c k e d
by a j u r y o f a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
5. P r i v a t e h i g h s c h o o l s and p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e
e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s w e re e x c l u d e d from s t u d y .
A l l d a t a w e re o b t a i n e d fro m t e a c h e r s and
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in p u b l i c j u n i o r an d s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l s .
6 . No a t t e m p t was made t o c o n d u c t a n a t i o n - w i d e
s t u d y o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f h i g h s c h o o l
10
d i s c i p l i n e . Most o f t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s
w e re g a t h e r e d fro m C a l i f o r n i a , t h o s e fro m o t h e r
s t a t e s b e i n g g a t h e r e d f o r p u r p o s e s o f
c o m p a r i s o n .
V. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
C e r t a i n w o rd s u s e d in t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n a r e
d e f i n e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n .
D i s c i p l i n e . D i s c i p l i n e i s d e f i n e d a s n e c e s s a r y
c o n t r o l , r e s t r a i n t o r d i r e c t i o n . C o n t r o l w h ic h c o r r e c t s
and s t r e n g t h e n s i s c o n s i d e r e d a n a t u r a l p a r t o f t h e e d u c a
t i o n a l p r o g ra m o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l .
D i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r . The d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r i s t h e o f f i c e p e r s o n t o whom t h e t e a c h e r r e f e r s
t h e e r r a n t p u p i l , and may b e t h e c o u n s e l o r , d e a n , a s s i s t a n t
p r i n c i p a l , v i c e p r i n c i p a l , o r p r i n c i p a l . C o u n s e l o r s ,
a l t h o u g h n o t u s u a l l y c r e d e n t i a l e d a s a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , w e re
i n c l u d e d i n t h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n b e c a u s e r e s u l t s o f t h e
p i l o t s t u d y i n d i c a t e d t h a t c o u n s e l o r s h a n d l e d d i s c i p l i n e
r e f e r r a l s i n some s c h o o l s .
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c y . An a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c y
11
i s d e f i n e d a s a w r i t t e n o r u n w r i t t e n g u i d e f o r a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e a c t i o n i n t h e l o c a l s c h o o l .
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e . A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o
c e d u r e , f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , i s d e f i n e d
a s t h e v a r i o u s s t e p s t a k e n by t h e s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
h a n d l i n g t h e e r r a n t p u p i l r e f e r r e d t o him by a t e a c h e r .
P u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . The te r m p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r
r e f e r s t o an y a c t by a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l o r a s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l p u p i l t h a t i s r e g a r d e d by a t e a c h e r a s u n a c c e p t a b l e
s c h o o l c o n d u c t .
P ro b le m p a r e n t . The te r m p r o b le m p a r e n t i s u s e d t o
r e f e r t o t h e t y p e o f p a r e n t who comes t o s c h o o l an d c r e a t e s
an u p s e t t i n g p ro b le m f o r t h e t e a c h e r o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r . As
u s e d h e r e , t h e p ro b le m p a r e n t i s u s u a l l y t h e p a r e n t who
t h r e a t e n s , who r e p r e s e n t s a p r e s s u r e g r o u p , o r who w o rk s
a t c r o s s p u r p o s e s t o t h e g o a l s o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a l p ro g ra m .
R e f e r r a l . R e f e r r a l i n t h i s s t u d y m eans a c t i o n
t a k e n by t h e t e a c h e r i n s e n d i n g t h e c a s e r e g a r d i n g an
e r r a n t p u p i l t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a c t i o n .
The r e f e r r a l may be w r i t t e n o r u n w r i t t e n ; t h e p u p i l may b e
12
s e n t t o t h e o f f i c e o r t a k e n t h e r e by a t e a c h e r . The
r e f e r r a l may a l s o b e made by c a l l i n g t h e d i s c i p l i n e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o t h e c l a s s r o o m .
C r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t t e c h n i q u e . The c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t
t e c h n i q u e , d i s c u s s e d m ore f u l l y i n C h a p te r I I I , a s u s e d
h e r e i n c o n s i s t s o f t h e c o l l e c t i n g and a n a l y z i n g o f r e p o r t s
o f a c t u a l d i s c i p l i n e e p i s o d e s o f two t y p e s : (1) an
i n c i d e n t s u b m i t t e d by a t e a c h e r in w h ic h t h e b e h a v i o r o f
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r h a n d l i n g a g i v e n r e f e r r a l was j u d g e d by
t h e r e s p o n d e n t t o b e o u t s t a n d i n g l y e f f e c t i v e t o o u t s t a n d
i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e , and (2) an i n c i d e n t s u b m i t t e d by an
a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n w h ic h t h e b e h a v i o r o f t h e t e a c h e r m ak ing
a g i v e n r e f e r r a l was j u d g e d by t h e r e s p o n d e n t t o b e o u t
s t a n d i n g l y e f f e c t i v e t o o u t s t a n d i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e . The
t e c h n i q u e , d e v e lo p e d by F l a n a g a n and f i r s t u s e d by him in
s e l e c t i o n o f A i r F o r c e p i l o t s , h a s b e en a l s o d e f i n e d by
him a s " a s e t o f p r o c e d u r e s f o r c o l l e c t i n g d i r e c t o b s e r v a
t i o n s o f human b e h a v i o r i n s u c h a way a s t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e i r
p o t e n t i a l u s e f u l n e s s in s o l v i n g p r a c t i c a l p ro b le m s and
d e v e l o p i n g b r o a d p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e s " ( 5 1 : 3 2 7 ) .
13
VI. ORGANIZATION OF THE REMAINDER
OF THE DISSERTATION
In t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n a r e s i x
c h a p t e r s , a b i b l i o g r a p h y , and a p p e n d i x .
C h a p te r I I c o n t a i n s a r e v i e w o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e
p e r t i n e n t t o t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n . The f o l l o w i n g c a t e g o r i e s
a r e c o n s i d e r e d : t h e c h a n g in g a t t i t u d e s t h r o u g h o u t h i s t o r y
to w a rd d i s c i p l i n e , p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t,
t h e r o l e o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e ,
and t h e r o l e o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r in p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e .
In C h a p te r I I I , t h e p r o c e d u r e s f o l l o w e d i n c o n
d u c t i n g and r e p o r t i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n a r e d e s c r i b e d .
The c h a p t e r o u t l i n e s t h e u s e o f t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t
t e c h n i q u e , d e s c r i b e s t h e d e v e lo p m e n t and u s e o f t h e i n s t r u
m e n t, t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f a p i l o t s t u d y and i t s r e f i n e
m e n t, t h e s e l e c t i o n o f r e s p o n d e n t s , t h e r e t u r n s , an d t h e
a n a l y s i s and t r e a t m e n t o f t h e d a t a . A p a r t o f t h e p r o
c e d u r e was t h e o b t a i n i n g o f a p p r o v a l by t h e R e s e a r c h Com
m i t t e e o f t h e Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls and by t h e C a l i
f o r n i a A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s , and
14
t h e s t u d y ' s s p o n s o r s h i p by t h e V ic e P r i n c i p a l s and D eans
C o m m itte e o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry
S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
The f i n d i n g s o f t h e s t u d y a r e p r e s e n t e d i n
C h a p t e r s IV, V, a n d V I. In C h a p t e r IV a r e p r e s e n t e d t h e
f i n d i n g s fro m t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by h i g h s c h o o l d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ; i n C h a p t e r V a r e p r e s e n t e d t h e
f i n d i n g s fro m t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by h i g h s c h o o l
t e a c h e r s ; and i n C h a p te r VI i s p r e s e n t e d a c o m p a r is o n o f
t h e f i n d i n g s fro m t e a c h e r s an d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , w i t h p r o
p o s a l s f o r t h e d e l i n e a t i o n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t e a c h e r s
an d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
In C h a p t e r V II t h e s i g n i f i c a n t f i n d i n g s a r e sum
m a r i z e d , c o n c l u s i o n s b a s e d upon t h e f i n d i n g s a r e d ra w n ,
and on t h e b a s i s o f a l l t h e e v i d e n c e , some re c o m m e n d a tio n s
a r e o f f e r e d f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n and f o r f u r t h e r s t u d y .
CHAPTER I I
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
D i s c i p l i n e i s t h e them e o f many e d u c a t i o n a l b o o k s
and j o u r n a l a r t i c l e s ; m ost w r i t i n g s on t h e p ro b le m w e re
w r i t t e n t o h e l p t e a c h e r s i n d e v i s i n g c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l s
o r In d e a l i n g w i t h i n d i v i d u a l and g r o u p m i s b e h a v i o r s .
L i t t l e h a s b e en w r i t t e n on t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a
t i o n o f d i s c i p l i n e in s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s .
T h is c h a p t e r i s d e v o te d t o a r e v i e w o f t h e l i t e r a
t u r e w h ic h m akes a s p e c i f i c c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e i n v e s t i g a
t i o n . The p u b l i c a t i o n s r e v ie w e d f e l l w i t h i n t h e f o l l o w i n g
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s : (1) c h a n g in g a t t i t u d e s to w a rd d i s c i p l i n e ,
(2) p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , (3) c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t, (4) t h e
r o l e o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , and
(5) t h e r o l e o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r in p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e .
I . CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARD DISCIPLINE
As f a r a s c o u l d b e d e te r m i n e d n o t h i n g h a s b e en
16
p u b l i s h e d r e g a r d i n g t h e h i s t o r i c a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , many
w r i t e r s h a v e b e e n i n t e r e s t e d in t h e c h a n g in g a t t i t u d e s o f
t e a c h e r s and p a r e n t s to w a rd t h e c o n t r o l o f c h i l d r e n w h ic h
h a v e c h a r a c t e r i z e d v a r i o u s c u l t u r e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e a g e s .
As c i v i l i z a t i o n h a s p r o g r e s s e d , t h e p h i l o s o p h y o f d i s
c i p l i n e h a s u n d e rg o n e many c h a n g e s .
A d le r p o r t r a y e d t h e s e v e r i t y o f d i s c i p l i n e d u r i n g
t h e D ark A g e s, an e r a c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h e m ost h o r r i b l e
e x am p le s o f c o r p o r a l p u n ish m e n t in t h e s c h o o l and in
t h e home ( 1 : 1 8 ) .
B a g le y s t a t e d t h a t m odern i d e a s a b o u t p u n is h m e n t
and d i s c i p l i n e e v o lv e d t h r o u g h f i v e s t a t e s : (1) v i n d i c t i v e
o r r e t r i b u t i v e p u n is h m e n t, a p r i m i t i v e mode o f r e t a l i a t i o n
f o r r e a l o r su p p o sed w ro n g s ; (2) p r o p o r t i o n a t e p u n is h m e n t
r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e i n j u n c t i o n , "an ey e f o r an e y e , and a
t o o t h f o r a t o o t h " ; (3) p r o t e c t i v e o r i n t i m i d a t o r y p u n i s h
m e n t, o r p r e v e n t i n g t h e w r o n g - d o e r fro m h a rm in g t h e s o c i a l
g ro u p ; (A) r e f o r m a t o r y p u n is h m e n t i n w h ic h t h e r e f o r m o f
t h e c r i m i n a l was t h e m e a s u re o f t h e p u n is h m e n t* s e f f i c i e n c y ;
and (5) t h e f i n a l s t a g e o f p r e v e n t i n g c r im e an d e l i m i n a t i n g
t h e n eed f o r p u n ish m e n t ( 3 : 1 7 9 - 1 8 5 ) .
17
Morgan d i v i d e d t h e h i s t o r y o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e
i n t o t h r e e p e r i o d s : (1) t h e p e r i o d o f c o m p u l s i o n , a tim e
o f a r b i t r a r y a u t h o r i t y an d u s e o f p h y s i c a l f o r c e ; (2) t h e
p e r i o d o f c o m p e t i t i o n when c h i l d r e n w e re e n c o u r a g e d t o
o u t - d o t h e i r b r o t h e r s and s i s t e r s and o u t r a n k t h e i r c l a s s
m a t e s ; a n d (3 ) t h e p e r i o d o f d e v e l o p m e n t , w h e r e i n t h e
c h i l d ' s own i n t e r e s t i s s u b s t i t u t e d f o r a n c i e n t f o r m u la s
o f c o m p u l s i o n a n d c o m p e t i t i o n ( 6 9 : 2 4 2 - 2 4 3 ) .
Y e a g e r w r o t e t h a t t h e e a r l y A m e ric a n c o n c e p t i o n s
o f s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e may b e t r a c e d t o t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t
t h e d i s c i p l i n e d and c o n f o r m i n g p u p i l becom es m ore a m e n a b le
t o d i r e c t i o n , a n d t h u s m ore i n d u s t r i o u s and m ore l i k e l y
t o s u c c e e d . He p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t r a d i t i o n , l e g a l a u t h o r i t y ,
a n d l e g a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y h a v e c o l o r e d and c h a n g e d o u r
c o n c e p t s o f s c h o o l c o n t r o l ( 3 2 : 2 5 3 ) .
Low ery w r o t e t h a t many fo rm s o f p u p i l p u n is h m e n t
a d m i n i s t e r e d d u r i n g t h e d a y s o f t h e P i l g r i m s r e m in d e d him
o f t h e t o r t u r e s o f t h e I n q u i s i t i o n , i . e . , t h e u s e o f
h i c k o r y s t i c k s and d u n c e c a p s , s i t t i n g f o r lo n g p e r i o d s o f
t i m e u n d e r t h e t e a c h e r ' s d e s k o r i n a c o r n e r , o r w e a r i n g
p l a c a r d s l a b e l e d "L azy B o y ." He n o t e d t h a t t h i s d i s c i p l i
n a r y v i e w p o i n t c h a n g e d v e r y l i t t l e u n t i l v e r y r e c e n t y e a r s .
1 8
A c c o r d in g t o L ow ery, a p i c t u r e o f a s c h o o lr o o m " h a r d l y
e v e r shows t h e t e a c h e r w i t h o u t a b u n d l e o f s w i t c h e s o r a
lo n g p o l e c a p a b l e o f r e a c h i n g p u p i l s in a l l p a r t s o f t h e
room and p e r m i t t i n g a n y c h i l d t o b e s h a r p l y r e c a l l e d t o
t h e p a t h s o f r e c t i t u d e w i t h o u t n e c e s s i t y o f s t i r r i n g on t h e
p a r t o f t h e t e a c h e r " ( 6 4 : 6 ) . P r i o r t o 192 0 , t h e s c h o o l
m a s t e r who d i d n o t k e e p a r a z o r s t r o p o r a p i e c e o f r u b b e r
h o s e in t h e b o tto m d r a w e r o f h i s d e s k was a r a r i t y ( 6 4 : 6 ) .
A book e n t i t l e d S c h o o l K e e p in g and How t o Do I t ,
w r i t t e n i n 1885 f o r t h e e d i f i c a t i o n o f s c h o o l m a s t e r s ,
c o n t a i n e d t h i s b i t o f i n s p i r a t i o n :
W h e th e r he [ t h e t e a c h e r ] s i t s , s t a n d s , o r
w a lk s i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f h i s s c h o o l , h e sw ays a
s c e p t r e w h i c h , th o u g h u n s e e n , i s c o n s t a n t l y f e l t .
The v e r y a tm o s p h e r e w h ic h s u r r o u n d s him i s
p r e g n a n t w i t h a u t h o r i t y . . . . The g o v e rn m e n t
o f a s c h o o l c a n n o t b e a d e m o c ra c y ; i t m u st b e
a m o n a rc h y , w hose s o l e pow er t o g o v e rn i s v e s t e d
in one man o r woman w hose a u t h o r i t y i s a b s o l u t e .
H is w i l l i s law and t h a t law m u st b e o b e y e d .
( 9 7 : 6 0 ,7 0 )
In 1914, M orehou se com m ented on t h e f e m i n i z a t i o n
o f t h e A m e ric an s c h o o l s and i t s e f f e c t on p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
" N e v e r b e f o r e in t h e w o r l d ' s h i s t o r y , " h e s t a t e d , "w e re
t h e s c h o o l s g i v e n o v e r t o women a s now" ( 2 3 : 7 5 ) . He
com m ented t h a t women t e a c h e r s h a v e b e e n a b l e t o s e c u r e
t h e i r d i s c i p l i n a r y g o a l s by d ip lo m a c y r a t h e r th a n by
19
f o r c e , p r e f e r r i n g m e th o d s o f p e r s u a s i o n and d i s c o u r a g i n g
h a r s h n e s s i n A m e ric an s c h o o l s .
P e r r y i n 1915 a n d H a r r i s i n 1928 w e re c o n c e r n e d
w i t h t h e p ro b le m o f " m o r a l c o n t r o l . " P e r r y s t a t e d t h a t
" t h e p r o b le m . . . i s n o t m e r e ly t o d e t e r m i n e how s c h o o l
c o n t r o l and o b e d i e n c e t o s c h o o l c o n v e n t i o n s s h a l l b e
s e c u r e d , b u t t o d i s c o v e r t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f m o r a l d e v e l o p
m ent t h a t c o n d i t i o n t h e s e m ore s p e c i f i c v i r t u e s " ( 2 4 : 3 ) .
H a r r i s d e f i n e d d i s c i p l i n e a s " m o r a l c o n t r o l . "
The c h a n g i n g c o n c e p t i o n s o f A m e ric a n s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e
h e d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e p e r i o d s : (1) p r a c t i c e s a n d a t t i t u d e s
r e l a t i v e t o c o n t r o l p r i o r t o 1850; (2) new i n f l u e n c e s and
a t t i t u d e s i n c o n t r o l a t t h e end o f t h e l a s t c e n t u r y ; and
(3) t h e s c i e n t i f i c m ovem ent in e d u c a t i o n in r e l a t i o n t o
c o n t r o l , e x t e n d i n g fro m s h o r t l y a f t e r 1900 t o t h e tim e
when h i s s t u d y was m ade. H a r r i s d i s c u s s e d c h a n g i n g
a t t i t u d e s to w a rd c h i l d n a t u r e , n o t i n g t h e d e c r e a s e i n
e m p h a s is on d i s c i p l i n e an d c o n t r o l " w h i l e i n s t r u c t i o n and
e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s h a v e i n c r e a s e d in i m p o r t a n c e " (1 7 :3 4 2 ).
In 1 9 3 8 , S t r a n g s t a t e d t h a t f i f t y y e a r s ag o d i s
c i p l i n e was t h o u g h t o f a s a s i m p le p r o c e s s o f m ak in g t h e
p u n is h m e n t f i t t h e c r i m e . "T he v i o l a t i o n o f r i g i d and
20
s p e c i f i c r u l e s , " s h e s a i d , "was m et by t h e a u t o m a t i c
a p p l i c a t i o n o f e q u a l l y r i g i d and s p e c i f i c p u n is h m e n t" (97:
221).
O l i v a show ed t h a t m odern c o n c e p t s o f s c h o o l d i s
c i p l i n e - -woven a s t h e y a r e in p h i l o s o p h y , p s y c h o l o g y ,
s o c i o l o g y , g u i d a n c e , c u r r i c u l u m , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , and
t e a c h i n g - - h a v e u n d e rg o n e a lo n g e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o c e s s o v e r
t h e a g e s ( 7 1 : 3 ) . J a m e s , i n a 1958 r e s e a r c h s t u d y , b e l i e v e d
t h a t i n r e c e n t y e a r s t h e r e h a d b e e n a s o f t e n i n g o f p o l i c y
i n t h e s c h o o l s i n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f u n r u l y c h i l d r e n (1 0 4 :
190) .
As c i v i l i z a t i o n h a s p r o g r e s s e d , a s s o c i e t y h a s
shown m ore c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r t h e d i g n i t y o f e v e r y i n d i
v i d u a l , s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e h a s becom e l e s s h a r s h , and h a s
c o n c e n t r a t e d upon t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f m i s b e h a v i o r and t h e
d e v e lo p m e n t o f s e l f - c o n t r o l s r a t h e r t h a n upon a r b i t r a r y
p u n i s h m e n t .
I I . PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR
From t h e many b o o k s and p r o f e s s i o n a l a r t i c l e s
w r i t t e n a b o u t t h e i n c i d e n c e , t y p e s and c a u s e s o f p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r , f o u r r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e s w e re s e l e c t e d f o r
21
re v ie w h e r e .
D i l l o n S tu d y
In 1946 , H elen D i l l o n , a v i c e p r i n c i p a l , i n v e s t i
g a t e d g i r l s ' d i s c i p l i n a r y p ro b le m s and p r a c t i c e s in
s e v e r a l C a l i f o r n i a h i g h s c h o o l s in San D iego c o u n t y , u s i n g
a q u e s t i o n n a i r e in h e r s u r v e y . More t h a n 500 g i r l s in
g r a d e s n i n e and t w e l v e , and t w e n ty - o n e s c h o o l g u i d a n c e
w o r k e r s p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e s u r v e y . A c c o rd in g t o t h e
g i r l s , t h e two m ost f r e q u e n t d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s w e re gum
chew ing o r e a t i n g i n c l a s s , and t a r d i n e s s ; and t h e l e a s t
f r e q u e n t was d r i n k i n g . A c c o r d in g t o t h e g u i d a n c e w o r k e r s ,
t h e m ost f r e q u e n t d i s c i p l i n e p r o b le m s w e re c a r e l e s s n e s s
in w o rk , t a r d i n e s s , f a i l i n g t o m eet w ork r e q u i r e m e n t s ,
and chew in g gum o r e a t i n g in c l a s s ; and t h e l e a s t f r e q u e n t
was d r i n k i n g . A c c o r d in g t o t h e g i r l s , t h e m ost s e r i o u s
p ro b le m s w e re s t e a l i n g , se x d e l i n q u e n c y , d e s t r o y i n g m a te
r i a l s o r p r o p e r t y , and d r i n k i n g ; and t h e l e a s t s e r i o u s was
chew in g gum o r e a t i n g in c l a s s . A c c o rd in g t o t h e g u i d a n c e
w o r k e r s , t h e m ost s e r i o u s p ro b le m s w e re t r u a n c y and s t e a l
i n g ; and t h e l e a s t s e r i o u s was n o n - r e g u l a t i o n o r i n a p p r o
p r i a t e d r e s s (1 0 2 :2 8 and 3 0 ) . O th e r d i s c i p l i n a r y p ro b le m s
i n v e s t i g a t e d by D i l l o n w e re t r u a n c y , l y i n g , f o r g i n g t h e
22
p a r e n t ' s nam e, o b s c e n e o r v u l g a r n o t e s , p i c t u r e s o r t a l k ,
u s i n g p r o f a n i t y , sm oking on c a m p u s, g a m b lin g on cam p u s,
f i g h t i n g , f a i l i n g t o r e p o r t a f t e r s c h o o l , d i s o r d e r in
c l a s s , c h e a t i n g , i m p e r t i n e n c e o r r u d e n e s s , d e f i a n c e o f
a u t h o r i t y , a n d d i r e c t d i s o b e d i e n c e .
D i l l o n , r e l a t i n g h e r f i n d i n g s t o o p i n i o n s e x p r e s s e d
in t h e w r i t i n g s o f many e d u c a t o r s , f o r m u l a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g
c o n c e p t s f o r g u i d a n c e w o r k e r s i n h a n d l i n g p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e :
(1) a c h i e v e s e l f - d i r e c t i o n and s e l f - c o n t r o l ; (2) d e a l
u l t i m a t e l y w i t h t h e c a u s e s o f m a l a d j u s t m e n t ; (3) s e e k p u p i l
c o o p e r a t i o n ; and (4 ) be p o s i t i v e and c o n s t r u c t i v e (1 0 2 :
1 0 2 -1 0 3 ) . The p r a c t i c e s u s e d m o st o f t e n by g u i d a n c e
w o r k e r s in h a n d l i n g p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , a s r e p o r t e d by b o t h
t h e g i r l s and t h e g u i d a n c e w o r k e r s s t u d i e d , c o n fo rm e d t o
t h e s e c o n c e p t s f o r m u l a t e d by D i l l o n .
N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n S tu d y
The m ost e x t e n s i v e s t u d y o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r
c o n t a i n e d in t h e l i t e r a t u r e i s su m m arize d i n a N a t i o n a l
E d u c a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n p u b l i c a t i o n , T e a c h e r O p in io n on P u p i l
B e h a v i o r . In 1 9 3 5 -5 6 t h e R e s e a r c h D i v i s i o n o f t h e A s s o c i a
t i o n made a s t a t i s t i c a l s t u d y o f t h e r e s p o n s e s o f 4 ,2 7 0
e l e m e n t a r y and s e c o n d a r y t e a c h e r s t o an e x h a u s t i v e
23
q u e s t i o n n a i r e on d i s c i p l i n e . The p u r p o s e s o f t h e s t u d y
w e r e :
(1) t o a s c e r t a i n t h e e x t e n t t o w h ic h c l a s s r o o m
t e a c h e r s w e re d i s t u r b e d by t h e p r o b le m , w h e t h e r
t h e y s e e t h e p r o b le m a s b a d o r w o r s e t h a n p i c t u r e d
i n t h e n a t i o n ' s p r e s s , (2) t o i d e n t i f y some o f
t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t e x i s t b e tw e e n b e h a v i o r in
s c h o o l and a g r e a t v a r i e t y o f o t h e r f a c t o r s s u c h
a s com m un ity and n e ig h b o r h o o d i n f l u e n c e , t h e
q u a l i t y o f home and f a m i l y l i f e , t h e l i m i t e d
a u t h o r i t y g i v e n t o t e a c h e r s t o m anage and c o n t r o l
c h i l d r e n and y o u t h , (3) t o d i s c o v e r s p e c i f i c t y p e s
o f m i s b e h a v i o r t h a t a p p e a r t o b e i n c r e a s i n g o r
p o s s i b l y d e c r e a s i n g a t v a r i o u s g r a d e l e v e l s and
i n c o m m u n itie s o f v a r i o u s t y p e s , (4) t o i d e n t i f y
f a c t o r s in t h e s t u d e n t p o p u l a t i o n and i n t h e
s c h o o l i t s e l f t h a t seem t o c o n t r i b u t e t o b e h a v i o r
p ro b le m s among c h i l d r e n and y o u t h . ( 9 4 :5 4 )
The r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t e a c h e r s c o n s i d e r e d m o st p u p i l s
t o b e w e l l - b e h a v e d and t h a t r e a l t r o u b l e - m a k e r s c o n s t i t u t e d
f e w e r t h a n one i n e v e r y one h u n d r e d p u p i l s ; t h a t j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s h a d m ore p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s
t h a n d i d e l e m e n t a r y o r s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s ; t h a t
v e r y y oung an d v e r y o l d t e a c h e r s h a d m ore t r o u b l e s w i t h
p u p i l s t h a n d i d t e a c h e r s o f o t h e r a g e g r o u p s ; t h a t n e i g h b o r
h o o d s w h e re l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s w e re v e r y good and w h e r e in
p a r e n t s a lw a y s c o o p e r a t e d w i t h t h e s c h o o l s p r o d u c e d c h i l
d r e n and y o u t h d e s c r i b e d by t h e i r t e a c h e r s a s e x c e p t i o n a l l y
w e l l b e h a v e d ; t h a t p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r seem ed t o b e c o n s i d e r
a b l y w o r s e i n l a r g e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s and in l a r g e s c h o o l s
24
t h a n i n s m a l l d i s t r i c t s and i n s m a ll s c h o o l s ; and t h a t t h e
a c t s o f m i s b e h a v i o r w h ic h w e re i n c r e a s i n g i n f r e q u e n c y
w e re i m p e r t i n e n c e and d i s c o u r t e s y t o t e a c h e r s * f a i l u r e t o
do hom ew ork, and t h e d r i n k i n g o f i n t o x i c a n t s ( 9 5 : 1 0 4 - 1 0 6 ) .
P h o e n ix S tu d y
P u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s w h ic h w e re r e f e r r e d t o a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s o r t h e s t u d e n t c o u r t i n 1 953 -5 4 i n se v e n P h o e n ix ,
A r i z o n a , h i g h s c h o o l s w e re i n v e s t i g a t e d and a n a l y z e d .
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s o r p r o c e d u r e s i n h a n d l i n g t h e c a s e s
w e re n o t s t u d i e d . The 443 h ig h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s o f P h o e n ix ,
f o l l o w i n g r e g u l a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s ,
w r o t e 1 4 ,2 5 1 s e p a r a t e c o n f i d e n t i a l r e f e r r a l r e p o r t s r e g a r d
in g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s . At t h e t i m e , t h e t e a c h e r s d i d n o t
know t h a t t h e y w e re in v o lv e d i n a s t u d y . F o r t y - o n e p e r
c e n t o f t h e s t u d e n t b o d y -- 5 2 p e r c e n t o f t h e b o y s and 30
p e r c e n t o f t h e g i r l s - - r e c e i v e d m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r a l s a t
l e a s t one t im e ; t h e s e p u p i l s e a c h a v e r a g e d t h r e e such
r e f e r r a l r e p o r t s . A bout 3 3 .5 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e f e r r a l s
c o n c e r n e d h a b i t u a l t a r d i n e s s and t r u a n c y . Even th o u g h t h e
e n r o l l m e n t s o f t h e s e x e s w e re a b o u t e q u a l , b o y s w e re
r e p o r t e d t h r e e t im e s a s o f t e n a s g i r l s . M is b e h a v io r s
common i n a l l t h e se v e n h i g h s c h o o l s w e re t h e s e :
25
d i s t u r b a n c e , d i s o b e d i e n c e , d i s r e s p e c t , m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
t h r o u g h f a l s e n o t e s and c a l l s , i g n o r i n g h e a l t h an d s a f e t y
f a c t o r s , s m o k in g , f i g h t i n g , p r o p e r t y dam age, p r o f a n i t y
and o b s c e n i t y , g a m b lin g , t h e f t , c h e a t i n g . Among t h e s e
t w e lv e d i s c i p l i n a r y p ro b le m s common in a l l s e v e n h i g h
s c h o o l s , 82 p e r c e n t f e l l w i t h i n t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f
d i s t u r b a n c e , d i s o b e d i e n c e , and d i s r e s p e c t - - p r o b l e m s t h a t
d i s r u p t o r d e r l y c l a s s r o o m p r o c e d u r e ( 9 3 : 3 8 5 - 3 8 6 ) .
Pow ers S tu d y
D u rin g t h e s c h o o l y e a r 1 9 5 0 -5 1 , P o w ers, a b o y s '
v i c e p r i n c i p a l in a Los A n g e le s j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , t a b u
l a t e d and a n a l y z e d b o y s ' d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l s made by
t e a c h e r s in h i s s c h o o l . The 2 ,5 2 2 d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s
r e f e r r e d t o him w e re c l a s s i f i e d a s e x a m p le s o f d i s t u r b a n c e ,
d i s o b e d i e n c e , gum, t a l k i n g , im p u d e n c e , a l t e r c a t i o n , dam age,
d e f i a n c e , and p r o f a n i t y . He fo u n d t h a t M arch was t h e m onth
o f t h e g r e a t e s t num ber o f r e f e r r a l s and S e p te m b e r t h e m onth
o f f e w e s t r e f e r r a l s . The g r e a t e s t num ber o f o f f e n d e r s
came fro m t h e e i g h t h g r a d e ; t h e d e p a r t m e n t s m ak ing t h e
g r e a t e s t num ber o f r e f e r r a l s w e re E n g l i s h and s o c i a l
s t u d i e s ( 1 1 2 : 5 0 , 5 5 , 6 0 , 7 6 ) .
2 6
I I I . CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
Two e x h a u s t i v e s t u d i e s o f c o r p o r a l p u n i s h m e n t , an d
a s t u d y p a r t i a l l y d e v o te d t o t h e s u b j e c t , a r e r e v i e w e d
in t h i s s e c t i o n .
F a l k S tu d y
In a d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n ( 1 9 4 1 ) , F a l k s t u d i e d
t h e p r a c t i c e o f c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t i n s c h o o l s and
e v a l u a t e d i t i n te r m s o f p r e s e n t - d a y s o c i a l l i v i n g and
in r e l a t i o n t o e d u c a t i o n a l and s c i e n t i f i c t r e n d s . H is
f i n d i n g s w e re b a s e d on r e p l i e s t o 170 q u e s t i o n n a i r e s s e n t
t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n s c h o o l s y s te m s i n l a r g e c i t i e s , t o
1 ,0 0 0 R o ta r y C lu b s i n v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s o f t h e U n ite d
S t a t e s , and t o 20 p r o f e s s o r s o f e d u c a t i o n i n t h e U n ite d
S t a t e s . He fo u n d t h a t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s f a v o r e d t h e r e t e n t i o n
o f c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t a s a d i s c i p l i n a r y m e a s u r e , t h a t
c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t was s t i l l r e s o r t e d t o a s a m eans o f
d i s c i p l i n e , t h a t t h e r e was a g r e a t e r t e n d e n c y to w a rd t h e
u s e o f c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t i n t h e c a s e s o f b o y s th a n o f
g i r l s , and t h a t t h e r e w e re n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s
among g e o g r a p h i c s e c t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s c o n c e r n i n g
a t t i t u d e s to w a rd c o r p o r a l p u n i s h m e n t . F a l k ' s s t u d y showed
27
t h a t (1) s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a r e n o t i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e
f i n d i n g s o f c o n te m p o r a r y p s y c h o l o g y ; (2) c o r p o r a l p u n i s h
m ent i s u s e l e s s a s a m eth o d o f a c h i e v i n g w o r th y e d u c a t i o n a l
v a l u e s ; and (3 ) t h e r e i s no b a s i s f o r a s s u m in g t h a t c o r p o r a l
p u n is h m e n t d i r e c t l y p r e v e n t s u n d e s i r a b l e a c t i v i t i e s o f
p u p i l s o r d i r e c t l y f a c i l i t a t e s t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f d e s i r a b l e
r e a c t i o n p a t t e r n s . He recom m ended t h a t c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t
b e e l i m i n a t e d fro m e d u c a t i o n a l p r o c e d u r e by p u b l i c e n l i g h t -
m e n t, by a p p e a l t o t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e o f t h e t e a c h i n g p r o
f e s s i o n , and by d i r e c t l e g i s l a t i o n ( 1 3 : 1 4 6 ) .
Jam es S tu d y
In h i s r e c e n t d o c t o r a l s t u d y o f c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t
( 1 9 5 8 ) , Jam es o b t a i n e d d a t a by m eans o f a q u e s t i o n n a i r e
c i r c u l a t e d t o p r o f e s s i o n a l e d u c a t o r s and t o l a y c i t i z e n s .
Among t h e e d u c a t o r s w e re t h e c h i e f s c h o o l o f f i c e r s o f t h e
48 s t a t e s , 57 c o u n ty s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s in C a l i f o r n i a , and
t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s o f 354 l o c a l s c h o o l d i s t r i c t s in
C a l i f o r n i a . The l a y p u b l i c i n c l u d e d m ore t h a n 4 ,0 0 0 p e r s o n s
in 200 s c a t t e r e d c o m m u n i ti e s .
Jam es s t u d i e d A m e r i c a 's e x p e r i e n c e w i t h c o r p o r a l
p u n i s h m e n t , t h e c a s e f o r and a g a i n s t i t , an d t h e e x t e n t o f
i t s u s e t o d a y c o m p a red t o t h a t o f two p r e v i o u s g e n e r a t i o n s .
2 8
He ex am in e d s t a t e la w s , c o u r t d e c i s i o n s , c o u n ty r u l i n g s
and o p i n i o n s , an d l o c a l d i s t r i c t p o l i c i e s , i n c l u d i n g l o c a l
i n s t r u c t i o n s t o s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l r e g a r d i n g c o r p o r a l
p u n i s h m e n t . J a m e s ' s t u d y , made s e v e n t e e n y e a r s a f t e r t h a t
o f F a l k , i s m ore c o m p r e h e n s iv e , m ore d e t a i l e d , and m ore
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f A m erican o p i n i o n t h a n was t h e e a r l i e r
s t u d y . The f i n d i n g s o f b o t h s t u d i e s w e re s i m i l a r , b u t
d i f f e r e n t c o n c l u s i o n s w e re d ra w n . Jam es fo u n d t h a t
e d u c a t o r s f a v o r e d c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t t o a much g r e a t e r
e x t e n t th a n p u b l i s h e d w r i t i n g s w o u ld seem t o i n d i c a t e . He
fo u n d c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t t o be a d v o c a te d s t r o n g l y among
p r o f e s s i o n a l e d u c a t o r s an d la y m e n , b o t h g r o u p s recom m en din g
t h i s fo rm o f p u n is h m e n t i n c a s e s o f c o n t i n u e d and r e p e a t e d
f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n s o f s t a n d a r d s o f s o c i a l l y a c c e p t a b l e
c o n d u c t . " I t a p p e a r e d t o be g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d , " h e s a i d ,
" t h a t t h e r e w e re many p ro b le m s o f u n r u l i n e s s o f y o u t h in
t h e s c h o o l s and i t was a c c e p t e d t h a t t h e r e h a d b e e n a l o s s
and damage a s a r e s u l t " ( 1 0 4 : 2 2 4 ) . He c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e
A m e ric an p u b l i c te n d e d t o a ssu m e a m id d le g ro u n d r e g a r d i n g
t h e u s e o f c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t " t e n d i n g somewhat to w a rd
t h e u s e o f c o m p u ls io n w h e re n e e d e d , b u t d e d i c a t e d t o t h e
b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f a l l " ( 1 0 4 : 2 2 5 ) .
29
S tu d y Made by F o r d , L a n e , and Lawson
A s u r v e y w as made a t N o r th T e x a s C o l l e g e in 1955
among a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s t o d e t e r m i n e t h e f r e
q u e n c y o f a p p l i c a t i o n o f m odern d i s c i p l i n a r y t h e o r y in
T ex a s h i g h s c h o o l s . T h i r t y j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s ,
f o r t y - o n e s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s , an d s e v e n t e e n
p r i n c i p a l s fro m t h i r t y - s i x T ex as c o u n t i e s p a r t i c i p a t e d
in t h e s t u d y by r e p l y i n g t o a c h e c k l i s t o f q u e s t i o n s
p e r t a i n i n g t o d i s c i p l i n a r y p r a c t i c e s . S c h o o l p e r s o n n e l
i n d i c a t e d t h a t i n g e n e r a l s e v e n k i n d s o f p u n is h m e n t w e re
u s e d : (1) s u s p e n d i n g s t u d e n t s ' p r i v i l e g e s , (2) k e e p i n g
s t u d e n t s a f t e r s c h o o l , (3) s e n d i n g s t u d e n t s t o t h e o f f i c e ,
(4) a d m i n i s t e r i n g c o r p o r a l p u n i s h m e n t , (5) s e n d i n g s t u d e n t s
o u t i n t o t h e h a l l , (6) h a v in g s t u d e n t s s t a n d in t h e c o r n e r ,
and (7) h a v i n g s t u d e n t w r i t e s e v e r a l t i m e s , " I w i l l n o t
. . ." When a s k e d w h ic h o f t h e s e v e n p u n is h m e n ts t h e y
w o u ld a b o l i s h i f t h e y c o u l d , 33 p e r c e n t o f t h e j u n i o r
h i g h t e a c h e r s and 16 p e r c e n t o f t h e s e n i o r h i g h t e a c h e r s
s a i d , " N o n e ." U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e s t u d y d i d n o t s e p a r a t e
p r i n c i p a l s ' r e s p o n s e s fro m t h o s e o f t e a c h e r s . A l l
r e s p o n d e n t s w e re l i s t e d a s " t e a c h e r s . "
R e g a r d in g c o r p o r a l p u n i s h m e n t , 60 p e r c e n t o f t h e
30
j u n i o r h i g h t e a c h e r s and 6 . 4 p e r c e n t o f t h e s e n i o r h i g h
t e a c h e r s s a i d t h a t t h e y u s e d i t ; 56 p e r c e n t o f t h e j u n i o r
h i g h t e a c h e r s an d 32 p e r c e n t o f t h e s e n i o r h i g h t e a c h e r s
s a i d i t h a d s a t i s f a c t o r i l y c o r r e c t e d t h e s t u d e n t s c o n
c e r n e d . O nly 3 p e r c e n t o f t h e j u n i o r h i g h t e a c h e r s a n d
13 p e r c e n t o f t h e s e n i o r h i g h t e a c h e r s b e l i e v e d i t c r e a t e d
m ore p r o b le m t h a n i t s o l v e d , w h i l e 66 p e r c e n t o f t h e
j u n i o r h i g h t e a c h e r s and 67 p e r c e n t o f t h e s e n i o r h i g h
t e a c h e r s b e l i e v e d t h a t r e s o r t t o t h e u s e o f c o r p o r a l
p u n is h m e n t was n o t an i n d i c a t i o n o f f a i - l u r e on t h e p a r t o f
t e a c h e r s i n d e a l i n g w i t h s t u d e n t s . The s t u d y c o n c l u d e d
t h a t t h e s e e d u c a t o r s a r e e i t h e r n o t f a m i l i a r w i t h m odern
t h e o r y o r h a v e t r i e d i t an d h a v e fo u n d i t t o be i n e f f e c t i v e .
I t a l s o p o i n t e d th e n e e d f o r some r e a l l y v a l i d r e s e a r c h on
t h i s p r o b le m ( 5 2 : 3 5 ) .
IV. THE ROLE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
IN PUPIL DISCIPLINE
Many p r o f e s s i o n a l b o o k s an d m a g a z in e a r t i c l e s h a v e
b e e n w r i t t e n on t e a c h e r ' s r o l e i n p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
In t h e i r r e p o r t t o t h e B o ard o f E d u c a t i o n o f
P h o e n i x , A r i z o n a , a f t e r s u r v e y i n g t h a t c i t y ' s h i g h s c h o o l s ,
31
M e lb o , N e l s o n , an d l a F r a n c h i s t a t e d t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t a l l
s c h o o l e m p lo y e e s m u st p a r t i c i p a t e i n p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e an d
t h a t an y p r o c e d u r e s w h e r e i n an i n f r a c t i o n o b s e r v e d by a
t e a c h e r i s c a t e g o r i c a l l y an d a u t o m a t i c a l l y c i t e d t o t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s i n d e f i a n c e o f t h i s p r i n c i p l e ( 1 0 9 : 1 8 2 ) .
M c C a ll, a s c h o o l s u p e r i n t e n d e n t , i n a l e t t e r t o
h i s s t a f f , w r o t e t h a t " a t e a c h e r c a n n o t b e an e x c e l l e n t
t e a c h e r w i t h o u t b e i n g a good d i s c i p l i n a r i a n . A t e a c h e r
c a n n o t b e a r e a l l y good d i s c i p l i n a r i a n w i t h o u t a t t h e
same t i m e b e i n g a good t e a c h e r " ( 6 6 : 3 6 ) .
C e l l e r , a t e a c h e r a t F o r e s t P a r k H igh S c h o o l in
B a l t i m o r e , s t u d i e d some o f t h e p r a c t i c e s t h a t make a
t e a c h e r a good d i s c i p l i n a r i a n , s t r e s s i n g t h o s e p r a c t i c e s
t h a t a r e c o n s i d e r e d by s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l s t o be c l o s e l y
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e f f e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e . He f o r m u l a t e d a
r a t i n g c h a r t c o n s i s t i n g o f 38 p r a c t i c e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
e f f e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e . He t h e n o b s e r v e d 82 v o l u n t e e r i n g
t e a c h e r s in t h e i r c l a s s r o o m s i n t h e B a l t i m o r e s e c o n d a r y
s c h o o l s , and r a t e d t h e t e a c h e r s on t h e p r a c t i c e s l i s t e d
i n t h e c h a r t . T h e s e r a t i n g s w e re t h e n c o m p a re d w i t h
g e n e r a l d i s c i p l i n a r y r a t i n g s o f t h e s e same t e a c h e r s by
t h e i r p r i n c i p a l s . He c o n c l u d e d :
32
1. The p r a c t i c e o f u s i n g a l l a v a i l a b l e e q u i p
m ent and v i s u a l a i d s t o e m b e l l i s h and e n r i c h
a l e s s o n so a s t o i n t e r e s t and p ro m o te t h e
l e a r n i n g g ro w th o f p u p i l s i s c l o s e l y a s s o
c i a t e d w i t h e f f e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e .
2. The p r a c t i c e o f r o u t i n i z i n g v a r i o u s c l a s s
room p r o c e d u r e s s u c h a s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f
p a p e r , c o p y in g t h e a s s i g n m e n t , e n t e r i n g o r
l e a v i n g t h e room , e t c . , i n d e v e l o p i n g t h e
m e c h a n ic s o f t h e c l a s s r o o m a s w e l l fo rm ed
h a b i t s i s a n o t h e r p r a c t i c e c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h e f f e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e .
3. The p r a c t i c e o f p r e s e n t i n g t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r
i n a v i t a l and e n t h u s i a s t i c m a n n e r, o f m ak in g
t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r a p p e a l i n g t o t h e p o i n t
t h a t t h e i n t e r e s t an d t h e e n t h u s i a s m c a t c h e s
on en o u g h so t h a t t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r i t s e l f
a c t s a s a c h e c k o r c o n t r o l t o t h e i n c i p i e n t
b e h a v i o r i s a l s o c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
e f f e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e .
4 . A num ber o f o t h e r p r a c t i c e s , d e s c r i b i n g
s k i l l f u l t e c h n i q u e s o f c l a s s r o o m t e a c h i n g ,
s u c h a s k e e p i n g t h e c l a s s m oving w i t h o u t
i d l e n e s s , u s i n g s i m p le d e v i c e s , and p r o
v i d i n g e l a s t i c e n d i n g s , a r e m o d e r a t e l y
a s s o c i a t e d wiLh e f f e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e .
( 4 3 :3 5 7 )
S m ith , a s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l , b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e
t e a c h e r who c o u ld c o n t r o l n o rm a l n o i s e when n e c e s s a r y and
w i t h o u t p r e s s u r e , h a d good d i s c i p l i n e . She g a v e t h e f o l
lo w in g s u g g e s t i o n s f o r t h e t e a c h e r i n t e r e s t e d i n d e v e l o p i n g
s k i l l s in p u p i l c o n t r o l s : (1 ) be n a t u r a l ; (2) h a v e a
b u s i n e s s - l i k e a t t i t u d e ; (3) be c o n s i s t e n t ; (4 ) a c c e n t t h e
p o s i t i v e ; and (5) k e e p t h e v o i c e c a lm and p l e a s a n t ( 8 1 : 2 3 ) .
33
In a g u i d e f o r t e a c h e r s , Hymes, a c o l l e g e p r o
f e s s o r , w r o t e : ’’One o f y o u r b i g g e s t j o b s a s a c l a s s r o o m
t e a c h e r i s t o work f o r d i s c i p l i n e " ( 1 9 : 2 ) . He g ave f o u r
r u l e s f o r t h e t e a c h e r who f i n d s i t n e c e s s a r y t o u s e
p u n is h m e n t: (1) u s e i t o n ly w i t h s t a b l e , s t u r d y , h e a l t h y
y o u n g s t e r s ; (2) u s e i t o n ly when t h e s e y o u n g s t e r s a r e
n o t i g n o r a n t of t h e law; (3) u s e i t o n ly when th e y must
l e a r n t h e law q u i c k l y ; and (4) u s e i t o n ly when t h e law
i s a s p e c i f i c o n e - - a p p l i c a b l e t o some c l e a r l y d e f i n e d
and d e f i n i t e s i t u a t i o n ( 1 9 : 7 2 ) .
E d g a r, a c o l l e g e p r o f e s s o r , a l s o commented on t h e
u s e o f p u n is h m e n t, w h ic h he t h o u g h t s h o u ld be u se d o n ly
a s a l a s t r e s o r t - - n o t t h e a p p r o a c h - - i n a p ro b le m o f d i s
o r d e r . " I t m arks o u r f a i l u r e s , " he s a i d , " r a t h e r th a n
o u r s u c c e s s e s . Above a l l , i t must n o t be c o n f u s e d w i t h
t h e p r o c e d u r e s f o r t h e d ev elo p m en t o f s e l f d i s c i p l i n e "
( 4 7 : 1 4 ) .
Brown, a c o l l e g e d e a n , o b s e r v e d t h a t " t h e a b i l i t y
t o g o v e rn i s t h e f i r s t e s s e n t i a l o f s u c c e s s in t e a c h i n g "
( 4 2 : 3 4 5 ) . He f o r m u l a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g s u g g e s t i o n s f o r
c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r s in h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r :
1. T e a c h e r s g o v e rn b e s t when th e y do n o t seem
t o g o v e rn .
34
2. The aim o f p u n ish m e n t i s n e v e r r e t r i b u t i o n .
3. S u i t t h e p u n ish m en t t o t h e o f f e n d e r , n o t
t o t h e o f f e n s e .
4 . No t e a c h e r s h o u ld e v e r p u n i s h a c h i l d when
e i t h e r i s a n g r y .
5. To a l l o w a s c h o o lro o m o f f e n s e t o become
p e r s o n a l i n d i c a t e s a l a c k o f p r o p e r p e r
s p e c t i v e on t h e p a r t o f t h e t e a c h e r .
6. The w i s e t e a c h e r d e f e r s p u n ish m en t f o r
a r e a s o n a b l e tim e .
7. That t h e s e v e r i t y o f t h e p u n ish m e n t does
n o t p r e v e n t i t s r e c u r r e n c e i s p ro v e d a g a i n
and a g a i n by t h e c o u r t s .
8. C e r t a i n t y i s a b e t t e r d e t e r r e n t th a n s e v e r i t y .
9. To p u n i s h a g r o u p f o r t h e o f f e n s e o f an
i n d i v i d u a l in t h a t g ro u p i s n o t o n l y f o o l i s h ;
i t i s a l s o u n j u s t .
10. To a v o id p u n is h m e n ts w hich a l s o p u n i s h t h e
t e a c h e r i s b u t t o e x e r c i s e o r d i n a r y conmon
s e n s e .
11. I t i s i m p e r a t i v e t h a t t h e t e a c h e r a v o id t h e
m i s t a k e o f t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e s t u d e n t who
knows o f an o f f e n s e and does n o t t e l l him,
i s a s g u i l t y a s t h e o f f e n d e r .
12. I t i s u n w ise t o h av e s p e c i f i c p u n ish m e n ts
a t t a c h e d t o s p e c i f i c o f f e n s e s . The t e a c h e r
. . . m ust h a v e leew ay t o e x e r c i s e ju d g m e n t.
13. I t i s w e l l t o remember t h a t i t i s much
e a s i e r t o p r e v e n t d i s c i p l i n e p ro b lem s th a n
i t i s t o c o r r e c t t h e p ro b le m s .
14. For a c h i l d o ld enough t o r e a s o n , i t i s
i m p e r a t i v e t h a t t h e p u n ish m en t and t h e
35
r e a s o n f o r i t be u n d e r s t o o d i f any r e a l
good i s t o r e s u l t . (4 2 :3 4 7 )
P a t t i n g t o n , a s t a t e s u p e r v i s o r o f e d u c a t i o n , s t a t e d
t h a t t h e t e a c h e r who k e e p s h i s p u p i l s bu sy d o e s n o t h a v e
d i s c i p l i n e p r o b le m s . He d e c l a r e d :
The t e a c h e r who shows h e r s e l f a f r i e n d
m i n g l e s w i t h t h e p u p i l s b u t m a i n t a i n s h e r d i g
n i t y , d o e s n o t t r y t o make e v e r y d i s c i p l i n e
p ro b le m a p e r s o n a l i n j u r y t o h e r s e l f , d i s
c o u r a g e s t a t t l i n g and in g e n e r a l k e e p s h e r
p u p i l s b u sy and t r e a t s them f a i r l y w i l l f i n d
h e r s u c c e s s a s a t e a c h e r im m e asu ra b ly
i n c r e a s e d . (7 3 :3 0 2 )
F o s t e r , a c o l l e g e d e a n , p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e r e a r e
two e l e m e n t s w h ic h make a t e a c h e r a good d i s c i p l i n a r i a n :
(1) r e a l m o t i v a t i o n and p u r p o s e s w h ic h t h e p u p i l can
u n d e r s t a n d and a c c e p t a s h i s own, and (2) d i s c i p l i n e from
a l e a d e r he knows i s c o m m itte d t o t h o s e p u r p o s e s and whose
a u t h o r i t y he g l a d l y a c k n o w le d g e s ( 5 3 : 2 1 6 ) .
Summary. A s u r v e y o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e on t h e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r f o r d i s c i p l i n e
i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e t e a c h e r h a s many r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s in
p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , among them t h e f o l l o w i n g : (1) t o p l a n
e n r i c h e d , v i t a l l e s s o n s ; (2) t o m a i n t a i n a w o rk in g
a tm o s p h e r e in t h e c l a s s r o o m so t h a t p u p i l s may l e a r n ; (3)
t o k e e p p u p i l s b u sy w i t h w o r t h - w h i l e a c t i v i t i e s ; (4) t o
36
d e v e lo p a v a r i e t y o f t e a c h i n g s k i l l s ; (5) t o work to w ard
t h e p r e v e n t i o n r a t h e r th a n t h e c o r r e c t i o n o f m i s b e h a v i o r ;
(6) t o u s e p u n ish m en t w i s e l y , and (7) t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e
dynam ics o f human b e h a v i o r - - e s p e c i a l l y h e r own and t h a t
o f h e r p u p i l s .
V. THE ROLE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
IN PUPIL DISCIPLINE
Many t e x t b o o k s on s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and s u p e r
v i s i o n c o n t a i n a c h a p t e r on s c h o o l c i t i z e n s h i p , u s u a l l y
w i t h a few s u g g e s t i o n s t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s r e g a r d i n g s e t t i n g
up d i s c i p l i n e s t a n d a r d s o r s c h o o l - w i d e p o l i c i e s and w i t h
many s u g g e s t i o n s f o r t e a c h e r s in m e e tin g t h e p ro b lem s o f
c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l s .
T extbo ok T r e a tm e n t of th e R ole o f
t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r in D i s c i p l i n e
Maxwell and K i l z e r s t a t e d t h a t a p r im a r y f a c t o r
in t h e f a i l u r e o f p r i n c i p a l s and t e a c h e r s t o k e ep t h e i r
p o s i t i o n s i s t h e i r w eak ness in m a i n t a i n i n g e f f e c t i v e d i s
c i p l i n e ; m o re o v e r, much o f t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e p r i n c i p a l
depen ds upon t h e d e g re e o f s u c c e s s h i s s t a f f a t t a i n s in
d i s c i p l i n e ( 2 1 : 3 3 8 ) .
37
Boardman, D o u g la s, and Bent s u g g e s t e d t h a t p r i n
c i p a l s and s u p e r v i s o r s s h o u ld a s s i s t t e a c h e r s in im p ro v in g
t h e i r t e a c h i n g a s t h e f i r s t m a jo r a p p r o a c h t o c l a s s r o o m
c o n t r o l ( 5 : 4 6 8 ) .
F r e n c h , H u l l , and Dodds s t a t e d : " I t h a s lo n g been
r e c o g n i z e d t h a t good t e a c h i n g d e c r e a s e s t h e p ro b le m s o f
d i s c i p l i n e , " and t h a t " t h e p r i n c i p a l who s e e k s good d i s
c i p l i n e f o r h i s s c h o o l w i l l lo o k d e e p l y i n t o i t s pro gram
and p r a c t i c e s " ( 1 4 : 4 1 4 ) .
Edmonson, Roemer, and Bacon s t a t e d t h a t i t i s
h i g h l y d e s i r a b l e f o r t h e s t a f f o f a s c h o o l t o d i s c u s s
p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s in d i s c i p l i n e w i t h t h e p u rp o s e
o f a r r i v i n g a t w o rk in g a g re e m e n ts ( 1 2 : 2 0 4 ) .
Kyte commented a t l e n g t h on t h e t e a c h e r ' s a p p ro a c h
t o s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e , d e c l a r i n g t h a t when t h e t e a c h e r
r e f e r s a c a s e t o t h e p r i n c i p a l , (1) t h e p r o c e d u r e must
n o t d e s t r o y t h e c h i l d ' s r e s p e c t f o r t h e t e a c h e r (2) no
p h a se o f Lhe p r o c e d u r e s h o u ld i n c l u d e i n s t r u c t i o n s from
t h e t e a c h e r t o t h e p r i n c i p a l as t o w hat d e c i s i o n he i s t o
make and (3) t h e p r o c e d u r e s h o u ld a i d t h e t e a c h e r t o se e
h e r s p e c i f i c r o l e in d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s ( 2 0 : 4 1 7 ) .
D ouglas recommended t h a t p r i n c i p a l s o r i e n t t h e i r
t e a c h e r s in t h e l o c a l s c h o o l ' s p h i l o s o p h y o f d i s c i p l i n e
38
and a s s i s t them in a r r i v i n g a t p r a c t i c a l s t a n d a r d s o f
p u p i l c o n t r o l t h r o u g h t h e f o l l o w i n g m eth o d s: t e a c h e r s '
m e e t i n g s , p e r s o n a l c o n f e r e n c e s , s u g g e s t e d r e a d i n g s ,
a d d r e s s e s by a u t h o r i t i e s , and r o u t i n e c o n t a c t s . W ith
a d e q u a t e s u p p o r t from t h e p r i n c i p a l , he b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e
t e a c h e r s h o u ld be a b l e t o assume r a t h e r f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
f o r d i s c i p l i n e in t h e c la s s r o o m . S in c e t h e r e i s l i t t l e in
t h e way o f p u n ish m en t o r c o u n s e l i n g t h a t t h e p r i n c i p a l
can do t h a t c a n n o t be done by t h e t e a c h e r , D ouglas re c o m
mended t h a t i n s t r u c t o r s who send p u p i l s t o t h e o f f i c e
e x c e s s i v e l y s h o u ld be d i s m i s s e d o r t r a n s f e r r e d ( 1 1 :2 9 7 ,
299) .
R e s e a r c h on t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s R ole
in D i s c i p l i n e
The r e m a in d e r o f t h i s s e c t i o n c o n t a i n s r e v ie w s o f
s i x p e r t i n e n t r e s e a r c h s t u d i e s . Those by F r a z e r , G a r i n g e r ,
H enning, and O lsen a r e d e v o te d e n t i r e l y t o t h e s u b j e c t o f
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f d i s c i p l i n e in s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s .
Those by D e x te r and O liv a a r e c o n c e rn e d w i t h t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t i o n o f d i s c i p l i n e and w i t h t e a c h e r and c la s s r o o m
c o n t r o l s .
39
F r a z e r s t u d y . In a M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , "A P la n f o r
t h e Improvement o f D i s c i p l i n e in a L arg e High S c h o o l , "
F r a z e r , a s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l , s t u d i e d t h e l i t e r a t u r e e x t e n
s i v e l y and found e i g h t m ethods o f t r e a t m e n t u se d by
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in d e a l i n g w i t h p u p i l s who m is b e h a v e :
p e r s o n a l c o n f e r e n c e , d e t e n t i o n , t h r e a t s , f o r c e d a p o lo g y ,
s u s p e n s io n and e x p u l s i o n , c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t, a s s ig n m e n t
o f e x t r a t a s k s , and d e p r i v a t i o n o f p r i v i l e g e s . His c o n
c l u s i o n s w e re :
1. "The p e r s o n a l c o n f e r e n c e i s an e f f e c t i v e
and d e s i r a b l e means o f d e a l i n g w i t h d i s
c i p l i n a r y c a s e s . " (S ix o f t h e n i n e a u t h o r
i t i e s F r a z e r c o n s u l t e d e x p r e s s e d o p i n i o n s
in f a v o r o f t h e p e r s o n a l c o n f e r e n c e . )
2. "The u s e o f d e t e n t i o n as a means o f d e a l i n g
w i t h b e h a v i o r p ro b lem s i s c o n s i d e r e d u n w i s e . "
(E ig h t o f n i n e o f t h e a u t h o r i t i e s c o n s u l t e d
s t a t e d t h a t d e t e n t i o n s h o u ld be u se d o n ly a s
a means o f m aking up n e g l e c t e d work and no t
a s a punishm ent f o r wrong d o i n g . )
3. " T h r e a t s s h o u ld n o t be u se d a s a d i s c i p l i n a r y
m e a s u r e . " (S ix o f n i n e a u t h o r i t i e s e x p r e s s e d
t h e o p i n io n t h a t t h r e a t s were an u nw ise form
o f d e a l i n g w i t h d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s . T hree
a u t h o r i t i e s e x p r e s s e d no o p i n i o n . )
4 . "The u s e o f f o r c e d a p o l o g i e s i s n o t c o n
s i d e r e d d e s i r a b l e and s h o u ld n o t be p r a c
t i c e d . " (F iv e o f n i n e o f t h e a u t h o r i t i e s
a g r e e d t h a t f o r c e d a p o l o g i e s a r e u s u a l l y a
v e ry u n d e s i r a b l e means o f s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e . )
5. " S u s p e n s io n and e x p u l s i o n sh o u ld be u se d a f t e r
o t h e r m ethods have been t r i e d . " (Seven o f
n i n e a u t h o r i t i e s h e l d t h a t s u s p e n s i o n and
e x p u l s i o n s h o u ld be u s e d o n l y a s a l a s t
r e s o r t w i t h t h e m ost c h r o n i c c a s e s . )
6. " C o r p o r a l p u n ish m e n t s h o u l d be u s e d o n l y as
a l a s t r e s o r t and w i t h a l l p r e c a u t i o n s t a k e n . "
( A l l n i n e a u t h o r i t i e s a g r e e d t h a t i t s h o u ld
be u s e d i f n e c e s s a r y a f t e r c o n f o r m in g t o
a l l p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e l a w .)
7. "A ssig n m e n t o f e x t r a t a s k s i s n o t c o n s i d e r e d
a j u s t i f i a b l e form o f p u n i s h m e n t . " ( S ix o f
n i n e a u t h o r i t i e s s t a t e d t h a t t h i s m ethod
s h o u ld n o t be u s e d a s i t l e a d s t o d i s l i k e
o f s c h o o l w o r k .)
8. " D e p r i v a t i o n o f p r i v i l e g e s i s o f d o u b t f u l
v a l u e and i f i t i s u s e d , t h e w ith d ra w n
p r i v i l e g e s s h o u ld be r e s t o r e d a s soon a s
p o s s i b l e . " (Seven o f n i n e a u t h o r i t i e s d id
n o t f a v o r d e p r i v a t i o n o f p r i v i l e g e in
h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . )
G a r i n g e r s t u d y . For h i s d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n ,
"The A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f D i s c i p l i n e in t h e High S c h o o l , "
G a r i n g e r s e c u r e d d a t a by means o f a f o u r - p a g e q u e s t i o n n a i r e
c o m p le te d by more th a n 300 p r i n c i p a l s . He l i s t e d tw e n ty
d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s w h ic h t h e p r i n c i p a l s w ere a s k e d t o
r a n k in o r d e r o f i m p o r t a n c e and f r e q u e n c y . T h e f t was
named by them a s b e i n g t h e m ost s e r i o u s p ro b le m . The
o t h e r s , a s r a n k e d by p r i n c i p a l s , w e re : t r u a n c y , i m p e r t i
n e n c e , o b s c e n e n o t e s and t a l k , c h e a t i n g on t e s t s , f o r g i n g
e x c u s e s , g a m b lin g , dam aging s c h o o l p r o p e r t y , c u t t i n g a
c l a s s , l y i n g a b o u t o t h e r s , sm oking in b u i l d i n g , p r o f a n i t y ,
41
f a i l u r e t o r e p o r t a f t e r s c h o o l , c a r e l e s s n e s s in w ork,
t a r d i n e s s t o s c h o o l , c o p y in g homework, i n a t t e n t i o n in
c l a s s , t a r d i n e s s t o c l a s s , chew ing gum in c l a s s , and
g i g g l i n g in c l a s s .
High s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e y
c o n s i d e r as more s e r i o u s t h o s e p ro b lem s a s s o
c i a t e d w i t h c o n f o r m i t y t o s c h o o l r o u t i n e and
t h e m o ra l code th a n t h o s e c o n c e rn e d w i t h p e r
s o n a l a d j u s t m e n t . (1 5 :1 2 )
D i s c i p l i n a r y d e v i c e s l i s t e d by G a r i n g e r in h i s
q u e s t i o n n a i r e w ere a l s o ra n k e d by p r i n c i p a l s a c c o r d i n g
t o f r e q u e n c y o f u s e . D e t e n t i o n was ran k e d f i r s t a s th e
m o s t- u s e d d e v i c e . The o t h e r d e v i c e s , in ra n k o r d e r , w e re:
r e q u i r i n g p a r e n t t o come t o s c h o o l , s e n d in g p u p i l t o
o f f i c e , w i t h d r a w a l o f p r i v i l e g e s , r e p r i m a n d i n g , s u s p e n d in g
a p u p i l , a s s i g n i n g s p e c i a l t a s k s , demanding an a p o lo g y ,
f o r c i n g p u p i l t o d ro p c o u r s e , e x p u l s i o n , g i v i n g d e m e r i t s ,
l o w e rin g m ark s, f i n e s , c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t, and g rou p
s u s p e n s i o n ( 1 5 : 2 5 ) .
In t h i s s tu d y in w hich a l l f i n d i n g s r e g a r d i n g
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f d i s c i p l i n e w ere o b t a i n e d from
p r i n c i p a l s , no d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n was made betw een d e v i c e s
t o be u se d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t h o s e t o be u s e d by
t e a c h e r s . Two d e v i c e s - - s e n d i n g t h e m is b e h a v in g p u p i l t o
t h e o f f i c e and lo w e r in g m a r k s - - a r e o b v i o u s l y d e v i c e s
42
t o be u s e d by t e a c h e r s f o l l o w i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s
o f t h e l o c a l s c h o o l . The s t u d y i s n o t c l e a r on t h i s
p o i n t and i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t some o r a l l o f t h e o t h e r
d e v i c e s w e re a l s o i n t e n d e d a s t e a c h e r d e v i c e s r a t h e r
t h a n a s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e v i c e s . P e r s o n n e l who h a n d le d
p ro b le m s r e f e r r e d t o t h e o f f i c e w e re t h e p r i n c i p a l ,
a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l , dean o f g i r l s , c o u n s e l o r , and
v i s i t i n g t e a c h e r .
G a r i n g e r c o n c l u d e d t h a t p r i n c i p a l s s h o u ld c h a n g e
t h e i r a t t i t u d e s to w a rd d i s c i p l i n e and c o n c e r n t h e m s e l v e s
p r i m a r i l y w i t h t h e " p e rm a n e n t a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e c h i l d to
h i s c o m p le te l i f e - - h i m s e l f , h i s s c h o o l , and h i s o u t - o f
s c h o o l e n v i r o n m e n t " ; t h a t t h e p ro g ra m o f e d u c a t i o n a l
o f f e r i n g s i n c l u d i n g c o u r s e s , c l u b s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s must
be e n r i c h e d ; t h a t e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s m ust be made
a w o rth y p a r t o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a l pro g ram ; and t h a t t h e
s c h o o l m ust assum e a g r e a t e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e away-
f r o m - s c h o o l b e h a v i o r o f t h e p u p i l s ( 1 5 : 8 6 - 8 7 ) .
H enning s t u d y . C a r o l H e n n in g , p r i n c i p a l o f B ayard
C o n s o l i d a t e d S ch o o l in Iowa, s e n t q u e s t i o n n a i r e s t o 300
p r i n c i p a l s o f s c h o o l s e n r o l l i n g b etw een 100 and 500 p u p i l s
i n t h r e e m id w e s te r n s t a t e s : Iowa, 200 q u e s t i o n n a i r e s ;
M i s s o u r i , 50 q u e s t i o n n a i r e s ; and N e b r a s k a , 50 q u e s t i o n
n a i r e s . Her s t u d y , b a s e d on t h e f i r s t 225 r e p l i e s
r e c e i v e d , shows p r i n c i p a l s ' e v a l u a t i o n s o f t w e n ty common
t y p e s o f m i s b e h a v i o r and tw e n ty common t y p e s o f d i s
c i p l i n a r y m e a s u r e s .
C o n g r e g a t i n g in l a v a t o r i e s and h a l l s was r a n k e d
a s t h e most f r e q u e n t p ro b le m ; and r u n n i n g in c o r r i d o r s
a n d / o r s t a i r s was s e c o n d . The n e x t t h r e e p r o b l e m s , in
o r d e r , w ere m is b e h a v in g in c l a s s , w a s t i n g s c h o o l p r o p e r t y
and r u d e n e s s and i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r o t h e r s . Next in
r a n k o r d e r w e re t h e f o l l o w i n g f i f t e e n p r o b le m s : c h e a t i n g
b e i n g i n c a p a c i t a t e d f o r s c h o o l work b e c a u s e o f o u t - o f -
s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s , d i s r e s p e c t f o r a u t h o r i t y , d e f a c i n g
s c h o o l p r o p e r t y , t r u a n c y , i m p e r t i n e n c e , d i s r e s p e c t f o r
f a c u l t y s u p e r v i s i o n and a u t h o r i t y , h a b i t u a l t a r d i n e s s ,
p e t t y t h i e v e r y , f o r g e r i e s , d i s h o n e s t y , c u t t i n g " o u t - o f -
s c h o o l " p r a c t i c e f o r m usic and dram a, s k i p p i n g p h y s i c a l
e d u c a t i o n and m usic c l a s s e s , and sm oking.
In h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , p r i n c i p a l s r a n k e d
d i s c i p l i n a r y m e a s u r e s u s e d i n te rm s o f f r e q u e n c y and
e f f e c t i v e n e s s . The t h r e e m e a s u r e s m ost f r e q u e n t l y u se d
w e re : (1) r e q u i r i n g p u p i l s t o pay f o r s c h o o l - p r o p e r t y
44
d e s t r u c t i o n , (2) h a n d l i n g p e t t y t h i e v e r y w i t h i n t h e
s c h o o l , and (3) r e t a i n i n g p u p i l s beyond t h e r e g u l a r s c h o o l
h o u r s . S e v e n te e n a d d i t i o n a l m e a s u r e s , l i s t e d in o r d e r o f
f r e q u e n c y o f u s e , w e r e : g i v i n g a g r a d e o f z e r o t o s t u d e n t s
i n v o l v e d i n c h e a t i n g ; c u t t i n g g r a d e s in c l a s s e s m is s e d by
t r u a n c y ; l e a v i n g a l l v e r d i c t s r e l a t i v e t o c l a s s c o n d u c t
w i t h c l a s s t e a c h e r ; s u s p e n d i n g f o r e x c e s s i v e u n e x c u se d
a b s e n c e s ; p r e s e n t i n g a l l d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s t o t h e p r i n
c i p a l b e f o r e p u n i s h i n g ; c u t t i n g g r a d e s f o r m i s b e h a v i o r in
c l a s s ; r e q u i r i n g a d d i t i o n a l a s s i g n m e n t s , e x t e n d i n g l e n i e n c y
in " s e l f - c o n f e s s e d " c a s e s o f m i s c o n d u c t ; e x p e l l i n g f o r
s e r i o u s m i s c o n d u c t ; d e p r i v i n g p u p i l s o f p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n
and p a r t i c i p a t i o n on b a l l te a m s ; p u n i s h i n g p u p i l s in t h e
p r e s e n c e o f o t h e r s in c a s e s o f su c h o f f e n s e s a s gum chew ing
i n v i o l a t i o n o f r u l e s ; r e q u i r i n g s p e c i f i c j a n i t o r i a l
s e r v i c e s f o r a s t a t e d tim e ; u s i n g s t u d e n t c o u n c i l t o
r e v i e w c a s e s and s u g g e s t p u n i s h m e n t ; l e a v i n g s p e c i f i c
t y p e s o f d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n t o s t u d e n t j u r i e s ; a s s i g n i n g
m o n i t o r d u t y t o s t u d e n t s who m is b e h a v e ; p u b l i c i z i n g p e t t y
t h i e v e r y by r e p o r t i n g t o l o c a l b u s i n e s s men and a u t h o r i
t i e s ; and r e s o r t i n g t o c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t .
When p r i n c i p a l s r a t e d t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e s e
same m e a s u r e s , t h e r a n k o r d e r c h a n g e d . D e t e n t i o n o f p u p i l s
45
beyond t h e s c h o o l day moved i n t o f i r s t p l a c e in e f f e c t i v e
n e s s , a l t h o u g h i t was t h i r d in f r e q u e n c y . E x p u ls io n moved
fro m t w e l f t h p l a c e in f r e q u e n c y t o se c o n d p l a c e i n e f f e c
t i v e n e s s . C o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t moved from t w e n t i e t h p l a c e
in f r e q u e n c y t o e l e v e n t h p l a c e in e f f e c t i v e n e s s .
The e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f m e a s u r e s u s e d a s r a n k e d by
p r i n c i p a l s was a s f o l l o w s : r e t a i n i n g p u p i l s u n d e r s u p e r
v i s i o n f o r tim e beyond t h e r e g u l a r s c h o o l h o u r s ; e x p u l s i o n ;
d e p r i v i n g p u p i l s o f p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n a n d / o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n
on b a l l te a m s ; c u t t i n g a cad em ic g r a d e s in c l a s s e s m is s e d
by t r u a n c y ; u s i n g t h e s t u d e n t c o u n c i l t o r e v i e w d i s c i p l i n e
c a s e s and s u g g e s t p u n i s h m e n t ; a f t e r a c e r t a i n number o f
u n e x c u s e d a b s e n c e s , s u s p e n d i n g t h e p u p i l w i t h r e - e n t r a n c e
p r i v i l e g e h a n d le d by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ; p r e s e n t i n g a l l
d i s c i p l i n a r y p ro b le m s and a c t i o n s t o be t a k e n f o r r e v i e w
by t h e p r i n c i p a l b e f o r e p u n ish m e n t i s a d m i n i s t e r e d ; r e q u i r
in g a d d i t i o n a l a s s i g n m e n t s r e l a t e d t o work in c l a s s e s ; in
money o r s e r v i c e s r e q u i r i n g p u p i l s t o pay f o r s c h o o l
p r o p e r t y d e s t r u c t i o n ; l e a v i n g a l l v e r d i c t s r e l a t i v e t o
c l a s s c o n d u c t w i t h t h e c l a s s t e a c h e r s ; r e s o r t i n g t o c o r p o r a l
p u n is h m e n t; g i v i n g a mark o f z e r o f o r work o f a l l s t u d e n t s
i n v o l v e d in a l l " c a u g h t " c a s e s o f c h e a t i n g ; r e q u i r i n g
46
s p e c i f i c j a n i t o r i a l s e r v i c e s f o r a s t a t e d l e n g t h o f tim e ;
h a n d l i n g p e t t y t h i e v e r y w i t h i n t h e s c h o o l ; c u t t i n g c l a s s
g r a d e f o r m i s b e h a v i o r o r c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r in c l a s s ;
e x t e n d i n g l e n i e n c y in " s e l f - c o n f e s s e d " c a s e s o f m is c o n d u c t
and g i v i n g l i g h t e r p u n ish m en t th a n t o o t h e r s who h a v e t o
be a p p re h e n d e d ; a s s i g n i n g t o s t u d e n t s who have m isb ehav ed
m o n it o r d u ty o r some p o s i t i o n w hich makes them r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r t h e c o n d u c t o f o t h e r s ; p u n i s h i n g p u p i l s in t h e p r e s e n c e
o f o t h e r s in c a s e s o f such o f f e n s e s a s gum c h ew in g , in
v i o l a t i o n o f s c h o o l r u l e s ; l e a v i n g s p e c i f i c t y p e s o f d i s
c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n t o s t u d e n t j u r i e s ; and p u b l i c i z i n g p e t t y
t h i e v e r y by r e p o r t i n g t o l o c a l b u s i n e s s men and a u t h o r i t i e s
( 5 8 : 2 7 1 ) .
Henning c o n c lu d e d : " . . . i t i s now g e n e r a l l y
r e c o g n i z e d t h a t good o r poor c o n t r o l of s t u d e n t g ro u p s
depends l a r g e l y on t h e p e r s o n a l q u a l i t i e s o f t e a c h e r "
( 5 8 : 2 6 6 ) . As in t h e G a r i n g e r s t u d y , no d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n
was made by Henning betw een m e a su re s to be u se d by a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s and t h o s e t o be u sed by t e a c h e r s . One d e v i c e - -
t h a t o f p r e s e n t i n g a l l d i s c i p l i n a r y p ro b lem s and a c t i o n s
t o b e ta k e n f o r r e v ie w by t h e p r i n c i p a l b e f o r e a d m i n i s t e r i n g
p u n i s h m e n t - - o b v i o u s l y r e f e r r e d t o t e a c h e r a c t i o n . Four
47
o t h e r m e a s u re s a l s o r e f e r r e d u n d o u b t e d l y t o t e a c h e r
d e v i c e s r a t h e r th a n t o a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e v i c e s , even th o u g h
Henning f a i l e d t o make t h i s d i s t i n c t i o n : (1) g i v i n g a
m ark o f z e r o f o r work o f a l l s t u d e n t s i n v o l v e d in a l l
c a u g h t c a s e s o f c h e a t i n g , (2) c u t t i n g acad em ic g r a d e s in
c l a s s e s m is s e d by t r u a n c y , (3) c u t t i n g t h e c l a s s g r a d e
f o r m i s b e h a v i o r o r c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r in c l a s s , and (4)
r e q u i r i n g a d d i t i o n a l a s s i g n m e n t s r e l a t e d t o work in
c l a s s e s .
O lsen s t u d y . A d e t a i l e d s t u d y o f r e f e r r a l p r a c t i c e s
in s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e was made by O ls e n , b a se d on 254
c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s s e c u r e d in i n t e r v i e w s w i t h f i f t y
s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l t e a c h e r s and tw e n ty - o n e d e an s and p r i n -
c i p a l s - - a l l in seven s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s on t h e San
F r a n c i s c o P e n i n s u l a . The two g r o u p s - - t e a c h e r s and r e f e r r a l
p e r s o n n e l - - l i s t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a s e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
f o r t h e u s e o f r e f e r r a l p e r s o n n e l :
1. Uses good ju dgm ent in em ploying d i s c i p l i n a r y
p r o c e d u r e s .
2. H elps r e f e r r e d s t u d e n t s u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o n
se q u e n c e s and r e a s o n s f o r t h e u n d e s i r a b i l i t y
o f m is c o n d u c t.
3. O b t a in s t h e c o o p e r a t i o n and u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f p a r e n t s .
48
4. P r e s e r v e s r e f e r r i n g t e a c h e r ' s a u t h o r i t y .
5. A d e q u a t e ly s t u d i e s r e f e r r e d d i s c i p l i n a r y
c a s e s .
6. E s t a b l i s h e s g e n u in e f e e l i n g o f r a p p o r t
w i t h r e f e r r e d s t u d e n t s .
7. U n d e r s t a n d s and u s e s p e e r g ro u p v a l u e s
and o r g a n i z a t i o n s . (1 1 1 :4 9 )
The " te a m a p p r o a c h " was f a v o r e d by b o t h t e a c h e r s and
r e f e r r a l p e r s o n n e l .
O lse n made t h e s e s u g g e s t i o n s f o r f a c u l t i e s :
1. S c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s on t h e s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l
l e v e l s h o u ld s e t a s i d e f a c u l t y m e e ti n g tim e
so t h a t c u r r e n t d i s c i p l i n a r y p ro b le m s and
t h e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d m ig h t be f u l l y d i s c u s s e d
and t h o u g h t o u t c o o p e r a t i v e l y .
2. R e f e r r a l p e r s o n n e l s h o u l d be c o n s t a n t l y a l e r t
t o o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r e x p l a i n i n g t h e u s a g e o f
c e r t a i n d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o c e d u r e s .
3. T e a c h e r s s h o u ld t a k e c o n t i n u i n g i n t e r e s t in
t h e d i s p o s i t i o n o f d i s c i p l i n a r y c a s e s and n o t
c o n s i d e r t h e p ro b lem " o u t o f my h a n d s " once
i t h a s been r e f e r r e d t o t h e o f f i c e .
4. S e c o n d a ry s c h o o l f a c u l t i e s s h o u ld t a k e s t e p s
t o u n d e r s t a n d f u l l y t h e r o l e o f o u t - o f - s c h o o l
a u t h o r i t i e s t h a t can c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e s u c
c e s s f u l h a n d l i n g o f d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s .
5. The c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t t e c h n i q u e i t s e l f can
be u t i l i z e d a s an a c t i o n r e s e a r c h m ethod
t o p ro m o te t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e " te a m a p p r o a c h . "
6. A d m i n i s t r a t o r s , d e a n s , t e a c h e r s , and o t h e r
s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l s h o u ld t a k e e v e r y
o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n t e r p r e t s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n a r y
p o l i c i e s t o s t u d e n t s .
49
D e x te r s t u d y . In a M a s t e r ’ s p r o j e c t b a s e d on
e x t e n s i v e l i b r a r y s t u d y , D e x te r d e a l t w i t h d i s c i p l i n e from
t h e s t a n d p o i n t s o f t e a c h e r and a d m i n i s t r a t o r and o u t l i n e d
many common c l a s s r o o m d i s o r d e r s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r m a jo r
c a u s e s , s u g g e s t i n g m ethods o f p r e v e n t i o n . C la s sro o m d i s
o r d e r s w ere l i s t e d in t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s : (1) i n c i d e n t s due
t o p h y s i c a l d i s c o m f o r t , (2) i n c i d e n t s due t o p o o r c u r
r i c u l u m and m ethods and po o r c l a s s r o o m m anagem ent, and (3)
i n c i d e n t s due t o p e r s o n a l i t y d i s t u r b a n c e s and f r u s t r a t i o n s .
E v id e n c e s o f t h e d i s o r d e r w ere p r e s e n t e d f o r e ach c a t e g o r y ,
t o g e t h e r w i t h s u g g e s t i o n s t o t h e t e a c h e r f o r p r e v e n t i o n .
In a d d i t i o n , f o r t y p r a c t i c a l s u g g e s t i o n s f o r t h e t e a c h e r in
t h e management and c o n t r o l o f t h e c l a s s r o o m w ere o u t l i n e d .
Among p r a c t i c a l s u g g e s t i o n s f o r t h e u s e o f th e
p r i n c i p a l in h a n d l i n g d i s c i p l i n a r y pro b lem s w ere t h e
f o l l o w i n g :
1. D i s c o v e r t h e p u p i l ' s p ro blem s i f p o s s i b l e .
2. Try t o g a in t h e p u p i l ' s c o n f i d e n c e and
r e s p e c t .
3. Be f a i r and f i r m i n d e a l i n g w i t h p ro b lem
c a s e s .
4. S e t t l e e v e ry c a s e on i t s own m e r i t s from
a c o r r e c t i v e p o i n t o f view .
5. No c a s e sh o u ld be f i n a l l y s e t t l e d u n t i l
50
e v e r y o n e c o n c e r n e d h a s had a f a i r h e a r i n g .
6. Remember t h a t m i s b e h a v i o r c a s e s a r e u s u a l l y
n o t a f f r o n t s t o t h e p r i n c i p a l o r t e a c h e r .
7. P u n ish m e n t i s n e v e r a d m i n i s t e r e d i n a s p i r i t
o f m a l i c e o r a n g e r .
8. T r e a t t h e p u p i l w i t h c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
9. Be f r i e n d l y w i t h t h e p u p i l .
10. Im p re ss upon t h e p u p i l t h a t u n d e s i r a b l e
c o n d u c t i s h u r t i n g h i s r e c o r d and t h e
r e p u t a t i o n o f t h e s c h o o l .
11. Do n o t a t t e m p t t o t a l k w i t h a p u p i l who
i s d e e p l y u p s e t e m o t i o n a l l y o r who h a s
o b v i o u s l y b u i l t up a b e l l i g e r e n t a t t i t u d e .
12. Keep a r e c o r d o f a l l c a s e s h a n d le d f o r
f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e .
13. N ever l o s e s i g h t o f t h e b a s i c p r i n c i p l e
t h a t p u n ish m e n t s h o u ld be c o r r e c t i v e o r
t h e r a p e u t i c in n a t u r e .
14. A l l p u n is h m e n t s h o u ld a c c o m p l i s h t h e p u r
p o se o f d i s c o u r a g i n g r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e
u nsoc i a l a c t .
15. I t p ays n o t t o u s e t h e h a r s h e s t t r e a t m e n t
b u t s t a r t w i t h a m i l d e r form f i r s t , u s i n g
d r a s t i c m e a s u r e s o n l y i f and when n e c e s s a r y .
16. T h e re s h o u ld be a c h e c k upon t h e b e h a v i o r
o f e a c h p u p i l p u n i s h e d f o r c h a n g e in b e h a v i o r
and e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e m ethod u s e d in
h a n d l i n g t h e c a s e .
17. The p a r e n t s h o u ld be c o n s u l t e d b e f o r e m aking
a d e c i s i o n in a s e r i o u s c a s e .
18. The u s e o f c o r p o r a l p u n ish m e n t s h o u ld be
51
r e s t r i c t e d t o t h o s e c a s e s in w h ic h a l l o t h e r
means o f p u n ish m e n t h a v e p ro v e d i n e f f e c t i v e .
( 1 0 1 :6 6 - 68 )
O l i v a s t u d y . "H igh S c h o o l D i s c i p l i n e i n A m erican
S o c i e t y , " a d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n by O l i v a , was a b s t r a c t e d
in t h e B u l l e t i n o f t h e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry
S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l s . The p u r p o s e s o f t h e s t u d y w e re (1)
t o d e v e l o p some g u i d e s on t h e s u b j e c t o f d i s c i p l i n e f o r
s t u d e n t s o f e d u c a t i o n , t e a c h e r s , and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ; (2)
t o exam ine i n t e n s i v e l y t h e h i g h s c h o o l p ro g ram and t o
o f f e r s u g g e s t i o n s on t h e many o p p o r t u n i t i e s a v a i l a b l e t o
i n c r e a s e i n d i r e c t c o n t r o l and t o t r a n s f e r d i s c i p l i n e from
e x t e r n a l a u t h o r i t y t o s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e ; (3) t o c o u n t e r a c t
some cf. t h e r e g r e s s i o n t o form s o f d i s c i p l i n e n o t c o n f o r m
i n g t o s c i e n t i f i c f i n d i n g s and t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f m e n t a l
h y g i e n e ; (A) t o b r i n g t o g e t h e r i n t o one com pact u n i t many
i d e a s , t r e n d s , and p r a c t i c e s w h ic h may be i n s t r u c t i v e to
f a c u l t i e s f o r u s e in t h e i r l o c a l s i t u a t i o n s ( 7 1 : 4 - 5 ) .
O l i v a s t u d i e d t h e r o l e s o f t h e t e a c h e r and t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r in d i s c i p l i n e . He l i s t e d t h e c a u s e s o f
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r i n te r m s o f t h e s o u r c e o f t h e p ro b le m :
(1) c a u s e s o r i g i n a t i n g w i t h t h e t e a c h e r and t h e s c h o o l ,
(2) c a u s e s o r i g i n a t i n g w i t h t h e home and cotranunity, and
52
(3) c a u s e s o r i g i n a t i n g in t h e l a r g e r s o c i a l o r d e r . For
each c a u s e he s u g g e s t e d c e r t a i n r e m e d i a l m e a s u r e s . He
a n a l y z e d v a r i o u s t e x t b o o k s i n s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and
l i s t e d and a p p r a i s e d t h e f o l l o w i n g f i f t e e n d i s c i p l i n a r y
m e a s u re s u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s : s im p le c o n t r o l , i n d i
v i d u a l c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h p u p i l s , h o m e-sch o o l c o o p e r a t i o n ,
r e s t i t u t i o n and r e p a r a t i o n , l o s s o f p r i v i l e g e , re w a rd s
and p r i z e s , d e t e n t i o n a f t e r s c h o o l , d i s m i s s a l from c l a s s
and i s o l a t i o n , p u n i s h i n g t h e g ro u p f o r t h e o f f e n s e s o f
one p e r s o n , e x t r a t a s k s , e n f o r c e d a p o l o g i e s , lo w e rin g th e
m a rk s, c o r p o r a l p u n is h m e n t, s u s p e n s i o n , and e x p u l s i o n .
He c o n c lu d e d t h a t (1) d i s c i p l i n e i s an e x tr e m e l y complex
q u e s t i o n ; (2) t h e aim o f d i s c i p l i n e i s s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e ;
(3) i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o w r i t e a p r e s c r i p t i o n f o r one ty p e
o f d i s c i p l i n e w hich would be a p p l i c a b l e t o a l l pro blem
c a s e s ; (4) m a t t e r s o f d i s c i p l i n e a r e p rim a ry t o i n s t r u c t i o n ;
and (5) h a r s h and r e p r e s s i v e m e a su re s a r e l e a s t e f f e c t i v e
in t h e a c h ie v e m e n t o f t h e g o a l o f d e m o c r a t i c s e l f -
d i s c i p l i n e ( 7 1 : 8 9 ) .
VI. CHAPTER SUMMARY
A s u r v e y o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e v e a l s t h a t most
p r o f e s s i o n a l w r i t i n g s on p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e w ere d i r e c t e d to
53
t e a c h e r s , e m p h a s iz in g t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r c l a s s r o o m
c o n t r o l s . W hile t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r
f o r f o r m u l a t i n g and p u b l i c i z i n g t h e s c h o o l ' s p h i l o s o p h y
o f d i s c i p l i n e was r e c o g n i z e d in t h e l i t e r a t u r e , a lm o s t
n o t h i n g was w r i t t e n c o n c e r n i n g t h e p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s
u se d by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
r e f e r r e d t o him by t e a c h e r s .
The f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s c o n t a i n e d in t h e l i t e r a t u r e
p e r t a i n e d s p e c i f i c a l l y t o t h e p ro b le m o f t h i s s t u d y .
1. D i s c i p l i n e was e x t r e m e l y s e v e r e and h a r s h
d u r i n g t h e M id d le Ages.
2. H ic k o ry s t i c k s , lo n g p o l e s w i t h w h ic h t o r e a c h
p u p i l s in a l l p a r t s o f a c l a s s r o o m , r u b b e r h o s e
and r a z o r s t r o p s w ere common d i s c i p l i n a r y t o o l s
in e a r l y A m erican s c h o o l s .
3. In t h e U n ite d S t a t e s p a r e n t and t e a c h e r
a t t i t u d e s to w a rd d i s c i p l i n e h av e been m o d i f i e d
s l o w l y a s c u l t u r a l s t a n d a r d s h ave c h a n g e d .
4 . D u rin g t h e e a r l y y e a r s o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y ,
women t e a c h e r s e n t e r e d t h e s c h o o l in g r e a t
num bers and began t o u s e d ip lo m a c y r a t h e r th a n
f o r c e in a c h i e v i n g p u p i l c o n t r o l s .
54
5. In h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s t o d a y , g u i d a n c e
w o rk e rs recommend d e a l i n g w i t h c a u s e s , a im in g
a t s e l f - c o n t r o l and e n l i s t i n g p u p i l c o o p e r a t i o n .
6. R e c e n t l y , c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r s h av e i n d i c a t e d
t h a t r e a l t r o u b l e - m a k e r s c o n s t i t u t e no more
t h a n 1 p e r c e n t o f t h e p u p i l p o p u l a t i o n , and
t h a t j u n i o r h i g h p u p i l s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
more m i s b e h a v i o r s t h a n a r e ele m e n tary o r
s e n i o r h i g h p u p i l s .
7. T h ree tim e s a s many boys as g i r l s a r e r e p o r t e d
as b e in g t h e c a u s e o f d i s c i p l i n e d i s o r d e r s .
8. In j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , t h e g r e a t e s t number o f
m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r s among e i g h t h g r a d e p u p i l s .
9. Many a u t h o r i t i e s to d a y recommend c o r p o r a l
p u n ish m en t f o r boys f o r t h e c o r r e c t i o n o f c o n
t i n u e d and f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n s o f s o c i a l l y
a c c e p t a b l e c o n d u c t .
10. A l l s c h o o l em ployees s h o u ld p a r t i c i p a t e in
p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
11. A t e a c h e r s h o u ld assume f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
f o r d i s c i p l i n e in t h e c l a s s r o o m .
12. Most c l a s s r o o m d i s o r d e r s a r e c a u s e d by p h y s i c a l
55
d i s c o m f o r t , p o o r c u r r i c u l u m , i n e f f e c t i v e
t e a c h i n g m ethods and p e r s o n a l i t y d i s t u r b a n c e
a n d / o r f r u s t r a t i o n s .
13. A good t e a c h e r i s a good d i s c i p l i n a r i a n .
14. The a b i l i t y t o g o v e rn i s t h e f i r s t e s s e n t i a l
t o s u c c e s s in t e a c h i n g .
15. C o n t r o l o f c l a s s e s depends l a r g e l y on Lhe
p e r s o n a l i t y o f t h e t e a c h e r .
16. The a d m i n i s t r a t o r sh o u ld assume l e a d e r s h i p
in f o r m u l a t i n g a d i s c i p l i n e p h i l o s o p h y , and in
s e t t i n g s c h o o l - w i d e p o l i c i e s and s t a n d a r d s .
17. Both a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s s h o u ld i n t e r
p r e t d i s c i p l i n e p o l i c i e s t o p u p i l s .
18. The a d m i n i s t r a t o r sh o u ld p la n f a c u l t y m e e tin g s
d e v o te d t o th e s u b j e c t o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
19. A d m i n i s t r a t o r s s h o u ld a s s i s t t e a c h e r s in
im p ro v in g t h e i r t e a c h i n g .
20. A d m i n i s t r a t o r s s h o u ld exam ine c r i t i c a l l y t h e
s c h o o l ' s e n t i r e prog ram , b o th c u r r i c u l a r and
e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r .
21. A d m i n i s t r a t o r s s h o u ld a s s i s t t e a c h e r s in
a r r i v i n g a t h ig h s t a n d a r d s o f p u p i l c o n t r o l .
56
22. P r i n c i p a l s sh o u ld d i s m i s s o r t r a n s f e r
t e a c h e r s who a r e po o r d i s c i p l i n a r i a n s .
23. R e s e a rc h s t u d i e s f a i l t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e betw een
t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r and
t h a t o f t h e t e a c h e r in h a n d l i n g p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r .
CHAPTER I I I
METHOD OF PROCEDURE
In t h i s s t u d y , t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t t e c h n i q u e
was u s e d in s u r v e y i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s and p r o
c e d u r e s in h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e . The s t e p s in t h e
p r o c e d u r e w e re a s f o l l o w s :
1. The d e v e lo p m e n t o f an i n s t r u m e n t t o be u s e d
in s e c u r i n g c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s a b o u t d i s
c i p l i n e from b o t h h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s and
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
2. A p i l o t s t u d y made in s e l e c t e d s e c o n d a r y
s c h o o l s in s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a .
3. R e fin e m e n t o f t h e i n s t r u m e n t .
4 . S p o n s o r s h i p o f t h e s t u d y .
5. S e l e c t i o n o f r e s p o n d e n t s .
6. A n a l y s i s and t a b u l a t i o n o f t h e d a t a .
7. F o r m u l a t i o n o f c o n c l u s i o n s and re c o m m e n d a tio n s
b a s e d on t h e d a t a .
58
I . THE CRITICAL INCIDENT TECHNIQUE AND
ITS USE IN THIS STUDY
The d a t a f o r t h i s s tu d y w ere s e c u r e d by means o f
t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t t e c h n i q u e , w hich c o n s i s t e d o f th e
c o l l e c t i o n and a n a l y s i s o f r e p o r t s o f a c t u a l i n c i d e n t s
o r r e c o r d s of human b e h a v i o r in a f i e l d u n d e r i n v e s t i g a
t i o n . In t h i s t e c h n i q u e , d e v e lo p e d and p e r f e c t e d by
John C. F la n a g a n o f t h e Am erican I n s t i t u t e f o r R e se a rc h
and t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f P i t t s b u r g h , t h e s t u d e n t s e c u r e s
a c c o u n t s o f i n c i d e n t s r a t h e r th a n g e n e r a l i m p r e s s i o n s ,
e . g . , s p e c i f i c e p i s o d e s r a t h e r th a n e s t i m a t e s o r o p i n i o n s
o r r a t i n g s . Two i m p o r t a n t c r i t e r i a o f a good i n c i d e n t
a r e t h a t i t be a d e s c r i p t i o n o f b e h a v i o r and a s p e c i f i c
s i t u a t i o n .
F la n a g a n d e f i n e d t h e t e c h n i q u e a s M a s e t o f broad
p r i n c i p l e s w hich have been found u s e f u l in s t u d y i n g human
b e h a v i o r s in a w ide v a r i e t y o f t y p e s " ( 9 4 : 6 1 ) , and
d e s c r i b e d i t as
. . , a f l e x i b l e s e t o f p r i n c i p l e s w hich must
be m o d if i e d and a d a p te d t o m eet t h e s i t u a t i o n
a t h a n d . . . . The e s s e n c e o f t h e t e c h n i q u e i s
t h a t o n ly s im p le t y p e s o f ju d g m e n ts a r e r e q u i r e d
o f t h e o b s e r v e r , r e p o r t s from o n ly q u a l i f i e d
o b s e r v e r s a r e i n c l u d e d , and a l l o b s e r v a t i o n s
59
a r e e v a l u a t e d by t h e o b s e r v e r in te rm s o f an
a g r e e d upon s t a t e m e n t o f t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e
a c t i v i t y . (5 1 :3 3 5 )
In t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , i n c i d e n t s from c l a s s r o o m
t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in c h a r g e o f d i s c i p l i n e in
h i g h s c h o o l s w ere c o l l e c t e d and a n a l y z e d . The c l a s s r o o m
t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d an a c t u a l i n c i d e n t in w h ic h t h e b e h a v i o r
o f t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r who h a n d le d a g iv e n
r e f e r r a l was ju d g e d by t h e r e p o r t e r t o be o u t s t a n d i n g l y
e f f e c t i v e o r o u t s t a n d i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e . The d i s c i p l i n e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r r e p o r t e d an a c t u a l i n c i d e n t in w hich t h e
b e h a v i o r o f a c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r who made a r e f e r r a l was
ju d g e d by t h e r e p o r t e r t o be o u t s t a n d i n g l y e f f e c t i v e o r
o u t s t a n d i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e . Every i n c i d e n t u se d in t h e
s t u d y was o b s e r v e d and d e s c r i b e d by t h e r e p o r t e r . Every
i n c i d e n t was r e a d and c l a s s i f i e d by a j u r y o f s e c o n d a ry
p r i n c i p a l s and v i c e p r i n c i p a l s in s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a .
I I . DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT
In p r e v i o u s s t u d i e s u s i n g t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t
t e c h n i q u e , d a t a h av e been c o l l e c t e d by any o f s e v e r a l
m eth o d s: p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w s , g ro u p i n t e r v i e w s , r e c o r d
fo rm s, and m a ile d q u e s t i o n n a i r e s . The l a t t e r method was
6 0
u sed in t h i s s t u d y . In s i t u a t i o n s w here o b s e r v e r s w ere
m o t i v a t e d t o r e a d d i r e c t i o n s c a r e f u l l y and an sw er c o n
s c i e n t i o u s l y , t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e t e c h n i q u e h a s seemed t o
g i v e r e s u l t s n o t e s s e n t i a l l y d i f f e r e n t from t h o s e o b t a i n e d
by t h e more tim e -c o n s u m in g i n t e r v i e w m ethod ( 5 1 : 3 4 3 ) .
W ith t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f v i c e p r i n c i p a l s in t h e Los
A n g e les C i t y S c h o o ls and members o f t h e d o c t o r a l c o m m i t t e e ,
an i n s t r u m e n t was d e v i s e d t o s e c u r e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s
a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e from b o th t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
P i l o t Study
A p i l o t s t u d y was made among t e a c h e r s in May,
1956 and among s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in O c to b e r , 1956 t o
t e s t t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h e i n s t r u m e n t in o b t a i n i n g d i s
c i p l i n e i n c i d e n t s .
A ll t e a c h e r form s w ere m a ile d t o sc h o o l a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s who had a g r e e d in a d v an c e t o d i s t r i b u t e them to
c e r t a i n o f t h e i r t e a c h e r s . In May, 1956, n e a r t h e end o f
t h e s c h o o l y e a r , t r i a l form s w ere m a ile d t o f i v e s o u t h e r n
C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n t o t e a c h e r s ;
e ach a d m i n i s t r a t o r r e c e i v e d e i g h t fo rm s, two form s f o r
e ach o f f o u r t e a c h e r s . T e a c h e r s w ere r e q u e s t e d t o d e s c r i b e
on one form an i n c i d e n t in w h ich t h e i r v i c e p r i n c i p a l d id
61
s o m e th in g o f an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e n a t u r e in p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e
w h ic h t h e y c o n s i d e r e d t o h av e b een e s p e c i a l l y e f f e c t i v e ;
on a n o t h e r fo rm , an i n c i d e n t w h ic h t h e y c o n s i d e r e d t o
h a v e b een e s p e c i a l l y i n e f f e c t i v e . To p r o t e c t t h e t e a c h e r ' s
a n o n y m ity , a l l form s w ere t o be r e t u r n e d u n s i g n e d e n c l o s e d
in s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e s . C o p ie s o f t h e t r i a l form s
a r e i n c l u d e d in t h e a p p e n d i x .
Of t h e f o r t y form s s e n t t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s f o r
t e a c h e r u s e , t w e n t y - s i x w ere r e t u r n e d in c o m p le te d form :
f i f t e e n w i t h e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , te n w i t h i n e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t s , and one w i t h t h e n o t a t i o n on a form i n t e n d e d
f o r an e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t , " S o r r y t o r e p o r t no such t y p e
o f c a s e in t h i s s c h o o l . " In s p i t e o f e f f o r t s t o a s s u r e
a n o n y m ity , i t was n o t e d t h a t t e a c h e r s w ere n o t a s w i l l i n g
to r e l a t e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s o f t h e i r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
a s th e y w ere t o r e p o r t e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s .
In O c t o b e r , 1956, t r i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e form s w ere
m a i l e d t o t e n v i c e p r i n c i p a l s in t e n Los A n g e le s s e c o n d a r y
s c h o o l s . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l s had a g r e e d in a d v a n c e t o f i l l
in and r e t u r n t h e f o r m s , and e i g h t d id so p r o m p tl y . Admin
i s t r a t o r s w e re a sk e d t o d e s c r i b e on one form a c a s e w here
a t e a c h e r made an e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l t o an a d m i n i s t r a t o r ;
62
on a n o t h e r fo rm , a c a s e w h e re a t e a c h e r made an i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l . A l l form s w e re t o be r e t u r n e d u n s i g n e d in s e l f -
a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e s . C o p ie s o f t h e form s a r e i n c l u d e d
i n t h e a p p e n d i x .
Of t h e t w e n ty form s s e n t o u t , s i x t e e n w e re com
p l e t e d and r e t u r n e d , e i g h t w i t h e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s and
e i g h t w i t h i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s .
R e fin e m e n t o f t h e I n s t r u m e n t
On t h e b a s i s o f t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e p i l o t s t u d y ,
and o f s u g g e s t i o n s made by Los A n g e le s v i c e p r i n c i p a l s
and by members o f t h e d o c t o r a l c o m m i tt e e , t h e i n s t r u m e n t
was f u r t h e r r e v i s e d . D i r e c t i o n s a t t h e t o p o f t h e form
w e re made more e x p l i c i t and d e t a i l e d . C e r t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n
n e e d e d , b u t found l a c k i n g in p i l o t r e t u r n s , was c a l l e d f o r
a t t h e boLtom o f t h e fo rm s.
W h ite p a p e r was u se d f o r a l l form s in t h e p i l o t
s t u d y ; i t was d e c i d e d , t h e r e f o r e , t o u s e c o l o r e d p a p e r
in t h e f i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n : two c o l o r s f o r t h e t e a c h e r
fo rm s and two d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s f o r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
fo rm s . As t h e r e t u r n s came in l a t e r , t h i s d e c i s i o n p ro v e d
t o be a w i s e one from t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f e a s e and a c c u r a c y
in s o r t i n g and t a b u l a t i n g t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s . F o r t h e
t e a c h e r f o r m s , g r e e n was u se d f o r a l l e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s
and y e l l o w f o r i n e f f e c t i v e . F o r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f o r m s ,
b l u e was u s e d f o r e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s and p i n k f o r t h e
i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s . C o p ie s o f t h e form s u s e d i n t h e
s t u d y a r e i n c l u d e d in t h e a p p e n d i x .
A f t e r t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e was r e v i s e d and r e f i n e d ,
i t was s u b m i t t e d t o t h r e e c o m m itte e s f o r t h e i r s u g g e s t i o n s
(1) t h e d o c t o r a l c o m m itte e u n d e r whose d i r e c t i o n t h e
s t u d y was c a r r i e d on, Dr. Edward La F r a n c h i , c h a i r m a n ;
(2) t h e Com m ittee on R e s e a r c h S t u d i e s f o r t h e Los A n g e le s
C i t y S c h o o l s , Dr. H e r b e r t F. P openoe, c h a i r m a n ; and (3)
t h e R e s e a r c h C om m ittee o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a A s s o c i a t i o n o f
S e c o n d a ry S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s , Dr. T. B e n t l e y E dw ards,
A s s o c i a t e P r o f e s s o r o f E d u c a t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a
a t B e r k e l e y , c h a i r m a n . A l l o f t h e s e c o m m itte e s gave t h e i r
a p p r o v a l and e v id e n c e d g r e a t i n t e r e s t in t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n
I I I . SPONSORSHIP OF THE STUDY
B e c a u se o f i t s v i t a l i n t e r e s t in t h e s u b j e c t o f
p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e a t t h e h i g h s c h o o l l e v e l , t h e C a l i f o r n i a
A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s g a v e i t s
e n d o rs e m e n t t o t h e s t u d y . A l e t t e r o f a p p r o v a l was s e n t
64
t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r by Mr. W il l ia m N. McGowan, E x e c u t i v e
S e c r e t a r y o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry
S chool A d m i n i s t r a t o r s ( s e e A p p e n d i x ) . On t h e s t r e n g t h o f
t h i s a p p r o v a l , t h e V ice P r i n c i p a l s and Deans C om m ittee o f
t h e C a l i f o r n i a A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry S c h o o l A d m in is
t r a t o r s a l s o a g r e e d t o s p o n s o r t h e s t u d y . A l e t t e r t o
t h i s e f f e c t was w r i t t e n by t h e c o m m itte e c h a i r m a n , Miss
R uth Adams, d a t e d March 15, 1957. A copy o f t h e l e t t e r
was i n c l u d e d in e a c h p a c k e t o f q u e s t i o n n a i r e s t h a t was
m a i l e d ( s e e A p p e n d i x ) .
IV. SELECTION OF RESPONDENTS
I t was d e c i d e d t o s e c u r e m ost o f t h e d a t a from
C a l i f o r n i a , w i t h a few from o t h e r s t a t e s f o r p u r p o s e s o f
c o m p a r i s o n .
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e s f o r b o t h t e a c h e r s and t h e d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r w e re m a i l e d t o a s c h o o l o n l y i f t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r had a g r e e d in a d v a n c e t o c o o p e r a t e in t h e
s t u d y .
L e t t e r s o f r e q u e s t f o r c o o p e r a t i o n w e re s e n t , a l o n g
w i t h p r i n t e d p o s t a l c a r d r e p l y , t o t h e f o l l o w i n g p e r s o n s :
1, To t h e f o r t y - s e v e n j u n i o r h i g h p r i n c i p a l s and
t h e t h i r t y - s e v e n s e n i o r h i g h p r i n c i p a l s o f t h e
65
Los A n g e les C i t y S c h o o l s , a s l i s t e d in t h e
G uide t o S c h o o ls and O f f i c e s f o r 1956- 5 7 - - Los
A n g e les C i t y S ch o o l D i s t r i c t s .
2. To 220 a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s , v i c e p r i n c i p a l s ,
o r d e an s o f C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r and s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s w i t h p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t s o f 1,0 0 0 o r over,
a s l i s t e d in t h e C a l i f o r n i a S chool D i r e c t o r y - -
1956- 5 7 . S c h o o ls whose e n r o l l m e n t s w ere n o t
l i s t e d in t h e d i r e c t o r y w ere o m i t t e d .
3. To two s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l p r i n c i p a l s in l a r g e
c i t i e s in each s t a t e and t h e D i s t r i c t o f
C olum bia, a l t e r n a t i n g betw een j u n i o r and
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a s t h e names w ere p ic k e d
a t random from P a t t e r s o n 1s Am erican E d u c a tio n
(1 9 5 6 ), and e d u c a t i o n a l d i r e c t o r y e d i t e d by
May.
C o p ies of t h e l e t t e r s and p o s t c a r d s a r e i n c l u d e d
in t h e a p p e n d i x . R e p l i e s e x p r e s s i n g w i l l i n g n e s s t o c o o p e r
a t e w ere r e c e i v e d from 220 C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and
from 56 a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in o t h e r s t a t e s .
P a c k e ts w ere m a i l e d t o e ach a d m i n i s t r a t o r who had
a g r e e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e in t h e s tu d y (s e e T a b le I ) . Each
6 6
TABLE I
NUM BER AND PER CENT OF QUESTIONNAIRES
DISTRIBUTED AND RETURNED
Item
Geographic
C a lifo rn ia
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
United
S ta te s * Total
Number of packets mailed** 220 56 276
Number of packets retu rn ed but not completed 7 6 13
Replies received:
From te a c h e rs:
Number 627 129 7 56
Per cent 83 17 100
From a d m in istra to rs :
Number 172 42 214
Per cent 80 20 100
Replies th a t contained only
a
comments:
From teach ers 87 14 101
From a d m in istra to rs 2 1 3
Total number of in c id e n ts reported:
From te a c h e rs:
In cid en ts which were usable 737 162 899
In cid en ts which were not usable 139c 9 148
From a d m in is tra to rs :
In cid en ts which were usable 307 76 383
In cid en ts which were not usable 11 4 15
* Not in clu d in g C a lifo rn ia .
** Packets mailed to a d m in istra to rs included 10 forms for teachers
and 2 forms for a d m in is tra to rs ,
a Including one comment th a t no such in cid en t had been observed,
b The geographic lo c a tio n of one rep o rted in c id e n t could not be
determ ined; the a c tu a l t o t a l receiv ed was 900 in c id e n ts ,
c This number includes 100 in c id e n ts rep o rted by te a c h e rs which
became lo s t in the hands o f a member of the ju ry ; these 100
in c id e n ts were l a t e r found, but not in time to be included
in the s t a t i s t i c a l d a ta .
67
p a c k e t c o n t a i n e d a c o v e r l e t t e r , two c o p i e s o f q u e s t i o n
n a i r e s f o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s on t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t many
s c h o o l s had two d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , and t e n c o p i e s
o f q u e s t i o n n a i r e s f o r t e a c h e r s w i t h t h e r e q u e s t t h a t t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r d i s t r i b u t e them t o any t e n t e a c h e r s l i s t e d
in a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r on t h e s c h o o l ' s f a c u l t y l i s t . To
e a c h q u e s t i o n n a i r e f o r t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s was
a t t a c h e d a sta m p e d , s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e . D i r e c t i o n s
on e a c h q u e s t i o n n a i r e i n d i c a t e d t h a t i t was t o b e r e t u r n e d
uns i g n e d .
V. QUESTIONNAIRE RETURNS
R e tu r n s from C a l i f o r n i a
D i s t r i b u t i o n . Seven o f t h e 220 p a c k e t s m a i l e d in
C a l i f o r n i a w e re n o t u s e d in t h e s c h o o l s : two w ere r e t u r n e d
t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r ; f o u r o t h e r s w e re r e c e i v e d t o o l a t e
in t h e s c h o o l y e a r t o d i s t r i b u t e , a c c o r d i n g t o l e t t e r s
w r i t t e n by f o u r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r ; and
one p a c k e t was n o t u s e d b e c a u s e in t h e m eantim e t h e s c h o o l
had made a d i s c i p l i n e s t u d y o f i t s own, a c c o r d i n g t o a
l e t t e r from t h e s c h o o l ' s a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
From t h e r e m a i n i n g 213 p a c k e t s , 799 r e p l i e s w e re
r e c e i v e d ; 627 r e p l i e s w e re from t e a c h e r s and 172 w e re from
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . T hus, 29 p e r c e n t o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
m a i l e d t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s t o d i s t r i b u t e t o t e a c h e r s w ere
f i l l e d in by t e a c h e r s and r e t u r n e d t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r .
S in c e no c o m m u n ic a tio n was e v e r made d i r e c t l y w i t h t e a c h e r
t h e p e r c e n t o f r e t u r n was c o n s i d e r e d t o be h i g h .
No e x a c t p e r c e n t a g e o f a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s r e p l i e s
c an be com puted b e c a u s e , a l t h o u g h two q u e s t i o n n a i r e s f o r
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e re i n c l u d e d in t h e p a c k e t f o r e ach
s c h o o l , i t i s known t h a t some s c h o o l s do n o t h av e two
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n c h a r g e o f d i s c i p l i n e . I f e v e r y s c h o o l
had one d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r , t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f r e t u r n
was 80 p e r c e n t ; i f e v e r y s c h o o l had two d i s c i p l i n e a d m in
i s t r a t o r s , t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f r e t u r n was 40 p e r c e n t (s e e
T a b le I ) .
C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r s . When t h e r e p l i e s from t h e
627 t e a c h e r s w ere a n a l y z e d , i t was fo u nd t h a t (1) some
c o n t a i n e d two c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s - - o n e e f f e c t i v e and one
i n e f f e c t i v e - - a s had been o r i g i n a l l y r e q u e s t e d and (2)
some c o n t a i n e d o n ly e s s a y s o r comments a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e ,
i n c l u d i n g many tim e s t h e comment t h a t t h e r e p o r t e r knew
o n l y e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s and r e p o r t e d one i n c i d e n t o f
69
t h a t ty p e o r t h a t t h e r e p o r t e r knew o n l y i n e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t s and r e p o r t e d one i n c i d e n t o f t h a t t y p e . Of
th e 627 t e a c h e r s who r e p l i e d , 87 s e n t o n ly p e r s o n a l e s s a y s
o r comments a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e . The r e m a in in g 540 t e a c h e r s
s e n t 876 c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s o f w hich 737 w ere u se d in t h e
s t u d y . T h i r t y - n i n e i n c i d e n t s w e re d i s c a r d e d by t h e j u r y ;
and one h u n d r e d , m is p la c e d f o r a tim e by a member o f th e
j u r y , w ere found to o l a t e t o be i n c l u d e d in t h e m achine
t a b u l a t i o n .
C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . When t h e r e p l i e s from
t h e 172 C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w ere a n a l y z e d , i t was
found t h a t (1) 170 c o n t a i n e d two o r more e f f e c t i v e and
i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l i n c i d e n t s and (2) two c o n t a i n e d o n ly
l e n g t h y comments a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e . S e v e r a l o f th e r e p l i e s
c o n t a i n e d a l s o p r i n t e d o r m imeographed s t a t e m e n t s o f
s c h o o l - w i d e o r c i t y - w i d e p o l i c i e s a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e . The
170 C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s s e n t 318 i n c i d e n t s : 307 o f
t h e s e w ere u sed in t h e s tu d y and e le v e n w ere d i s c a r d e d by
t h e j u r y .
R e tu r n s from S t a t e s o t h e r Than
C a l i f o r n i a
D i s t r i b u t i o n . Of t h e 56 p a c k e t s m a ile d to s c h o o l s
70
in s t a t e s o u t s i d e o f C a l i f o r n i a , s i x w e re n o t d i s t r i b u t e d ,
a c c o r d i n g t o l e t t e r s w r i t t e n t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r by a d m in
i s t r a t o r s . T h re e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w r o t e t h a t t h e y had
d e c i d e d m eantim e n o t t o c o o p e r a t e in t h e s t u d y ; t h r e e s a i d
t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l s w e re r e c e i v e d t o o l a t e in t h e s c h o o l
y e a r t o u s e , a l t h o u g h a l l p a c k e t s t o s c h o o l s in s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a w e re m a i l e d in March and A p r i l .
From t h e r e m a i n i n g f i f t y p a c k e t s , 171 r e p l i e s
w ere r e c e i v e d : 129 r e p l i e s w e re from t e a c h e r s and 42
w ere from a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . T h us, 26 p e r c e n t o f t h e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s m a i l e d t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s t o d i s t r i b u t e
t o t e a c h e r s w e re f i l l e d in by t e a c h e r s and r e t u r n e d t o
t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r .
No e x a c t p e r c e n t a g e o f a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s r e p l i e s
c an be com puted b e c a u s e , a l t h o u g h two q u e s t i o n n a i r e s f o r
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w ere i n c l u d e d in t h e p a c k e t f o r e a c h s c h o o l ,
i t i s known t h a t some s c h o o l s do n o t h av e two a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
in c h a r g e o f d i s c i p l i n e . I f e v e r y s c h o o l had one d i s c i p l i n e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r , t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f r e t u r n was 84 p e r c e n t ;
i f e v e r y s c h o o l h ad two d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , t h e
p e r c e n t a g e o f r e t u r n was 42 p e r c e n t .
R e tu r n s from t e a c h e r s in s t a t e s o t h e r th a n
71
C a l i f o r n i a . When t h e r e p l i e s from t h e 129 t e a c h e r s o u t
s i d e C a l i f o r n i a w ere a n a l y z e d , i t was found t h a t (1) some
c o n t a i n e d two c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s - - o n e e f f e c t i v e and one
i n e f f e c t i v e - - a s had been o r i g i n a l l y r e q u e s t e d and (2) some
c o n t a i n e d o n ly e s s a y s o r comments a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e ,
i n c l u d i n g many tim e s t h e comment t h a t t h e r e p o r t e r knew
o n ly e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s and r e p o r t e d one i n c i d e n t o f
t h a t t y p e , o r t h a t t h e r e p o r t e r knew o n ly i n e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t s and r e p o r t e d one i n c i d e n t o f t h a t t y p e . Of t h e
129 t e a c h e r s who r e p l i e d , f o u r t e e n s e n t o n ly p e r s o n a l
e s s a y s o r comments a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e . The r e m a in in g 115
t e a c h e r s s e n t 171 c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s o f w hich 162 w ere
u sed in t h e s t u d y . Nine i n c i d e n t s w ere d i s c a r d e d by t h e
j u r y .
R e tu r n s from a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in s t a t e s o t h e r th a n
C a l i f o r n i a . When t h e r e p l i e s from t h e 42 a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
in s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a w ere a n a l y z e d , i t was
found t h a t 41 c o n t a i n e d e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l
i n c i d e n t s and one c o n t a i n e d a l e n g t h y comment a b o u t d i s
c i p l i n e . The 41 a d m i n i s t r a t o r s s e n t 80 r e f e r r a l i n c i d e n t s :
76 i n c i d e n t s w ere u se d in t h e s t u d y and f o u r w ere d i s c a r d e d
by t h e j u r y .
72
T o t a l R esponses
A l t o g e t h e r , r e s p o n s e s w ere r e c e i v e d from 970
p e r s o n s - - h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
Among t h e s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 214
r e p l i e d : 172 w ere a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r
and s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s and 42 w ere a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in
j u n i o r and s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s in s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i
f o r n i a . From t h e s e 214 a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 383 u s a b l e c r i t i c a l
i n c i d e n t s w ere r e c e i v e d . F i n d i n g s from t h e d a t a from
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a r e p r e s e n t e d in C h a p te r IV o f t h i s r e p o r t .
Among t h e s e c o n d a r y t e a c h e r s , 756 r e p l i e d : 627
w ere t e a c h e r s in C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r and s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s ,
and 129 w ere t e a c h e r s in j u n i o r and s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s in
s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a . From t h e s e 756 t e a c h e r s ,
900 u s a b l e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s w ere r e c e i v e d . F i n d i n g s
from t h e d a t a from t e a c h e r s a r e p r e s e n t e d in C h a p te r V
o f t h i s r e p o r t .
A c o m p a ris o n o f t h e f i n d i n g s from t e a c h e r s and
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i s p r e s e n t e d in C h a p te r VI.
73
VI. TREATMENT OF THE DATA
The q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w ere a n a l y z e d , c l a s s i f i e d , and
t a b u l a t e d . Each r e s p o n d e n t was a s s i g n e d an i d e n t i f i c a t i o n
num b er, t h e same number b e i n g p l a c e d on t h e e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t , t h e i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t , a n d / o r t h e s h e e t o f
comments i f such a s h e e t w e re e n c l o s e d . T h us, even a f t e r
v a r i o u s t y p e s o f c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s and s o r t i n g s o f t h e
r e p l i e s , a l l t h e m a t e r i a l s r e c e i v e d from any one o f t h e
970 r e s p o n d e n t s c o u ld be r e a s s e m b l e d a s n e e d e d .
From t h e p o s tm a rk on t h e e n v e l o p e , t h e r e s p o n d e n t ' s
s t a t e was w r i t t e n on e ach q u e s t i o n n a i r e . In one c a s e , t h e
g e o g r a p h i c o r i g i n o f one i n c i d e n t c o u l d n o t be i d e n t i f i e d .
In o r d e r t o k e e p Los A n g e le s C i t y r e p l i e s s e p a r a t e from
o t h e r s in C a l i f o r n i a , a s r e q u e s t e d b o t h by t h e d o c t o r a l
c o m m itte e and by t h e Com m ittee on R e s e a r c h S t u d i e s o f
t h e Los A n g e le s C i ty S c h o o l s , Los A n g e le s q u e s t i o n n a i r e s
w e re m a i l e d w i t h an i d e n t i f y i n g m ark , a d a t e stam p .
The r e p l i e s w e re a n a l y z e d c a r e f u l l y , and s o r t e d
i n t o two g r o u p s : (1) c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s , t h e f a c t s from
w h ic h w e re m ac h in e t a b u l a t e d and (2) c o r r e s p o n d e n c e - - c o m
m e n ts o r e s s a y s a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e o r s t a t e m e n t s o f d i s
c i p l i n e p o l i c y . The c o r r e s p o n d e n c e was f u r t h e r a n a l y z e d
74
and r e p o r t e d w here p e r t i n e n t in C h a p te r s IV, V, and VI.
Most o f t h e i n c i d e n t s from a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w ere
found t o i n c l u d e t h e s e f a c t s : sex o f t h e p u p i l r e f e r r e d ;
t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r ; t h e t i t l e o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
t h e r e f e r r a l ; and t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u se d in m aking
t h e r e f e r r a l .
Most i n c i d e n t s from t e a c h e r s w ere found t o c o n t a i n
t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t s : t h e sex o f t h e p u p i l c o n c e r n e d , t h e
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , t h e t i t l e o f t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r t o whom t h e c a s e was r e f e r r e d , and t h e p r o c e d u r e
o r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in h a n d l i n g th e
c a s e . C e r t a i n o f t h e t e a c h e r s ’ i n c i d e n t s m e n tio n e d a l s o
t h e f a c t o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g o r la c k o f i t . T hese
f a c t s w ere e x t r a c t e d by t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r and l i s t e d on
e ach q u e s t i o n n a i r e .
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s , a d m i n i s t r a
t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , and t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r a c t i c e s w ere made
by t h e i n d u c t i v e m ethod. I t was found n e c e s s a r y t o l e a v e
a s " n o t c l a s s i f i e d " many p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s , and t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r a c t i c e s s i n c e th e y
c o u ld n o t be g ro u p ed i n t o m e a n in g f u l c a t e g o r i e s , w h e t h e r
t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r was w o rk in g a l o n e o r w i t h a j u r y o f
75
e d u c a t i o n a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
Each q u e s t i o n n a i r e , w i t h t h e v a r i o u s c l a s s i f i c a
t i o n s w r i t t e n t h e r e o n , was s u b m i t t e d f o r a p p r o v a l t o a
j u r y o f s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
The members o f t h e j u r y removed from t h e s t u d y c e r t a i n
i n c i d e n t s n o t r e g a r d e d by them a s p l a u s i b l e and a l s o
c h e c k e d t h e s u i t a b i l i t y o f c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s , m aking
c h a n g e s a s n e e d e d .
The f a c t s from t h e r e m a in i n g i n c i d e n t s , a l l o f
w hich had r e c e i v e d t h e a p p r o v a l o f a g r o u p o f q u a l i f i e d
e d u c a t o r s , w ere key p u n ch ed , t a b u l a t e d by b u s i n e s s
m a c h in e s , and s t u d i e d by t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r .
A f t e r s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s o f t h e d a t a , c o n c l u s i o n s
and rec o m m e n d atio n s w ere drawn from t h e f i n d i n g s .
V II. CHAPTER SUMMARY
The c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t t e c h n i q u e , d e v e lo p e d by
F la n a g a n and u se d i n t h i s s t u d y , was d e s c r i b e d in t h i s
c h a p t e r , a s was t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , t h e
p i l o t s t u d y , t h e r e f i n e m e n t o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , t h e
s p o n s o r s h i p o f th e s t u d y , t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f and r e t u r n s
from t h e i n s t r u m e n t , t h e s e l e c t i o n o f t h e r e s p o n d e n t s , and
t h e a n a l y s i s and t a b u l a t i o n o f t h e d a t a . The p r o c e d u r e s
o u t l i n e d in t h e c h a p t e r i n c l u d e d t h e b a s i s on w hich
c o n c l u s i o n s and rec o m m e n d atio n s w ere drawn from t h e d a t a ,
a s p r e s e n t e d in C h a p te r V II.
CHAPTER XV
EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE TEACHER REFERRALS
OF PUPIL DISCIPLINE CASES
In t h i s c h a p t e r a r e r e p o r t e d t h e r e s p o n s e s o f
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s t o t h e q u e s t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g i n s t a n c e s o f
t e a c h e r s ' e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s o f p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r p r o b l e m s .
A lth o u g h e ach h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r was a s k e d
t o r e p o r t anonym ously one i n c i d e n t showing o u t s t a n d i n g l y
e f f e c t i v e and one showing o u t s t a n d i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l from a t e a c h e r , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a s a g rou p
r e p o r t e d more i n e f f e c t i v e th a n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s . Of
t h e 383 i n c i d e n t s c l a s s i f i e d in t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , 216,
o r 5 6 .4 p e r c e n t , w ere i l l u s t r a t i v e o f i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l
p r a c t i c e s and o n ly 167, o r 4 3 . 6 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e
h a n d l i n g on t h e p a r t o f t h e t e a c h e r . Many a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
i n c l u d e d w i t h t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s s t a t e m e n t s o f l o c a l
s c h o o l and d i s t r i c t p o l i c i e s r e g a r d i n g d i s c i p l i n e , a s w e l l
a s s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e i r own p e r s o n a l p h i l o s o p h y .
78
I . BACKGROUND INFORMATION
S t a t e s and C i t i e s R e p r e s e n t e d
R e p l i e s w e re r e c e i v e d from 214 h i g h s c h o o l d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in 26 s t a t e s and t h e D i s t r i c t o f
C olum bia. In s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a , 31 c i t i e s
w ere r e p r e s e n t e d .
I t was i m p o s s i b l e t o com pute from t h e p o s tm a rk
t h e number o f C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s r e p r e s e n t e d . R e p l i e s
o f Los A n g e les a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , i d e n t i f i e d by t h e d a t e
stam p p l a c e d on t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , t o t a l e d 55. The
r e m a in i n g 117 r e p l i e s from C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s came
from o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s . The d a t a g iv e n i n T a b le I I
i n d i c a t e t h e s t a t e s from w hiqh r e p l i e s w ere r e c e i v e d
from d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
Of t h e 383 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ,
307, o r 8 0 .2 p e r c e n t , w ere from C a l i f o r n i a , and 76, o r
1 9 .9 p e r c e n t , w ere from v a r i o u s o t h e r s t a t e s in t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s , e x c l u d i n g C a l i f o r n i a . Of t h e t o t a l o f
383 C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t s , 94, o r 2 4 .5 p e r c e n t , w ere
from Los A n g e le s C i t y ; and 213, o r 5 5 .6 p e r c e n t , from
o t h e r c i t i e s in C a l i f o r n i a . Of t h e t o t a l o f 383
79
TABLE I I
STATES FROM WHICH ADMINISTRATORS' REPLIES W ERE RECEIVED
Number o f Number of
S ta te c i t i e s r e p l ie s
Arkansas 1 2
C a lif o r n ia 172
Colorado 1 1
Connecticut 3
D i s t r i c t of Columbia 1 1
F lo rid a 1 1
Georgia 1 1
Iowa 1 1
Indiana 1 2
Kentucky 1 1
M assachusetts 1 2
Michigan 1 2
M issouri 1 1
Montana 3
Nebraska 2 3
Nevada 1 1
New York 1 1
Ohio 1 1
Oklahoma 1 2
P ennsylvania 1 1
South C aro lin a 1 2
South Dakota 2 3
Utah 1 1
Vermont 1 1
West V irg in ia 1 1
Wisconsin 1 1
Wyoming 2 3
T otal 31** 214
* Im possible to compute
** Excluding C a lif o rn ia c i t i e s
80
C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t s , 135, o r 4 4 . 0 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d
e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l by t e a c h e r s and 172, o r 5 6 .0 p e r c e n t ,
d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . Of t h e 76 i n c i d e n t s fro m
s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , 32 , o r 4 2 . 1 p e r c e n t ,
d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s by t e a c h e r s , and 4 4 , o r
5 7 .9 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . In T a b le I I I
a r e shown t h e number o f e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s
r e c e i v e d from d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a r r a n g e d a c c o r d i n g
t o g e o g r a p h i c a l l o c a t i o n s .
S c h o o l S i z e
S c h o o l s i z e was c l a s s i f i e d a s f o l l o w s : (1) u n d e r
1 ,5 0 0 i n p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t , (2) 1 , 5 0 1 - 2 , 5 0 0 in p u p i l
e n r o l l m e n t , and (3) o v e r 2 ,5 0 0 in p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t .
From s c h o o l s i n t h e s m a l l e s t s i z e c a t e g o r y w ere
r e c e i v e d 176 i n c i d e n t s , o r 4 5 . 4 p e r c e n t , o f t h e t o t a l
number r e c e i v e d . From s c h o o l s in t h e m e d iu m -s iz e d g r o u p ,
w e re r e c e i v e d 163 i n c i d e n t s , o r 4 2 . 6 p e r c e n t , o f t h e t o t a l
number r e c e i v e d . From s c h o o l s in t h e l a r g e s t s i z e c a t e g o r y
30 i n c i d e n t s w e re r e c e i v e d ; t h i s was 7 . 8 p e r c e n t o f t h e
t o t a l num ber r e c e i v e d . S c h o o l s i z e was n o t s t a t e d on
16, or 4 . 2 p e r c e n t , o f t h e in i d e n t s r e c e i v e d . S l i g h t l y
more t h a n h a l f o f t h e i n c i d e n t s came from l a r g e s c h o o l s - -
81
TABLE 111
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF SCHOOLS REPRESENTED
IN REPLIES FROM ADMINISTRATORS
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
G e o g ra p h ic E f f e c - I n e f - P e r c e n t
l o c a t i o n t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
Los A n g e le s 43 51 94 2 4 .5
C a l i f o r n i a , e x c l u d i n g
Los A n g e le s 92 121 213 5 5 .6
U n i t e d S t a t e s , e x c l u d i n g
Los A n g e le s 32 44 76 19.9
T o t a l 167 216 383 10 0.0
s c h o o l s in t h e " o v e r 1 ,5 0 0 " p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t c l a s s i f i c a
t i o n . From s c h o o l s in t h e " u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 e n r o l l m e n t " g ro u p
75 i n c i d e n t s , o r 4 3 . 1 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , d e s c r i b e d
e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s ; 99 i n c i d e n t s , o r 5 6 .9 p e r
c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . From s c h o o l s in t h e
1 , 5 0 1 - 2 ,5 0 0 e n r o l l m e n t r a n g e 70 i n c i d e n t s , o r 4 2 .9 p e r
c e n t , d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s ; and 93, o r
5 7 .1 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . From t h e
l a r g e r s c h o o l s 12 i n c i d e n t s o r 4 0 .0 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d
e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s , and 18, o r 6 0 .0 p e r c e n t ,
d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . From t h e s c h o o l s whose
s i z e was unknown t h e r e w ere 10 i n c i d e n t s , o r 6 2 .5 p e r
c e n t , t h a t p o r t r a y e d e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s ; and 6, o r 3 7 .5
p e r c e n t , t h a t d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . In a l l s c h o o l
t h e n , t h e r e w ere more i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s th a n
e f f e c t i v e ones r e p o r t e d by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
T a b le IV shows t h e s i z e s o f s c h o o l s from w h ich t h e
i n c i d e n t s w ere r e p o r t e d , w i t h t h e number o f e f f e c t i v e and
i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s f o r e a c h s i z e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n .
School O r g a n i z a t i o n
More th a n h a l f o f t h e i n c i d e n t s f u r n i s h e d by
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s (200, o r 5 2 .2 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l o f
83
TABLE IV
DISTRIBUTION OF ADMINISTRATORS' RESPONSES,
BY SIZE OF SCHOOL
Number o f
p u p i l s
e n r o l l e d
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
E f f e c - I n e f - P e r c e n t
t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
Less t h a n 1,50 0
1,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0
More t h a n 2 ,5 0 0
Not s t a t e d
75
70
12
10
99 174
93 163
18 30
16
4 5 . 4
4 2 .6
7 .8
4 . 2
T o t a l 167 216 383 1 0 0 . 0
84
383 i n c i d e n t s ) came from s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s o r g a n i z e d
in any o f t h r e e w ays: w i t h g r a d e s t e n t o t w e l v e , w i t h
g r a d e s seven t o t w e lv e , a n d / o r w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t o
t w e l v e . Of t h e t o t a l 383 i n c i d e n t s , 147, o r 3 8 .4 p e r
c e n t , came from j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s
seven t o n i n e o r seven t o t e n . On 36 o f t h e i n c i d e n t s ,
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s f a i l e d t o s t a t e t h e ty p e o f s c h o o l o r g a n
i z a t i o n .
Of t h e 200 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , t h e numbers and p e r c e n t a g e s o f
e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s w ere a s f o l l o w s :
from s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s te n t o t w e l v e , 35
e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , o r 4 2 .8 p e r c e n t , and 47 i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l s , o r 5 7.3 p e r c e n t ; from s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w i t h
g r a d e s seven t o t w e lv e , 8 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , o r 4 4 .4
p e r c e n t , and 10 i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s , o r 5 5.6 p e r c e n t ;
from s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t o t w e lv e , 43
e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , o r 5 2 .8 p e r c e n t , and 57 i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l s , o r 4 7 .2 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l .
Of t h e 147 i n c i d e n t s from j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s , 4
w ere from s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s seven t o e i g h t , one was
from a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s seven t o t e n , and 142 w ere from
85
s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s sev en t o n i n e . Of t h e i n c i d e n t s
f u r n i s h e d by j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ,
62, o r 4 2 . 2 p e r c e n t , r e p o r t e d e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , and
85, o r 5 7 .8 p e r c e n t , r e p o r t e d i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r
r e f e r r a l s . T a b le V shows t h e t y p e s o f s c h o o l o r g a n i z a t i o n
o f t h e s c h o o l s w here t h e i n c i d e n t s o c c u r r e d , w i t h t h e
num bers o f e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s .
T i t l e o f A d m i n i s t r a t o r
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n v o lv e d in t h e c a s e s w ere c o u n
s e l o r s , d e a n s , v i c e o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s , and p r i n
c i p a l s . Of t h e 383 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d , 5, o r 1 .3 p e r
c e n t , i n v o l v e d c a s e s h a n d le d by c o u n s e l o r s ; 62, o r 1 6 .2
p e r c e n t , r e p o r t e d c a s e s h a n d le d by d e a n s ; 246, o r 6 4 .2
p e r c e n t , r e p o r t e d c a s e s h a n d le d by v i c e p r i n c i p a l s o r
a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s ; 23, o r 6 .0 p e r c e n t , r e p o r t e d c a s e s
h a n d le d by p r i n c i p a l s ; and 4 7 , o r 1 2 .3 p e r c e n t , f a i l e d
t o m e n tio n t h e t i t l e o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r . A lm ost t w i c e
a s many c a s e s w e re h a n d le d by v i c e o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s
a s w ere h a n d le d by t h e t o t a l o f a l l o t h e r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
Of t h e 5 c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o c o u n s e l o r s , 2, o r
40 p e r c e n t , w ere o f e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s ; and 3
c a s e s , o r 60 p e r c e n t , w ere o f i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s . Of
8 6
TABLE V
DISTRIBUTION OF ADMINISTRATORS' RESPONSES,
BY TYPE OF SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
S c h o o l
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
o r g a n i z a t i o n
and g r a d e s
E f f e c
t i v e
I n e f
f e c t i v e T o t a l
P e r c e n t
o f t o t a l
J u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
( g r a d e s 7 - 8 , 7-9 and
7 -1 0 ) 62 85 147 3 8 .4
S e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
( g r a d e s 1 0 -1 2 ) 35 47 82 2 1 .4
S e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
( g r a d e s 7 -1 2 ) 8 10 18 4 . 7
S e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
( g r a d e s 9 - 1 2 ) 43 57 100 2 6 .1
Not s t a t e d 19 17 36 9 . 4
T o t a l 167 216 383 1 0 0 .0
t h e 62 c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o d e a n s , 31, o r 50 p e r c e n t ,
i n v o lv e d e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s , and 31, o r 50 p e r c e n t ,
i n v o l v e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . Of t h e 246 c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o
v i c e o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s , 103, o r 4 1 .9 p e r c e n t ,
d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s , and 143, o r 5 8 .1
p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . Of t h e 23 c a s e s
r e f e r r e d t o p r i n c i p a l s , 12, o r 5 2 .5 p e r c e n t , w ere
i l l u s t r a t i v e o f e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s by t e a c h e r s , and 11,
o r 4 7 .8 p e r c e n t , w ere o f i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . Of t h e 47
c a s e s h a n d le d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s n o t i d e n t i f i e d , 19, o r
4 0 .4 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s , and
28, o r 5 9 .6 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . T a b le
VI shows t h e t i t l e s o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s who r e p o r t e d
t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s .
Sex o f R e f e r r e d P u p il
Of t h e 383 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d , 191, o r 4 9 .9 p e r
c e n t , c o n c e rn e d boys a l o n e ; 125, o r 3 2 .6 p e r c e n t , c o n
c e r n e d g i r l s a l o n e ; 20, o r 5 .2 p e r c e n t , c o n c e r n e d b o t h
boys and g i r l s ; and 4 7 , o r 1 2 .3 p e r c e n t , f a i l e d t o
i n d i c a t e t h e sex o f t h e p u p i l r e f e r r e d .
Of t h e i n c i d e n t s c o n c e r n i n g b o y s , 84, o r 4 4 . 0 p e r
c e n t , p o r t r a y e d e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s , and 107, o r
8 8
TABLE VI
TITLES OF ADMINISTRATORS WHO REPORTED
CRITICAL INCIDENTS
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
T i t l e o f E f f e e - I n e f - P e r c e n t
a d m i n i s t r a t o r t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
C o u n s e l o r 2 3 5 1 .3
Dean 31 31 62 1 6 .2
V ic e p r i n c i p a l , o r
a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l 103 143 246 6 4 .2
P r i n c i p a l 12 11 23 6 .0
Not s t a t e d 19 28 47 1 2 .3
T o t a l 167 216 383 100 .0
89
5 6 .0 p e r c e n t , w e re o f i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s . Of t h e 125
i n c i d e n t s c o n c e r n i n g g i r l s , 6 3 , o r 5 0 .4 p e r c e n t , p o r
t r a y e d e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s and 6 2 , o r 4 9 . 6 p e r
c e n t , w e re o f i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s . Of t h e 20 i n c i d e n t s
c o n c e r n i n g b o t h boys and g i r l s , 4 , o r 20 p e r c e n t , w e re
o f e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s , and 16, o r 3 4 .0 p e r c e n t ,
c o n c e r n e d e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s and 31, o r 6 6 . 0 p e r
c e n t , i l l u s t r a t e d i n e f f e c t i v e o n e s . T a b le V II shows t h e
d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e s e x e s in t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
I I . TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR
T o t a l R espo nse
Of t h e t o t a l number o f 383 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d , 10
d i d n o t s t a t e t h e t y p e o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , 28 gave
m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n e a c h i n c i d e n t , and 49 c o u ld
n o t b e c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s e s t a b l i s h e d . Each
o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 296 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d no more t h a n
one c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . In r a n k o r d e r , t h e
t e n m ost f r e q u e n t l y m e n tio n e d t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r
a s r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e re t h e s e :
1. C a u sin g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g ro u p .
90
TABLE V II
SEX OF PUPILS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENTS
REPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
Sex o f E f f e c - I n e f - P e r c e n t
p u p i l s t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
Boy 84 107 191 4 9 . 9
G i r l 63 62 125 3 2 .6
B oth 4 16 20 5 .2
Not s t a t e d 16 31 47 1 2 .3
T o t a l 167 216 383 10 0 .0
2 . D e f i a n c e o f a n d d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
3. F i g h t i n g .
4 . F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
5 . O b s c e n i t y an d p r o f a n i t y .
6 . T a r d i n e s s .
7 . T ru a n c y an d c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
8 . P e t t y t h e f t .
9 . C hew ing gum.
10 . C u t t i n g a s s i g n e d s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n .
T a b l e V I I I show s a summary o f t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s , in
o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
Los A n g e le s C i t y R e s p o n s e s
Of t h e 94 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d fro m Los A n g e le s C i t y ,
4 d i d n o t s t a t e t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , 6 g a v e m u l t i p l e
m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n e a c h i n c i d e n t , and 9 c o u l d n o t b e
c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t u p . The r e m a i n i n g 75
i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d o n l y one t y p e o f c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r i n e a c h i n c i d e n t . In r a n k o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y
o f m e n t i o n , t h e t e n h i g h e s t - r a n k e d t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r a s r e p o r t e d by Los A n g e le s C i t y a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
w e r e :
1 . C a u sin g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p .
92
TABLE V III
TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR REFERRED BY TEACHERS,
IN ORDER OF MENTION BY ADMINISTRATORS
Pupil Number of
m isbehavior in c id e n ts
Causing d iso rd e r or d isturbance in a group 97
Defiance of and d isre s p e c t for a tea c h e r 40
F ighting 24
F a ilu re to brin g necessary m a te ria ls to c la s s 22
Using obscenity o r p ro fa n ity 19
Tardiness 18
Truancy and c u ttin g of c la s se s 15
Chewing gum 9
Cutting assigned school d ete n tio n 7
Eating in c la ss 6
Destroying school m a te ria ls and property 6
Talking in c la ss without perm ission 5
Cheating and dishonesty 4
Smoking on campus 3
F a ilu re to dress for Physical Education 3
Using poor judgment in b o y -g irl r e l a t io n s ; p e ttin g 2
Dressing in a p p ro p ria te ly for school 2
F a ilin g to shower in Physical Education 2
Throwing l i t t e r in b u ild in g s or on grounds 1
Forging p a r e n t's sig n a tu re 1
« ^ B B B B a n n B a B a a n B E E a m s M a i a a B s s H a 8 a s B 3 B B n B M W M n
93
2 . T a r d i n e s s .
3 . F i g h t i n g .
4 . O b s c e n i t y an d p r o f a n i t y .
5. D e f i a n c e o f an d d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
6 . P e t t y t h e f t .
7 . T r u a n c y a n d c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
8 . C h e a t i n g a n d d i s h o n e s t y .
9 . E a t i n g i n c l a s s .
10 . F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
T a b l e IX show s t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r e d
t o Los A n g e le s a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f
m e n t i o n by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
A c o m p a r is o n o f t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by Los
A n g e l e s a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t h o s e r e p o r t e d by a l l r e s p o n d e n t
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s r e v e a l s t h a t t h e l a t t e r c o n t a i n e d tw o t y p e s
o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r among t h e t o p - r a n k e d t e n w h ic h d i d
n o t a p p e a r on t*he Los A n g e l e s l i s t o f h i g h e s t t e n : (1)
c h e w in g gum, and (2) c u t t i n g a s s i g n e d d e t e n t i o n . The
Los A n g e l e s l i s t c o n t a i n e d one c a s e o f gum c h e w in g , b u t
no c a s e s i n w h ic h p u p i l s c u t a s s i g n e d d e t e n t i o n .
R e s p o n s e s fro m C a l i f o r n i a , E x c l u d i n g
Los A n g e le s
94
TABLE IX
TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR REFERRED BY TEACHERS,
IN RANK ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
BY LOS ANGELES ADMINISTRATORS
Rank P u p i l Number o f
o r d e r m i s b e h a v i o r i n c i d e n t s
1 C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e i n a g r o u p 28
2 T a r d i n e s s 8
3 .5 F i g h t i n g 6
3 .5 U s in g o b s c e n i t y o r p r o f a n i t y 6
5 . 5 D e f i a n c e o r a n d d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r 5
5 . 5 P e t t y t h e f t 5
7 T ru a n c y a n d c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s 4
9 C h e a t i n g a n d d i s h o n e s t y 2
9 E a t i n g i n c l a s s 2
9 F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s 2
D e s t r o y i n g s c h o o l m a t e r i a l s a n d p r o p e r t y 2
D r e s s i n g i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l 1
C hew ing gum 1
F a i l u r e t o d r e s s f o r P h y s i c a l E d u c a t i o n 1
T a l k i n g i n c l a s s w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n 1
95
Of t h e 213 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d fro m C a l i f o r n i a
c i t i e s ( e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s ) , 4 d i d n o t s t a t e t h e t y p e
o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , 26 c o u l d n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r
t h e h e a d i n g s s e t u p , and 17 g a v e m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s
w i t h i n e a c h i n c i d e n t . Each o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 166 i n c i d e n t s
d e s c r i b e d one c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . In r a n k o r d e r ,
t h e h i g h e s t t e n p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s a s r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s i n C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s ( e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e le s ) w e re :
1. C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p .
2. D e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
3. F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
4 . F i g h t i n g .
5. O b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y .
6 . Chewing gum.
7 . T a r d i n e s s .
8. T ru a n c y and c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
9 . E a t i n g in c l a s s .
10. T a l k i n g i n c l a s s w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n .
In T a b le X a r e shown t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r
r e f e r r e d t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s ( e x c l u d i n g
Los A n g e l e s ) .
96
TABLE X
TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR REFERRED BY TEACHERS,
IN RANK ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION BY
ADMINISTRATORS IN CALIFORNIA CITIES,
EXCLUDING LOS ANGELES
Pupil
m isbehavior
Number of
in c id e n ts
Causing d iso rd e r or d istu rb a n c e in a group 54
Defiance of and d is r e s p e c t fo r a te a c h e r 30
F a ilu re to b rin g n ecessary m a te r ia ls to c la s s 17
F ig h tin g 15
Use of o b scen ity and p ro fa n ity 11
Chewing gum 7
T ardiness 7
Truancy and c u ttin g of c la s s e s 5
E ating in c la s s 4
T alking in c la s s w ithout perm ission 3
P e tty th e f t 3
Using poor t a s t e in b o y -g irl r e l a t i o n s ; p e ttin g 2
F a ilu re to d ress for P h y sical Education 2
Cheating and dish o n esty 1
D ressing in a p p ro p ria te ly for school 1
Forging p a r e n t 's sig n a tu re 1
Smoking on campus 1
D estroying school m a te r ia ls or pro p erty 1
97
Combined R e sp o n se s fro m C a l i f o r n i a
Of t h e t o t a l 307 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d fro m C a l i
f o r n i a - - i n c l u d i n g b o t h Los A n g e le s C i t y and o t h e r c i t i e s
in t h e s t a t e - -8 d i d n o t s t a t e t h e t y p e o f p u p i l m is b e h a v io r ,
23 g a v e m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n e a c h i n c i d e n t , and
35 c o u ld n o t b e c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t u p .
Each o f t h e r e m a in i n g 241 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d o n ly one
c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . In r a n k o r d e r , t h e h i g h e s t
t e n m i s b e h a v i o r s r e f e r r e d t o C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
(fro m Los A n g e le s C i t y and fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s )
w e r e :
1. C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p .
2. D e f ia n c e o f an d d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
3. F i g h t i n g .
4 . F a i l i n g t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
5. O b s c e n it y and p r o f a n i t y .
6. T a r d i n e s s .
7. T ru a n c y a n d c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
8. P e t t y t h e f t .
9. Chewing gum.
10. E a t i n g i n c l a s s .
98
R e s p o n s e s fro m S t a t e s o t h e r Than
C a l i f o r n i a
Of t h e 76 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d fro m s t a t e s o t h e r
t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , two d i d n o t s t a t e t h e t y p e o f p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r , f i v e g a v e m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n e a c h
i n c i d e n t , and f o u r t e e n c o u l d n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e
h e a d i n g s s e t u p . E ach o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 55 i n c i d e n t s
d e s c r i b e d o n l y one c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . In o r d e r
o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n , t h e h i g h e s t t e n p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
r e f e r r e d t o t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in s t a t e s o t h e r
th a n C a l i f o r n i a w e r e :
1. C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e i n a g r o u p .
2. T ru a n c y an d c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
3. D e f i a n c e o f an d d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
A. C u t t i n g a s s i g n e d s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n .
5 . F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
6 . F i g h t i n g .
7 . T a r d i n e s s .
8 . D e s t r o y i n g s c h o o l m a t e r i a l s and p r o p e r t y .
9. O b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y .
10. P e t t y t h e f t .
In T a b le XI a r e l i s t e d t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s r e f e r r e d t o
99
TABLE XI
TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR REFERRED BY TEACHERS,
IN RANK ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION BY
ADMINISTRATORS IN STATES OTHER
THAN CALIFORNIA
Pupil Number of
m isbehavior in c id e n ts
Causing d iso rd e r or disturbance in a group 15
Truancy and c u ttin g of c la sse s 6
Defiance of and d isre s p e c t for a teach er 5
F a ilu re to rep o rt fo r assigned school d ete n tio n 5
F a ilu re to bring necessary m a te ria ls to c la ss 3
F ig h tin g 3
T ardiness 3
Destroying school m a te ria ls and property 3
Using obscenity and p ro fa n ity 3
Smoking on campus 2
P etty th e f t 2
Cheating and dishonesty 1
Throwing l i t t e r in b u ild in g s or on grounds 1
Chewing gum 1
F a ilu re to take showers in Physical Education 1
Talking in c la ss w ithout perm ission 1
1 0 0
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .
Summary o f Types o f P u p i l M is b e h a v io r
R e f e r r e d t o A d m i n i s t r a t o r s
Seven t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r a p p e a r e d among t h e
h i g h e s t t e n in f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n on a l l t h e l i s t s .
They w e r e :
1. C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e i n a g r o u p .
2. T ru a n c y and c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
3. D e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
4 . F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
3. F i g h t i n g .
6 . T a r d i n e s s .
7 . O b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y .
O th e r t y p e s o f m i s b e h a v i o r e a c h o f w h ic h w e re m e n tio n e d in
s e v e r a l c a s e s on e a c h l i s t w e r e :
1. Chewing gum.
2. T a l k i n g i n c l a s s w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n .
3. E a t i n g i n c l a s s .
4 . C h e a t in g and d i s h o n e s t y .
When t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r e d t o a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s w e re co m p ared on t h e b a s i s o f g e o g r a p h i c a r e a ,
few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re o b s e r v e d .
1 0 1
C o m p a riso n o f T ypes o f R e f e r r e d P u p i l
M is b e h a v io r i n J u n i o r V e rs u s S e n i o r H igh
S c h o o ls
T ypes o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s
w e re co m p ared w i t h t h o s e in s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s . Among
t h e 147 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d fro m j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , f i v e d i d n o t s t a t e t h e p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r ; t e n r e p o r t e d s e v e r a l m i s b e h a v i o r s in e a c h
i n c i d e n t ; and tw e n ty c o u l d n o t b e c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e
h e a d i n g s s e t u p . Of t h e r e m a in i n g 112 i n c i d e n t s , t h e
e l e v e n m e n tio n e d m o st f r e q u e n t l y by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e :
1. C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p .
2. F i g h t i n g .
3. D e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
4 . T a r d i n e s s .
5. F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
6 . O b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y .
7 . P e t t y t h e f t .
8. T a l k i n g i n c l a s s w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n .
9. F a i l u r e t o r e p o r t f o r a s s i g n e d s c h o o l
d e t e n t i o n .
10. Chewing gum.
1 0 2
11. T ru a n c y and c u t t i n g c l a s s e s .
In T a b le X II a r e r e p o r t e d t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r
r e f e r r e d t o j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , in r a n k
o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n .
Among t h e 200 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d fro m s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , f o u r d i d n o t s t a t e
t h e t y p e o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , f i f t e e n r e p o r t e d s e v e r a l
t y p e s o f m i s b e h a v i o r i n e a c h i n c i d e n t , and 26 c o u l d n o t
b e c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t u p . In t h e r e m a in i n g
155 i n c i d e n t s , t h e n i n e m e n tio n e d m ost f r e q u e n t l y by
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e :
1. C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p .
2. D e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
3. F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s .
4 . O b s c e n it y and p r o f a n i t y .
5. T ru a n c y and c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
6. F i g h t i n g .
7. T a r d i n e s s .
8. Chewing gum.
9. P e t t y t h e f t .
In T a b le X I I I a r e shown t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r
r e f e r r e d t o s e n i o r h i g h d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , in
r a n k o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n .
103
TABLE X II
TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR REFERRED BY TEACHERS,
IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION BY THE
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
Pupil Number of
m isbehavior in c id e n ts
Causing d iso rd e r or d istu rb an ce in a group 36
F ighting 14
Defiance of and d isre s p e c t for a tea c h e r 10
Tardiness 9
F a ilu re to bring necessary m a te ria ls to c la s s 7
Using obscenity and p ro fa n ity 7
Petty th e f t 5
Talking in c la s s w ithout perm ission 4
F a ilu re to re p o rt for assigned school d e te n tio n 3
Chewing gum 3
Truancy and c u ttin g of c la s se s 3
Eating in c la s s 2
F a ilu re to take showers in Physical Education 2
Destroying school m a te ria ls and p ro p erty 2
Using poor t a s t e in b o y -g irl r e l a t io n s ; p e ttin g 1
Cheating and dishonesty 1
Dressing in a p p ro p ria te ly for school 1
Forging p a r e n t's sig n a tu re 1
Smoking 1
104
TABLE XIII
TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR REFERRED BY TEACHERS,
IN RANK ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION BY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
Pupil Number of
m isbehavior in cid en ts
Causing d iso rd e r o r disturbance in a group 48
Defiance of and d isre s p e c t for a teach er 39
F a ilu re to bring necessary m a te ria ls to c la s s 13
Use of obscenity and p ro fa n ity 10
Truancy and c u ttin g of c la sse s 10
F ighting 9
Tardiness 9
Chewing gum 5
P etty th e f t 5
Cheating and dishonesty 3
Eating in c la ss 3
Destroying school m a te ria ls and property 3
F a ilu re to rep o rt for assigned school d ete n tio n 2
Smoking 2
Using poor t a s t e in b o y -g irl r e l a t io n s ; p e ttin g 1
Throwing l i t t e r in b u ild in g s and on grounds 1
F a ilu re to dress for Physical Education 1
Talking in c la s s without perm ission 1
105
When t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r e d t o
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w e re
co m p a re d w i t h t h o s e r e f e r r e d t o s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m in
i s t r a t o r s few d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e f o u n d . I t w as n o t e d t h a t
t h e s e v e n t y p e s o f m i s b e h a v i o r m e n t i o n e d m o st f r e q u e n t l y
by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in b o t h c a t e g o r i e s w e re e x a c t l y t h e
sam e, b u t i n d i f f e r e n t r a n k o r d e r . Two o t h e r t y p e s o f
m i s b e h a v i o r w h ic h r a n k e d among t h e h i g h e s t t e n on t h e
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l l i s t ( t r u a n c y and c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s ,
and c h e w in g gum) w e re L ie d f o r t e n t h p l a c e on t h e j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l l i s t .
P l a c e i n S c h o o l W here M i s b e h a v i o r O c c u r r e d
A s t u d y w as made o f t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r s . In t h e l a r g e s t p e r c e n t a g e o f i n c i d e n t s
(238 i n c i d e n t s o r 6 2 .1 p e r c e n t , o f t h e t o t a l o f 3 8 3 ) ,
r e f e r r a l t o t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r w as made fro m
t h e r e g u l a r c l a s s r o o m s i t u a t i o n , u s u a l l y fro m E n g l i s h ,
s o c i a l s t u d i e s , m a t h e m a t i c s , s c i e n c e , f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e ,
t h e f i n e a r t s , an d b u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s . In 43
i n c i d e n t s , o r 1 1 .2 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , t h e r e f e r r a l
was fro m sh o p o r hom em aking c l a s s e s . In 32 i n c i d e n t s ,
tw o o r 8 . 4 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , t h e r e f e r r a l w as made
106
fro m p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s . In 13 i n c i d e n t s , o r 3 .4
p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , t h e r e f e r r a l c o n c e r n e d a m i s b e h a v i o r
t h a t o c c u r r e d in t h e h a l l s . In 11 i n c i d e n t s , o r 2 .9 p e r
c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , t h e r e f e r r a l was made from s t u d y h a l l .
In 8 i n c i d e n t s , o r 2 .1 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , t h e r e f e r r a l
c o n c e r n e d m i s b e h a v i o r on t h e p l a y g r o u n d . In one i n c i d e n t ,
t h e m i s b e h a v i o r o c c u r r e d in an a s s e m b ly . In 3 7 , o r 9 .7
p e r c e n t o f t h e i n c i d e n t s , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r e i t h e r
f a i l e d t o s t a t e w h e re t h e m i s b e h a v i o r o c c u r r e d , o r named
a p l a c e w h ic h was n o t c l a s s i f i e d in t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
In T a b le XIV i s shown t h e s c h o o l l o c a t i o n o f e a c h p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r a l t o an a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
I I I . TEACHER PROCEDURES USED IN
EFFECTIVE REFERRALS
The i n c i d e n t s w e re s t u d i e d f o r e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r
r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s . Among 167 e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r r e f e r
r a l s d e s c r i b e d , 161 m e n tio n e d p r o c e d u r e s t h a t w e re
c l a s s i f i e d h e r e i n . S ix e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w e re n o t
c l a s s i f i e d .
E f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r P r o c e d u r e s
The t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s , in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f
107
TABLE XIV
PLACE IN SCHOOL WHERE PUPIL MISBEHAVIORS
REPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS IN
CRITICAL INCIDENTS OCCURRED
Rank L o c a t i o n Number o f P e r c e n t
o r d e r i n s c h o o l i n c i d e n t s o f t o t a l
4 P h y s i c a l E d u c a t i o n c l a s s 32 8 . 4
2 Shop o r Homemaking c l a s s 43 1 1 .2
6 S tu d y H a l l 11 2 . 9
1 C l a s s e s o t h e r t h a n t h o s e l i s t e d 238 6 2 .1
5 H a l l 13 3 .4
7 P l a y g r o u n d 8 2 .1
8 A ssem b ly 1 0 . 3
3 N ot c l a s s i f i e d o r n o t s t a t e d 37 9 ,7
108
m e n tio n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , f e l l w i t h i n t h e
f o l l o w i n g c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s :
1. R e f e r r e d i m m e d i a t e l y a s e r i o u s e m e r g e n c y .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s .
3 . R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
4 . R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s
p r o b le m .
5. C o n s u l t e d t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l .
6 . B ro u g h t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e .
7 . A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e .
8. R e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p t e a c h e r c a n n o t
p r o v i d e .
9 . R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y " p r o b l e m " p a r e n t s .
1 0 . Had t h e p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e
r e f e r r a l h i m s e l f .
In T a b l e XV a r e l i s t e d t h e e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d by
t e a c h e r s i n t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s .
109
TABLE XV
EFFECTIVE REFERRAL PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS,
AS REPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS
Rank E f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l Number o f
o r d e r p r o c e d u r e s i n c i d e n t s
1 R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y 66
2 R e f e r r e d c a s e o n l y a f t e r u s i n g many
t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s 32
3 R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p le te a n d a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n 16
4 R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y a n o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s
p ro b le m 13
5 C o n s u l t e d d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r p r i o r
t o r e f e r r a l 10
6 . 5 B r o u g h t p u p i l t o o f f i c e 7
6 . 5 A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e 7
8 R e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p t e a c h e r c a n n o t
p r o v i d e 6
9 . 5 R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y " p r o b le m " p a r e n t s 2
9 . 5 Had p u p i l w r i t e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l
h i m s e l f 2
Not c l a s s i f i e d 6
1 1 0
A C o m p a riso n o f E f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r P r o c e d u r e s
U sed i n J u n i o r V e r s u s S e n i o r H ig h S c h o o l s
The t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n t h e e f f e c t i v e
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l r e f e r r a l s , i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f
m e n t i o n , w e r e :
1. R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s .
3. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
4 . R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p ro b le m ,
5. C o n s u l t e d d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n
a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l .
6 . B r o u g h t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e .
7 . A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e .
8 . R e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p t e a c h e r c a n n o t
p r o v i d e .
9 . R e f e r r e d i m m e d i a t e l y " p r o b l e m " p a r e n t s .
10 . Had p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s f o r t h e
r e f e r r a l h i m s e l f .
In T a b le XVI a r e l i s t e d t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n
I l l
TABLE XVI
A COMPARISON OF EFFECTIVE PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS
IN MAKING DISCIPLINE REFERRALS IN JUNIOR
AND IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
E ffe c tiv e
r e f e r r a l
procedures
used by
teach ers
Ju n io r high
schools
Senior high
schools
Not
s ta te d
Number Number Number
of in- Rank of in- Rank of in
c id e n ts o rd er c id en ts o rd er c id e n ts
Referred immediately a serio u s
emergency 24 31 11
Referred case a f t e r using many
tea c h e r resources 10 18
Referred case w ith complete and
accu rate inform ation
Referred p roperly an o u tsid e -o f-
c la ss problem 4.5 5.5
Consulted d is c ip lin e a d m in istra to r
in advance of r e f e r r a l 5 4.5 8 4 0
Brought p u p il to the o f fic e 4 6 2 8 0
Arranged fo r p u p il-te a c h e r-
a d m in istra to r conference 7
Referred pu p il for help teacher
cannot provide 8.5 5.5
Referred immediately "problem"
parents 8.5
Had pupil w rite the f a c ts of the
r e f e r r a l him self
Not c l a s s i f i e d
0
3
2
3
0
0
1 1 2
t h e e f f e c t i v e j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l r e f e r r a l s , in ra n k o r d e r
o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
The t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n t h e e f f e c t i v e
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l r e f e r r a l s , i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f
m e n tio n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , w e r e :
1. R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s .
3. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
4 . C o n s u l t e d d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n
a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l .
5. R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s
p ro b le m ( t i e d w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e ) .
6 . R e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p t e a c h e r c a n n o t
p r o v i d e .
7. A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e .
8 . B r o u g h t p u p i l t o o f f i c e .
9. Had p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s f o r t h e
r e f e r r a l h i m s e l f .
In T a b l e XVI a r e shown t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n t h e
113
e f f e c t i v e s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l r e f e r r a l s , l i s t e d i n o r d e r
o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
The t h r e e t o p - r a n k e d e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d
by j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s w e re e x a c t l y t h e same a s
t h e t h r e e t o p - r a n k e d p r o c e d u r e s u s e d by s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l t e a c h e r s :
1. R e f e r r e d im m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y .
2. R e f e r r e d c a s e a f t e r u s i n g t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s .
3. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
In j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , no m e n tio n was made o f t h e p r o
c e d u r e " h a v e p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l
h i m s e l f , " w h i l e two su c h c a s e s w e re m e n tio n e d i n s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l s . In s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , no m e n tio n was
made o f t h e p r o c e d u r e , " r e f e r r e d im m e d ia te ly p ro b le m
p a r e n t s , " a l t h o u g h one s u c h c a s e was g i v e n in a j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l an d one in a s c h o o l w hose o r g a n i z a t i o n was
n o t s t a t e d . The r e m a i n i n g f i v e p r o c e d u r e s a p p e a r e d in
a d i f f e r e n t r a n k o r d e r i n j u n i o r and in s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s . T a b le XVI shows t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d
in j u n i o r and s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l r e f e r r a l s , in o r d e r o f
f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
114
A n a l y s i s o f E f f e c t i v e P r o c e d u r e s A c c o r d in g
t o G e o g r a p h ic A re a s
T e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n t h e e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s
w e re c o m p a re d on t h e b a s i s o f t h e f o l l o w i n g g e o g r a p h i c
a r e a s : (1) t h o s e fro m Los A n g e l e s ; (2 ) t h o s e fro m C a l i
f o r n i a , e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s ; and (3) t h o s e fro m t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s , e x c l u d i n g C a l i f o r n i a . The d a t a f o r t h e s e
t h r e e g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s a r e p r e s e n t e d in T a b le X V II,
sh o w in g t h e r a n k - o r d e r l i s t i n g o f e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r
r e f e r r a l s f o r e a c h a r e a .
I t w i l l be n o t e d t h a t i n t h e e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s
r e p o r t e d by Los A n g e le s a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , t h e r a n k o f t h e
t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n was
a s f o l l o w s :
1. R e f e r r e d im m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y .
2. R e f e r r e d c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s .
3. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
4 . C o n s u l t e d d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n
a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l .
5. R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p r o b le m .
TABLE XVII
A COMPARISON ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF EFFECTIVE
PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS IN M AKING DISCIPLINE
REFERRALS, AS REPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS
Effective r e fe r r a l
procedures used by
teachers
Los Angeles California* United States**
Number of
incidents
Rank
order
Number of
incidents
Rank
order
Number of
incidents
Rank
order
Referred imnediately a serious emergency 17 1 41 1 8 1
Referred case a f te r using many teacher resources 10 2 18 2 4 3.5
Referred case with complete, accurate information 5 3 10 3 1 6.5
Referred properly an o u tsid e-o f-class problem 3 5 3 6 4 3.5
Consulted d isc ip lin e adm inistrator p rio r to r e fe r r a l 4 4 8 4 1 6.5
Brought pupil to the o ffice 1 6.5 2 7.5 3 5.5
Arranged for p u p il-teacher-adm inistrator conference 1 6.5 1 9.5 5 2
Referred pupil for help teacher cannot provide 0
-
4 5 3 5.5
Referred imnediately "problem" parents 0
- 2 7.5 0 -
Had pupil w rite the facts of the re fe r r a l himself 1 6.5 1 9.5 0
-
Not c la s s ifie d 1 6.5 2 7.5 3 5.5
* Excluding Los Angeles
Excluding California
116
6 . B ro u g h t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e .
7. A rr a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e .
8 . Had p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s f o r t h e r e f e r r a l
h i m s e l f .
In t h e same t a b l e i t may be n o t e d t h a t among
e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s r e p o r t e d fro m C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
( e x c l u d i n g t h o s e fro m Los A n g e l e s ) , t h e r a n k o r d e r o f
m e n tio n o f good t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s was a s f o l l o w s :
1. R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te ly a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s .
3. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
4 . C o n s u l t e d d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l .
5. R e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p t e a c h e r c a n n o t
p r o v i d e .
6 . R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p ro b le m .
7. B ro u g h t p u p i l t o o f f i c e .
8 . R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te ly " p r o b le m " p a r e n t s .
117
9 . A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e .
1 0 . Had p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l
h i m s e l f .
A ls o shown i n T a b l e XVII a r e t h e r e p o r t s o f e f f e c
t i v e r e f e r r a l s a s r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . The r a n k o f t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s ,
i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s , w as a s f o l l o w s :
1 . R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y .
2. A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e .
3 . R e f e r r e d t h e c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s .
4 . R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p r o b le m .
3. B ro u g h t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e .
6 . R e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p t h e t e a c h e r c a n n o t
p r o v i d e .
7 . R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
8 . C o n s u l t e d d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l .
118
From a l l t h e a r e a s s t u d i e d , t h e e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e
m e n t i o n e d m o st o f t e n w as " r e f e r r e d i m m e d i a t e l y a s e r i o u s
e m e r g e n c y ." One p r o c e d u r e , " r e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p
t h e t e a c h e r c a n n o t p r o v i d e , " w as n o t m e n t i o n e d i n
i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by Los A n g e le s a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , b u t
w as m e n t i o n e d i n i n c i d e n t s fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s
a n d fro m c i t i e s i n s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . One
p r o c e d u r e , " r e f e r r e d i m m e d i a t e l y p r o b le m p a r e n t s , " was
n o t m e n t i o n e d in t h e Los A n g e le s i n c i d e n t s o r i n t h e
i n c i d e n t s fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , b u t i t w as
m e n t i o n e d i n i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d fro m C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s
( e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s ) . One p r o c e d u r e , "h a d p u p i l w r i t e
t h e f a c t s f o r t h e r e f e r r a l h i m s e l f , " was m e n t i o n e d i n
t h e i n c i d e n t s fro m Los A n g e le s and i n t h o s e fro m C a l i
f o r n i a c i t i e s o t h e r t h a n Los A n g e l e s , b u t i t w as n o t
m e n tio n e d i n t h e i n c i d e n t s fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n
C a l i f o r n i a .
From a l l t h e a r e a s s t u d i e d , t h e n , few d i f f e r e n c e s
o c c u r r e d among r a n k i n g s o f e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s .
The d i f f e r e n c e s o c c u r r e d u s u a l l y among p r o c e d u r e s w h ic h
w e r e s e ld o m m e n t i o n e d i n i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by s c h o o l
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
119
IV. TEACHER PROCEDURES USED IN
INEFFECTIVE REFERRALS
Among 216 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l
p r o c e d u r e s u s e d by t e a c h e r s , 201 r e p o r t e d t h e t e a c h e r
p r o c e d u r e s i n v o l v e d . T h e s e p r o c e d u r e s c o u l d b e c l a s s i f i e d
i n 201 o f t h e i n c i d e n t s , b u t c o u l d n o t b e c l a s s i f i e d
i n t e n o t h e r s . In f i v e i n c i d e n t s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s d i d
n o t s t a t e t h e p r o c e d u r e s f o l l o w e d by t h e t e a c h e r s
i n v o l v e d . In T a b le X V III a r e shown t h e i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
I n e f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r P r o c e d u r e s
The t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l i n c i d e n t s , i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , w e re c l a s s i f i e d a s f o l l o w s :
1. R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e s , b e s t
h a n d l e d by go od t e a c h i n g .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e s w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
c o u n s e l i n g .
3 . R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t
p u p i l b e d r o p p e d fro m c l a s s .
4 . Made i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
1 2 0
TABLE X V III
NUMBER OF INEFFECTIVE REFERRALS MADE BY
TEACHERS, AS REPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS
I n e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t s
Number
o f i n
c i d e n t s
I n c i d e n t s i n w h ic h t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s
w e re c l a s s i f i e d 201
I n c i d e n t s i n w h ic h t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s
w e re n o t c l a s s i f i e d 10
I n c i d e n t s i n w h ic h t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s
w e re n o t s t a t e d
T o t a l
___5
216
1 2 1
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l .
5 . L e t s e r i o u s c a s e go t o c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e
r e f e r r i n g .
6 . S e n t p u p i l t o o f f i c e w i t h n o n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e .
7 . A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e
t h e c a s e r e f e r r e d .
In T a b l e XIX a r e p r e s e n t e d a l i s t o f t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s
u s e d i n t h e i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s g i v e n i n o r d e r o f f r e
q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
A C o m p a riso n o f I n e f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r
P r o c e d u r e s U sed i n J u n i o r V e rs u s
S e n i o r H igh S c h o o ls
The t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in t h e i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l s r e p o r t e d fro m j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , in r a n k o r d e r
o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n , w e r e :
1. R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t
h a n d l e d by good t e a c h i n g .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
c o u n s e l i n g .
3 . Made i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l .
1 2 2
TABLE XIX
INEFFECTIVE REFERRAL PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS,
AS REPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS
Rank I n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l Number o f
o r d e r p r o c e d u r e s i n c i d e n t s
R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t
h a n d l e d by good t e a c h i n g 119
R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
c o u n s e l i n g 28
R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t
p u p i l be d r o p p e d from c l a s s 17
Made i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h r e f e r r a l 16
L e t s e r i o u s c a s e go t o c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e
m a k in g r e f e r r a l 10
S e n t p u p i l t o o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r o t h e r
e x p l a n a t i o n 6
A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e c a s e
r e f e r r e d 5
N ot s t a t e d a n d n o t c l a s s i f i e d 15
123
4 . L e t a s e r i o u s c a s e go t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e
b e f o r e r e f e r r i n g .
5 . R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t
p u p i l b e d ro p p e d from c l a s s .
6 . A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e c a s e .
7 . S e n t p u p i l t o o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e .
In T a b le XX a r e shown t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in t h e
i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s r e p o r t e d fro m j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s ,
in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n .
T e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in i n e f f e c t i v e s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l r e f e r r a l s , in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n ,
w e r e :
1. R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t
h a n d le d by good t e a c h i n g .
2. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
c o u n s e l i n g .
3. R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n t h a t p u p i l be
d ro p p e d fro m c l a s s .
4 . Made i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l .
5. L e t s e r i o u s c a s e go t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e
124
TABLE XX
A COMPARISON OF INEFFECTIVE PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS
IN MAKING DISCIPLINE REFERRALS IN JUNIOR
AND IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
I n e f f e c tiv e
r e f e r r a l
p ro ced u res
used by
te a c h e rs
J u n io r h ig h
sch o o ls
S e n io r h igh
sch o o ls
Not
s t a t e d
Numbe r
o f i n
c id e n ts
Rank
o rd e r
Number
o f in
c id e n ts
Rank
o rd e r
Number
of in
c id e n ts
R e fe rre d classro o m n u isan c e
c a s e , b e s t handled by good
te a c h in g 44 1 62 1 13
R e fe rre d case w ith o u t p re v io u s
p e rso n a l c o u n se lin g 12 2 15 2 1
R e fe rre d w ith n o t i f i c a t i o n o r
re q u e s t t h a t p u p il be dropped
from th e c la s s 4 5 12 3 1
Made incom plete o r In a c c u ra te
sta te m e n ts w ith r e f e r r a l 7 3 9 4 0
Let s e rio u s case go to c r i s i s
sta g e b e fo re r e f e r r in g 5 4 4 5 1
Sent p u p il to o f f i c e w ith no no te
o r o th e r n o tic e 3 7 3 6 0
Advised a d m in is tr a to r how to
handle th e case r e f e r r e d 4 6 1 7 0
Not c l a s s i f i e d and not s ta t e d 6 8 1
125
r e f e r r i n g .
6 . S e n t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h n o n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e .
7 . A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e t h e
c a s e r e f e r r e d .
In T a b le XX a r e shown t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n t h e
i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s r e p o r t e d fro m s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s ,
i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n .
Among i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , t h e two w h ic h r a n k e d h i g h e s t w e re
e x a c t l y t h e same a s t h o s e r a n k e d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s :
(1 ) r e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t h a n d l e d by
goo d t e a c h i n g , a n d (2 ) r e f e r r e d t h e c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s
p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g . A l l t h e o t h e r i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
w e re l i s t e d i n d i f f e r e n t r a n k o r d e r in j u n i o r and s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l s . In T a b l e XX a r e shown t h e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s
u s e d in t h e i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s in b o t h j u n i o r and
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .
A n a l y s i s o f I n e f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r P r o c e d u r e s
A c c o r d i n g t o G e o g r a p h ic A re a s
T e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n t h e i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s
w e re c o m p a re d by g e o g r a p h i c a r e a , a s f o l l o w s : (1 ) t h o s e
1 2 6
fro m Los A n g e l e s , (2 ) t h o s e fro m C a l i f o r n i a , e x c l u d i n g
Los A n g e l e s , an d (3) t h o s e fro m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ,
e x c l u d i n g C a l i f o r n i a . The d a t a f o r t h e s e t h r e e g e o g r a p h i c
a r e a s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e XXI.
I t w i l l b e n o t e d t h a t among i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s
r e p o r t e d by Los A n g e le s a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , t h e t e a c h e r p r o
c e d u r e s m e n t i o n e d m o st f r e q u e n t l y w e r e :
1. R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e s , b e s t
h a n d l e d by good t e a c h i n g .
2 . Made i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s w i t h
t h e r e f e r r a l .
3 . R e f e r r e d w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g .
4 . S e n t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h n o n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e .
5. R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t
p u p i l b e d r o p p e d fro m c l a s s .
6 . L e t s e r i o u s c a s e go t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e
b e f o r e r e f e r r i n g .
7 . A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e c a s e
r e f e r r e d .
In t h e same t a b l e i t may b e n o t e d t h a t among t h e
i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
TABLE XXI
A COMPARISON ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF INEFFECTIVE
PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS IN M AKING DISCIPLINE
REFERRALS, AS REPORTED BY ADMINISTRATORS
In e ffe c tiv e r e f e r r a l
Los Angeles C a lifo rn ia * United S ta te s* *
procedures used by
teachers
Number of
in cid en ts
Rank
order
Number of
in cid en ts
Rank
order
Number of
in cid en ts
Rank
order
R eferred classroom nuisance case, b est handled by
good teaching 22 1 72 1 25 1
R eferred case w ithout previous personal counseling 6 3 14 2 8 2
Referred w ith request th a t p u p il be dropped from c la ss 3 5.5 10 3 4 3
Made incomplete or in accu rate statem ents w ith r e f e r r a l 7 2 9 4 0
-
Let serio u s case go to c r i s i s stage before re fe r r in g 3 5.5 4 5.5 3 4
Sent p u p il to o ffic e w ithout note or explanation 4 4 2 7 0 -
Advised ad m in istra to r how to handle the case re fe rre d 1 7 4 5.5 0 -
Not c la s s if ie d and not sta te d 5 6 4
* Excluding Lob Angeles
** Excluding C a lifo rn ia
128
( e x c l u d i n g t h o s e fro m Los A n g e l e s ) , t h e r a n k o r d e r o f
m e n tio n by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s
w a s :
1. R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t
h a n d le d by good t e a c h i n g .
2. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
c o u n s e l i n g .
3. R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t
p u p i l be d ro p p e d fro m c l a s s .
4 . Made i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l .
5. L e t s e r i o u s c a s e go t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e
b e f o r e r e f e r r i n g .
6 . A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e t h e
c a s e r e f e r r e d .
7. S e n t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e .
A ls o shown in T a b le XXI a r e t h e a c c o u n t s o f i n e f
f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . The r a n k o f t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s ,
i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n , was a s f o l l o w s :
1. R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t
h a n d le d by good t e a c h i n g .
129
2. R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
c o u n s e l i n g .
3. R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t
p u p i l b e d ro p p e d fro m c l a s s .
4 . L e t s e r i o u s c a s e go t o c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e
r e f e r r i n g .
T h e re was no m e n tio n o f t h e f o l l o w i n g i n e f f e c t i v e p r o
c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d in t h e i n c i d e n t s fro m Los A n g e le s and
fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s :
1. Made i n a c c u r a t e o r i n c o m p l e t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l .
2. S e n t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e .
3. A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e .
From a l l t h e a r e a s s t u d i e d , t h e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o
c e d u r e m e n tio n e d m ost o f t e n was " r e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m
n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t h a n d le d by good t e a c h i n g . " The o t h e r
p r o c e d u r e s a p p e a r e d in d i f f e r e n t r a n k o r d e r t h a n th e y d id
when r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in t h e Los A n g e le s and
C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s c a t e g o r i e s . The f o l l o w i n g t h r e e i n e f
f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w e re n o t m e n tio n e d i n i n c i d e n t s
r e p o r t e d from s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a : (1) made
130
i n a c c u r a t e o r i n c o m p l e t e s t a t e m e n t s w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l ; (2)
s e n t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h n o n o t e o r o t h e r n o t i c e ; and
(3) a d v i s e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e r e f e r r e d .
One common e le m e n t a p p e a r e d i n t w e n t y - t w o s e p a r a t e
i n c i d e n t s , i . e . , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r m e n t i o n i n g t h a t t h e
t e a c h e r who r e f e r r e d t h e p u p i l w as a n g r y . T h e s e i n c i d e n t s
w e re r e p o r t e d fro m t h e f o l l o w i n g s o u r c e s : f o u r fro m Los
A n g e l e s ; t w e l v e fro m o t h e r c i t i e s i n C a l i f o r n i a ; and s i x
fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .
In many o f t h e i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , a d m i n i s t r a
t o r s r e p o r t e d t h a t t e a c h e r s h a d u s e d p o o r ju d g m e n t i n
t h e i r h a n d l i n g o f t h e c a s e p r i o r t o r e f e r r a l . F o r e x a m p le ,
t e a c h e r s h a d u s e d s e v e r e p h y s i c a l p u n is h m e n t i n e i g h t o f
t h e i n c i d e n t s ; h a d i s o l a t e d p u p i l s in t h e h a l l s o r c o r
r i d o r s in f i v e i n c i d e n t s ; had a s s i g n e d u n r e a s o n a b l e and
h a r s h p e n a l t i e s i n f i v e i n c i d e n t s ; h ad p u n i s h e d a w h o le
c l a s s f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r o f a few s t u d e n t s in f o u r
i n c i d e n t s ; had u s e d s a r c a s m on p u p i l s in t h r e e i n c i d e n t s ;
an d h a d s e v e r e l y t h r e a t e n e d p u p i l s i n tw o i n c i d e n t s .
V. CRITICAL INCIDENTS SHOWING EFFECTIVE
REFERRAL PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS
A s id e fro m t h e s t a t i s t i c a l a s p e c t s o f t h e s u r v e y
131
r e s u l t s , t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d b y a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
c o n t a i n e d so much v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t r e f e r r a l
p r a c t i c e s o f t e a c h e r s t h a t f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e
i n c i d e n t s a p p e a r e d t o b e w a r r a n t e d . Names o f s c h o o l s ,
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s w e re n o t t o b e i n c l u d e d in
t h e o r i g i n a l d a t a , a n d h a v e t h e r e f o r e b e en rem oved in
r e f e r r i n g t o i n c i d e n t s i n t h i s p a r t o f t h e a n a l y s i s .
O t h e r w i s e , t h e i n c i d e n t s h a v e n o t b e e n e d i t e d e x c e p t t o
e l i m i n a t e r e p e t i t i o n and t o make e x c e r p t s .
In t h i s and t h e f o l l o w i n g s e c t i o n s , s e l e c t e d
i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a r e
p r e s e n t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l
p r o c e d u r e s u n d e r t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s f o r m u l a t e d fro m t h e
d a t a . E f f e c t i v e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s a r e : im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l
o f a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y ; r e f e r r a l o f c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many
t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s ; r e f e r r a l o f c a s e w i t h c o m p le te and
a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n ; p r o p e r r e f e r r a l o f an o u t s i d e - o f -
c l a s s p ro b le m ; c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r
in a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l ; a c c o m p a n y in g p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e ;
a r r a n g e m e n t f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e ;
r e f e r r a l o f p u p i l f o r h e l p t e a c h e r c a n n o t p r o v i d e ;
im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l i n c a s e s o f ’ ' p r o b l e m " p a r e n t s ; and
r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t t h e p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l
132
h i m s e l f . In g e n e r a l , t h e i n c i d e n t s show , a s d i d t h e
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s a n d t a b u l a t i o n s , t h a t t h e r e w e re few
d i f f e r e n c e s i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s when
c o m p a r is o n s w e re made b e tw e e n h i g h s c h o o l s o f v a r i o u s
s i z e s , o r h i g h s c h o o l s o f v a r i o u s t y p e s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
o r h i g h s c h o o l s i n v a r i o u s g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s .
Im m e d ia te R e f e r r a l o f a S e r i o u s E m ergency
The c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s show ed s u c h p u p i l e m e r
g e n c i e s a s f i g h t i n g , r a c i a l t e n s i o n s , a r s o n , f o r g e r y ,
t h e f t , v u l g a r i t y , and a b n o rm a l e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n . F i v e
i n c i d e n t s w e r e s e l e c t e d t o show " r e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y a
s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y " a s an e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t w as r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r , in a s c h o o l
w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e lv e and w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
A g i r l s t a r t e d a f i g h t w i t h a boy in a m ixed
c h o r u s c l a s s . The i n c i d e n t b e g a n a s " t e a s i n g , "
b u t when t h e boy m ade an i n s u l t i n g r e m a r k t o t h e
g i r l s h e t o o k o f f e n s e and s t r u c k h im w i t h h e r
f i s t . The boy d e f e n d e d h i m s e l f a n d t h e f i g h t w as
on! The t e a c h e r , w i t h t h e a i d o f s e v e r a l b o y s ,
s e p a r a t e d t h e f i g h t e r s . She w r o t e c a s e r e f e r r a l
c a r d s f o r b o t h t h e boy a n d g i r l and s e n t th em t o
t h e o f f i c e s o f t h e g i r l s ' an d b o y s ' v i c e p r i n
c i p a l s . In a d d i t i o n , s h e s e n t t h e m ain w i t n e s s
t o g i v e an u n b i a s e d a c c o u n t o f t h e h a p p e n i n g .
The two v i c e p r i n c i p a l s t a l k e d w i t h t h e f i g h t e r s
133
t o g e t h e r a n d t h e n h a d t h e w i t n e s s , who w as a
s e n i o r s t u d e n t ( t h e f i g h t e r s w e r e s o p h o m o re s )
g i v e h i s s t o r y . The s e n i o r d e l i v e r e d an e x c e l
l e n t " l e c t u r e " t o t h e s o p h o m o re s ! The t e a c h e r
a c t e d q u i c k l y an d q u e l l e d t h e e x c i t e m e n t i n t h e
c l a s s e f f e c t i v e l y by re m o v in g t h e d i s t u r b e r s a t
o n c e . The t e a c h e r w as r i g h t i n s e n d i n g t h e
s e n i o r s t u d e n t t o g i v e t h e p r o p e r a c c o u n t o f
t h e f i g h t .
The n e x t i n c i d e n t i l l u s t r a t i n g im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l
i n a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y w as fro m a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n M i c h ig a n . S c h o o l s i z e a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n
w e r e n o t s t a t e d .
Tom i s a s h o w - o f f , w i t h a q u i c k t e m p e r , a
d i r t y m in d , an d an i n t e n s i v e l o v e o f t e l l i n g t h e
o t h e r f e l l o w o f f . He h a d b e e n r e f u s e d a d m i s s i o n
t o o ne j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , and t h e r e f o r e h a d b e e n
s e n t t o a m i l i t a r y s c h o o l . He a r r i v e d a t o u r
h i g h s c h o o l b e c a u s e a f t e r h e h a d f i n i s h e d t h e
n i n t h g r a d e t h e m i l i t a r y s c h o o l r e f u s e d t o p e r m i t
h im t o r e t u r n t h e r e d u e t o h i s c o n d u c t . One d ay
h e thum bed h i s n o s e a t h i s m a t h e m a t i c s i n s t r u c
t o r . He w as i m m e d i a t e l y s e n t fro m t h e c l a s s t o
my o f f i c e , and t h e i n s t r u c t o r came i n s h o r t l y t o
e x p l a i n t h e m a t t e r . The boy was b e l l i g e r e n t and
i n s o l e n t , so w as s u s p e n d e d fro m s c h o o l p e n d in g
a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h h i s p a r e n t s . The m o th e r c a l l e d ,
b u t i n s p i t e o f e x c u s e s , p r o t e s t s , an d c o u n t e r
c h a r g e s w as r e q u i r e d t o come t o s c h o o l i f t h e
b o y w as t o b e p e r m i t t e d t o r e t u r n . The p a r e n t s
w e re d e f e n s i v e an d d i c t a t o r i a l t o me, d e m a n d in g
t h a t t h e i n c i d e n t b e f o r g o t t e n . They w e r e t o l d
t h a t t h e boy c o u l d r e t u r n t o c l a s s o n l y i f h e
s q u a r e d h i m s e l f w i t h t h e t e a c h e r t o t h e t e a c h e r ' s
s a t i s f a c t i o n . I f h e f a i l e d t o do t h i s h e w o u ld
b e rem o ved fro m t h e c l a s s p e r m a n e n t l y an d l o s e
h i s c r e d i t . The m o th e r c a l l e d me f o r e i g h t
d a y s , e v e r y day m a k in g a c c u s a t i o n s , t h r e a t e n i n g
t o c a r r y t h e c a s e t o my s u p e r i o r s , t o " g e t " my
134
j o b , e t c . No g r o u n d was g i v e n . On t h e e l e v e n t h
d a y , Tom w e n t t o h i s t e a c h e r w i t h t h e r i g h t
a t t i t u d e , was r e i n s t a t e d w i t h t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g
t h a t t h i s s o r t o f c o n d u c t w o u ld n e v e r b e t o l e r
a t e d a g a i n . We a r e now i n t h e s i x t h s c h o o l
m o n th s i n c e t h e i n c i d e n t , an d Tom i s g e t t i n g
a l o n g w e l l .
The n e x t tw o i n c i d e n t s came fro m j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n Los A n g e l e s , i n s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s
s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s in
e n r o l l m e n t :
" H o ld . D o n 't open u n t i l a f t e r n u t r i t i o n - -
in t h e p r i v a c y o f y o u r o f f i c e , " w a rn e d a g i f t e d
y o u n g t e a c h e r . The s e a l e d e n v e l o p e c o n t a i n e d
some o f t h e m o st v i c i o u s o b s c e n e p i c t u r e s e v e r
s e e n by t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e d e y e s . An i t e m i z e d
summary i n t h e t e a c h e r ' s n e a t l e t t e r i n g r e a d :
"M ary s l i p p e d t h e s e t o H e le n w i t h t h a t a i r t h a t
l a b e l s t h e f o r b i d d e n . I g a v e a s m i l i n g s i g n a l
t o b r i n g i t t o me. T h e r e w as an a l m o s t d e s p e r a t e
a t t e m p t t o d i s p o s e o f i t , i n c l u d i n g k n o c k in g a
n o t e b o o k t o t h e f l o o r an d a bum ping i n c i d e n t .
The s t r i c k e n lo o k on t h e f a c e o f o ne bo y and
t h e l o o k o f r e f u s a l on a n o t h e r ' s c o u n t e n a n c e
m ark e d t h e t r a i l o f t h e 'h o t * p a c k a g e . I t lo o k e d
a s i f b o t h Mary and H e len w e re t r y i n g t o d i t c h
th e m . The lo o k o f r e l i e f on t h e f a c e s o f b o t h
b o y s a s Bob r e l i n q u i s h e d th em t o me b a c k e d t h i s
u p .
The c l a s s w ork w e n t o n , many p u p i l s u n a w a re
o f w h a t h a d o c c u r r e d . The g i r l s , i n t h e p r i v a c y
o f my o f f i c e , f i n a l l y a b a n d o n e d t h e i r s t o r y o f
h a v i n g fo u n d t h e p i c t u r e s i n f a v o r o f n am ing
t h e o u t - o f - s c h o o l a lu m n u s who h a d f u r n i s h e d th em .
Sandy came i n v o l u n t a r i l y ( p r o b a b l y s p a r k e d by
t h e t e a c h e r ) t o r e p o r t t h a t s h e and s h e a l o n e
o f a l l t h e o t h e r g i r l s i n t h e s c h o o l h a d s e e n
t h e p i c t u r e s and w as s o r r y s h e h a d n ' t r e p o r t e d
135
th e m . S h e , t o o , seem ed t o s h a r e o u r b e l i e f t h a t
Mary a n d H e le n h a d t r i e d t o u n l o a d t h e p i c t u r e s
on t h e b o y s w i t h o u t s u c c e s s . I t w as a s i f t h e
b o i l h a d b e e n re m o v e d , a n d h e a l i n g w as im m e d ia te
and c o m p l e t e b e c a u s e t h e t e a c h e r was p r o m p t,
q u i c k , q u i e t , an d c o n f i d e n t i a l , an d c o n s i d e r
a t e l y c o n c e r n e d .
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t w as fro m a Los A n g e le s j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l .
T e a c h e r who was a l s o g r a d e c o u n s e l o r f o r a
c e r t a i n s t u d e n t o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e s t u d e n t h ad
i n h i s p o s s e s s i o n s e v e r a l e x t r a r e p o r t c a r d s , on
w h ic h h e w as f o r g i n g g r a d e s and s i g n a t u r e s . T h is
was r e f e r r e d t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r w i t h a c o m p l e t e
r e p o r t - - a n d r i g h t l y s o , b e c a u s e i t i n v o l v e d
s e v e r a l c l a s s e s and t e a c h e r s and p e r h a p s o t h e r
s t u d e n t s .
The f i n a l i n c i d e n t shows " i m m e d ia te r e f e r r a l o f a
s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y " a s an e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e . I t w as
r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r
in a s c h o o l w i t h f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
Boy r e f e r r e d t o t h e a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l f o r
s t r i k i n g a n o t h e r boy b e c a u s e t h e o t h e r b oy had
c a l l e d him a r a c i a l nam e. The name c a l l i n g s t a r t e d
a f t e r some r o u g h p l a y i n g h a d t a k e n p l a c e i n a
b a s k e t b a l l gam e. B e c a u s e o f t h e r a c i a l f e e l i n g ,
i t was p r o p e r l y r e f e r r e d i n o r d e r t o t a k e some
t e n s i o n o f f t h e c l a s s a n d t h e g r o u p o f b o y s who
w e re t a k i n g s i d e s i n t h e m a t t e r b e c a u s e o f
f r i e n d s h i p . The o f f i c e w as i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n
t o t a k e t im e an d t r y an d r e l i e v e an y r a c i a l
t e n s i o n s t h a t w e re b u i l t u p . T h is h a d t h e e f f e c t
o f s t o p p i n g a f t e r - s c h o o l o r o u t - o f - s c h o o l
c o n f l i c t s .
136
R e f e r r a l A f t e r U s in g Many T e a c h e r R e s o u r c e s
The e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d a num ber o f
t e a c h e r s who u s e d t h e i r own a n d t h e s c h o o l ' s many r e s o u r c e s
b e f o r e r e f e r r a l . T h e se r e s o u r c e s i n c l u d e d h a v i n g a f t e r
s c h o o l c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h t h e p u p i l ; u s i n g t h e r e c o r d s o f
t h e a t t e n d a n c e , h e a l t h , and c o u n s e l o r ' s o f f i c e s ; and
s e e k i n g p a r e n t c o o p e r a t i o n t h r o u g h t e l e p h o n i n g homes o r
h a v i n g p a r e n t s i n f o r c o n f e r e n c e . F o u r i n c i d e n t s w e re
s e l e c t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e t h o s e i n w h ic h c a s e s w e re r e f e r r e d
a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s , a s an e f f e c t i v e
p r o c e d u r e .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by an a d m i n i s t r a t o r
i n a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e lv e and fe w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
D e s p i t e s e v e r a l a t t e m p t s by t e a c h e r t o c o u n s e l
t h i s s t u d e n t sh e c o n t i n u e d t o be u n c o o p e r a t i v e ,
g i v i n g t h e t e a c h e r a bad t i m e - - e n d e d by w r i t i n g
o b s c e n e w o rd s on w a l l .
D u r in g t h i s t im e t h e t e a c h e r had c o n t a c t e d
p a r e n t s by ph o n e r e g a r d i n g p r o b le m , and f i n a l l y
h ad p a r e n t s ( i n c l u d i n g f a t h e r ) come s e e h e r .
R e s u l t : S t u d e n t c o u n s e l e d by me, and s u s
p e n d ed fro m c l a s s f o r o n e w eek . At home s h e was
r e s t r i c t e d and s e v e r e l y r e p r i m a n d e d . She i s now
b a c k i n c l a s s c o n f o r m in g an d h a p p y .
The n e x t i n c i d e n t d e s c r i b i n g a t e a c h e r who u s e d
137
h i s own r e s o u r c e s came fro m a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l in
O klahom a. The s c h o o l h a s g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e , and
m ore t h a n 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
T e a c h e r" A " r e f e r r e d a d i s c i p l i n e c a s e t o
t h i s o f f i c e r e c e n t l y fro m an i n c i d e n t w h ic h g rew
o u t o f c h r o n i c t a r d i n e s s . The t e a c h e r h a d w o rk e d
d i l i g e n t l y w i t h t h e p u p i l i n an e f f o r t t o d e t e r
m in e t h e c a u s e o f h i s t a r d i n e s s e s . The f a m i l y
o f t h e o f f e n d e r w as c o n t a c t e d , c o n f e r e n c e s w e re
h e l d ; a n d , a f t e r much c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f
t h e p r o b le m s r e l a t i n g t o t h e b o y ' s t a r d i n e s s e s ,
a p o s i t i v e , c o o p e r a t i v e c a m p a ig n was l a u n c h e d
t o c o m b a t t h e s e c a u s e s . So f a r , i t h a s b e e n a
s u c c e s s f u l c a m p a ig n .
The l a s t tw o i n c i d e n t s , b o t h p o r t r a y i n g t e a c h e r s
who u s e d t h e i r own r e s o u r c e s b e f o r e r e f e r r a l , w e re fro m
Los A n g e le s s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . The f i r s t
i n c i d e n t w as r e p o r t e d fro m a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h t w e l v e and 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s i n e n r o l l m e n t ;
t h e s e c o n d w as fro m a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h
t w e l v e and m ore t h a n 2 ,5 0 0 i n e n r o l l m e n t .
A " S e n i o r A" had b e e n s e n t t o t h e o f f i c e
b e c a u s e h e h a d m is s e d a f i r s t p e r i o d s e n i o r c l a s s
so much t h a t h e had n o t d o n e en o u g h w ork t o p a s s .
When we c h e c k e d t o s e e w h a t h a d b e e n d o n e we
f o u n d t h a t t h e t e a c h e r h a d s e n t (1) u n s a t i s f a c t o r y
n o t i c e t h r o u g h t h e m a i l , (2) h a d t a l k e d t o t h e
b o y ' s p a r e n t s by p h o n e , (3 ) h a d l i s t e d a l l o f
t h e w o rk t o b e made u p , a n d (4 ) h a d n o t i f i e d
t h e c o u n s e l o r ' s o f f i c e a n d t h e p r i n c i p a l o f t h e
d i f f i c u l t y a n d e x a c t l y w h a t h a d b e e n d o n e t o
h e l p t h e s t u d e n t .
138
The o t h e r Los A n g e le s i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
T e a c h e r r e f e r r e d p u p i l who was r u d e and
g e n e r a l l y u p s e t c l a s s . S t e p s t a k e n p r i o r t o
r e f e r r a l w e re c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l and p a r e n t s .
M e a n w h ile , t e a c h e r h a d c h e c k e d w i t h t h e h e a l t h
o f f i c e an d c o u n s e l o r f o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n .
A t t e n d a n c e r e c o r d s w e re c h e c k e d a l s o .
The i n f o r m a t i o n a c c o m p a n y in g t h e r e f e r r a l
was i n f o r m a t i v e and h e l p e d t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l i n
d e t e r m i n i n g a t w h a t p o i n t t o p r o c e e d . S o u r c e s
ha d b e e n t a p p e d by t h e t e a c h e r who t h e n f e l t
m ore h e l p was n e e d e d f o r t h e y o u n g s t e r - - h e n c e
a h i g h e r a u t h o r i t y . The t e a c h e r ' s w o rk h a d b e e n
e f f e c t i v e i n t h a t a c o m p l e t e r e c o r d a c c o m p a n ie d
t h e c a s e , a l l t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s c o v e r e d an d good
g ro u n d w o rk h ad b e e n l a i d w i t h t h e p a r e n t s and
o t h e r s c h o o l s o u r c e s a l e r t e d t o t h e y o u n g s t e r .
R e f e r r a l W ith C o m p le te , A c c u r a t e I n f o r m a t i o n
T h re e o f t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s and a comment fro m
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s h a v e b e e n s e l e c t e d t o show
" r e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n " a s an
e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
A C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r
co m m e n te d :
The f u n c t i o n o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i s t o a s s i s t
and h e l p t h e t e a c h e r in r e g a r d t o d i s c i p l i n e
p r o b l e m s - - n o t t o t a k e a l l t h e d i s c i p l i n e o f f t h e
s h o u l d e r s o f t h e t e a c h e r . In o u r c a s e , we a s k
f o r a w r i t t e n r e p o r t fro m t h e t e a c h e r b e f o r e an y
d e f i n i t e a c t i o n i s t a k e n . T h is a l l o w s f o r a
c o o l i n g o f f p e r i o d . T h is i s f o l l o w e d by a c o n
f e r e n c e in w h ic h t h e s t u d e n t i s a ll o w e d t o r e l a t e
h i s v e r s i o n . W is e n e s s o f a c t i o n , c o n s e q u e n c e s o f
139
i r r e g u l a r b e h a v i o r , r e s p e c t f o r g r o u p s o f o t h e r s
i n v o l v e d a r e a l l p a r t o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e . A c t u a l
h a n d l i n g o f t h e s i t u a t i o n may end h e r e , o r i t may
i n v o l v e a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e t e a c h e r b e f o r e t h e
s t u d e n t r e t u r n s t o c l a s s ; i t may i n v o l v e r e f e r r a l
t o t h e s t u d e n t c o u n s e l o r , a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e
p a r e n t , s u s p e n s i o n , d e t e n t i o n , w r i t t e n p ro m is e
o f r e g u l a r b e h a v i o r i n t h e f u t u r e , i s o l a t i o n ,
t r a n s f e r o u t o f c l a s s , e t c . , e t c .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a Los
A n g e le s s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a s c h o o l w i t h
g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e lv e and w i t h a 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l
e n r o l l m e n t :
R e c e n t l y a boy was r e f e r r e d t o t h e v i c e p r i n
c i p a l ' s o f f i c e f o r d e l i b e r a t e l y l e a v i n g t h e room
when t o l d t o re m a in i n h i s s e a t u n t i l t h e d i s
m i s s a l b e l l . The r e p o r t t u r n e d in by t h e t e a c h e r
l i s t e d s p e c i f i c d a t e s a s t o p r e v i o u s o f f e n s e s
and r e m e d i a l m e a s u r e s a t t e m p t e d . The c a s e was
d e s c r i b e d i n d e t a i l an d w i t h o b j e c t i v i t y . In
m e e ti n g w i t h t h e p a r e n t s , i t was p o s s i b l e t o go
o v e r t h i s r e c o r d and t o w ork o u t a s a t i s f a c t o r y
d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e c a s e .
The o t h e r two i n c i d e n t s , s e l e c t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e
t h e p r o c e d u r e , " r e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n , " w e re from C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s o t h e r t h a n Los
A n g e l e s . The f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s se v e n
t h r o u g h n i n e and w i t h f e w e r th a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d ;
t h e s e c o n d by a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a
s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e lv e and w i t h fe w e r
140
th a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
T e a c h e r h ad t o r e f e r f o r a f i g h t w i t h a n o t h e r
boy i n t h e c l a s s . The boy had q u i t e a r e c o r d i n
t h e o f f i c e and had b e e n r e f e r r e d by t h e t e a c h e r
a b o u t a m o nth b e f o r e . The r e f e r r a l s t a t e d t h e
p ro b le m and t h e n a d d ed some f a v o r a b l e com m ents
i n a r e a s t h a t t h e boy h a d im p ro v e d upon s i n c e
t h e l a s t r e f e r r a l . He g a v e me a h e a d s t a r t on
t h e p ro b le m and I was a b l e t o a p p r o a c h t h e p r o b
lem fro m a p o s i t i v e s i d e .
The s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
A s t u d e n t was s e n t t o my o f f i c e w i t h a n o t e
e x p l a i n i n g i n v e r y g e n e r a l te r m s why h e w as b e i n g
s e n t o u t o f t h e c l a s s .
A f t e r s c h o o l t h e t e a c h e r p r e s e n t e d a w r i t t e n
a n e c d o t a l r e p o r t on t h e s t u d e n t ' s m i s b e h a v i o r
i n c l a s s .
When t h e p a r e n t came in r e g a r d i n g t h e m a t t e r ,
t h e t e a c h e r s a t i n on t h e c o n f e r e n c e a n d , w i t h o u t
m o l l i f y i n g t h e f a c t s , c l e a r l y e x p l a i n e d t o t h e
p a r e n t ( r a t h e r p r o m in e n t l o c a l l y ) j u s t how h e r
c h i l d had m is b e h a v e d an d w h a t t y p e o f b e h a v i o r
was e x p e c t e d o f h e r c h i l d in t h e c l a s s r o o m .
A l l I had t o do was s u p p o r t t h e t e a c h e r .
P r o p e r R e f e r r a l o f an O u t - o f C l a s s P ro b le m
Some o f t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s to o k p l a c e o u t s i d e
t h e c l a s s r o o m - - i n t h e h a l l s , on t h e p l a y g r o u n d , i n t h e
s c h o o l p a r k i n g l o t , i n t h e r e s t ro o m s. A l e r t t e a c h e r s ,
o b v i o u s l y i n t e r e s t e d in t h e t o t a l s c h o o l p ro g ra m , o b s e r v e d
and r e f e r r e d p ro b le m s fro m t h e s e a r e a s i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i
d e n t s r e p o r t e d by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . T h r e e o f t h e
141
i n c i d e n t s w h ic h show " r e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t - o f - c l a s s
p ro b le m " a s an e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e f o r t e a c h e r s
a r e p r e s e n t e d .
The f i r s t two i n c i d e n t s w e r e r e p o r t e d by j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n M ontan a a n d N e b r a s k a . B o th
s c h o o l s h a v e f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s . The f i r s t i n c i d e n t
t o o k p l a c e i n a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
and e i g h t ; t h e s e c o n d i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h n i n e .
A s t u d e n t was one o f a g r o u p t h a t was b l o c k
i n g t h e f l o w o f t r a f f i c in t h e h a l l s . The
t e a c h e r h a d a s k e d t h e s t u d e n t s t o move o n , b u t
t h e l i t t l e g r o u p was n o t c o o p e r a t i v e . The
t e a c h e r t h e n s a i d , " P l e a s e move on o r I ' l l h a v e
t o h e l p y o u . " T h is b r o u g h t a b o u t a n a s t y re m a rk
fro m o ne o f t h e s t u d e n t s , a n d , o f c o u r s e , h e
was i m m e d i a t e l y p u l l e d o u t o f t h e l i n e o f t r a f f i c .
When t h e t e a c h e r p u l l e d him o u t o f t h e l i n e o f
t r a f f i c , t h e s t u d e n t t h e n l o s t h i s te m p e r and
r e s o r t e d t o p r o f a n i t y . The t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d i t
t o t h e o f f i c e , and t h e p r i n c i p a l i m m e d ia te ly
c o n t a c t e d t h e home and t h e c h i l d was g i v e n
te m p o r a r y s u s p e n s i o n p e n d in g a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h
t h e hom e, c h i l d , and t e a c h e r . T h is r e f e r r a l c a s e
i s d e f i n i t e l y one i n w h ic h t h e t e a c h e r was c o r
r e c t i n m a k in g t h e r e f e r r a l and in r e q u e s t i n g
some d e f i n i t e a c t i o n .
The N e b r a s k a i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
A t e a c h e r e n t e r e d t h e g i r l s ’ r e s t r o o m and
s m e l l e d t o b a c c o sm oke. She im m e d ia te l y n o t i f i e d
t h e a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l , who i n t u r n r u s h e d t o
t h e r e s t r o o m and i d e n t i f i e d t h e g i r l g u i l t y o f
s m o k i n g .
142
Sm oking i n t h e b u i l d i n g o r on t h e g r o u n d s i s
c a u s e f o r s u s p e n s i o n w h ic h m u st b e h a n d l e d by an
a d m i n i s t r a t o r , n o t a t e a c h e r .
The l a s t i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d fro m a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o
2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
T e a c h e r on h a l l d u t y h a d f o r some t im e
n o t i c e d an o v e r l y - a r d e n t c o u p l e s t r o l l i n g down
t h e c o r r i d o r . Not w i s h i n g t o e m b a r r a s s e i t h e r
s t u d e n t s h e s p o k e t o e a c h o n e i n d i v i d u a l l y ( a t
a l a t e r d a t e ) i n t e r m s o f s t a n d a r d s o f c o n d u c t ,
goo d t a s t e , an d g e n e r a l r e s p e c t f o r o n e a n o t h e r .
D e s p i t e h e r c o u n s e l i n g t h e two s t u d e n t s p e r
s i s t e d i n t h e i r o v e r - a m o r o u s a t t e n t i o n s , a c t u a l l y
c r e a t i n g a s i t u a t i o n b e y o n d t h e b o u n d s o f p u b l i c
d e c e n c y and o p e n ly c o m m i t t i n g an a c t o f d e f i a n c e .
The g i r l was r e f e r r e d t o t h e Dean o f G i r l s and
t h e b o y t o t h e V ic e P r i n c i p a l f o r f u r t h e r c o u n
s e l i n g and d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n w h e r e i n d i c a t e d .
C o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h D i s c i p l i n e A d m i n i s t r a t o r
i n A d vance o f R e f e r r a l
T h r e e i n c i d e n t s w e r e s e l e c t e d t o show " c o n s u l t e d
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l " a s an
e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e .
Two i n c i d e n t s w e r e r e p o r t e d by Los A n g e le s a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s . The f i r s t i s fro m a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h
g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e a n d w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s
i n e n r o l l m e n t ; t h e s e c o n d i s fro m a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e an d e n r o l l m e n t n o t s t a t e d .
143
The t e a c h e r came t o t h e o f f i c e b e f o r e s c h o o l
an d t o l d a b o u t t h e p r o b le m w h ic h s h e h a d in w o r k
in g w i t h a g i r l who w as n o t d o in g w e l l in e i t h e r
h e r c l a s s a s s i g n m e n t s o r h e r b e h a v i o r . She
e x p l a i n e d t h a t sh e h a d l o o k e d up h e r r e c o r d and
h e r t e s t d a t a . She fo u n d h e r t o b e c a p a b l e o f
a v e r a g e o r a b o v e a v e r a g e w o rk and t h a t s h e had
b e e n r e c e i v i n g b e t t e r m ark s a t s e v e r a l o t h e r
s c h o o l s w h ic h s h e had a t t e n d e d . She h a d d e c i d e d
t o b r i n g t h e p ro b le m t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e
v i c e p r i n c i p a l b e c a u s e t h e g i r l h a d r e f u s e d t o
do a n y t h i n g t h e d a y b e f o r e and h a d b e e n v e r y
r u d e and p r o f a n e when t h e t e a c h e r i n s i s t e d upon
w o rk . She h a d r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t w h e re sh e
t h o u g h t t h a t h e r c l a s s w o u ld l o s e r e s p e c t f o r
h e r i f s h e d i d n o t do s o m e th in g a b o u t t h e
s i t u a t i o n .
The v i c e p r i n c i p a l a g r e e d t o m ee t w i t h h e r
and t h e p u p i l d u r i n g h e r c o n f e r e n c e p e r i o d . When
t h e t e a c h e r a r r i v e d a t t h e i n t e r v i e w s h e h a d h e r
r o l l book w i t h h e r , a s w e l l a s a l i t t l e c a r d
upon w h ic h s h e h a d n o t e d u n u s u a l b e h a v i o r fro m
tim e t o tim e a s had seem ed n e c e s s a r y .
The g i r l s a i d t h a t i t d i d n ' t make a n y d i f f e r
e n c e w h e t h e r s h e w o rk e d o r n o t b e c a u s e sh e w a s n 't
g i v e n an y c r e d i t f o r w h a t s h e d i d . She s a i d
t h a t sh e d i d n ' t l i k e t h e s c h o o l , n o r a n y t h i n g
a b o u t i t . The t e a c h e r had e v i d e n c e w h ic h c o n
v i n c e d t h e p u p i l t h a t sh e had r e c e i v e d c r e d i t
f o r t h e l i t t l e w ork w h ic h s h e had d o n e . She
a d m i t t e d t h a t s h e h a d b e e n a b s e n t on t e s t d a y s
and t h a t sh e h a d made n o e f f o r t t o make up any
w ork w h ic h s h e h a d m i s s e d . She was o b v i o u s l y
u n h a p p y , lo n e s o m e , an d m ore o r l e s s l o s t i n t h e
b i g s c h o o l .
The v i c e p r i n c i p a l s u g g e s t e d some a c t i v i t i e s
f o r w h ic h sh e w o u ld b e e l i g i b l e . The t e a c h e r c o n
v i n c e d h e r o f h e r f r i e n d l y i n t e r e s t . She becam e
asham ed o f h e r r u d e b e h a v i o r and w a n te d t o know
w h a t s h e c o u l d do a b o u t i t . She a d m i t t e d t h a t
sh e owed t h e t e a c h e r an a p o lo g y , b u t t h e t e a c h e r
144
d i d n o t i n s i s t upon an a p o lo g y b e f o r e t h e c l a s s .
She a s s u r e d h e r t h a t i f s h e w o u ld show a n o t i c e
a b l e im p ro v em en t i n h e r b e h a v i o r t h a t t h e c l a s s
w o u ld know t h a t s h e h a d c h a n g e d h e r m ind and
h e r w a y s .
The v i c e p r i n c i p a l h a s h e a r d no m ore a b o u t
t h i s g i r l fro m an y t e a c h e r .
The j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
The i n s t r u c t o r f i r s t came t o t h e v i c e p r i n
c i p a l and t a l k e d a b o u t t h e p ro b le m boy and
r e c e i v e d i n s t r u c t i o n s a s t o how b e s t t o d e a l
w i t h h im . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l was a b l e t o f u r n i s h
some b a c k g ro u n d as t o h i s home an d f a m i l y w h ic h
c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e t e a c h e r ' s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f
t h e b o y . The i n s t r u c t o r a l s o c o n s u l t e d w i t h
t h e c o u n s e l o r an d r e a d t h r o u g h h i s c u m u l a t i v e
r e c o r d s . As t h e boy c o n t i n u e d t o b e a c l a s s
a g g r a v a t i o n and a b u l l y t o y o u n g e r and w e a k e r
b o y s i n t h e h a l l s and g r o u n d s , t h e t e a c h e r had
c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h t h e boy and a l s o a s k e d h i s
m o th e r o v e r t o t h e s c h o o l f o r a c o n f e r e n c e . He
c o n t i n u e d t o k e e p t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l in f o r m e d
on s p e c i f i c i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g B . Some
o f t h e m a t e r i a l was f o r i n f o r m a t i o n p u r p o s e s ,
and so m e tim e s when t h e s i t u a t i o n was p a r t i c u
l a r l y a g g r a v a t e d , t h e t e a c h e r a s k e d t h e v i c e
p r i n c i p a l f o r d e f i n i t e a c t i o n . The v i c e p r i n
c i p a l " b a c k e d " t h e t e a c h e r by c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h
t h e b o y , c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h h i s p a r e n t s and by
s u s p e n s i o n s . P ro g ra m c h a n g e s w e re a l s o made
i n t h e h o p e o f b e t t e r a d j u s t m e n t . F i n a l l y , t h e
boy was p l a c e d a t a n e a r b y s c h o o l on a S o c i a l
A d ju s tm e n t P e r m i t .
A f i n a l i n c i d e n t , s e l e c t e d t o show t h e e f f e c t i v e
n e s s o f c o n s u l t i n g t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a d v a n c e ,
was r e c e i v e d fro m a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l in K e n tu c k y . The
s c h o o l c o v e r e d g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e , and had fe w e r
145
t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
In t h i s c a s e t h e t e a c h e r c o n s u l t e d w i t h
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in a d v a n c e c o n c e r n i n g tw o
b o y s who w e re n o t c o o p e r a t i n g i n t h e i r w o rk
an d t h e i r b e h a v i o r . The b o y s w e r e s e n t t o t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r who a r r a n g e d f o r c o n f e r e n c e s i n
w h ic h t h e p r o b le m s o f e a c h boy ( s e p a r a t e l y )
w e r e c o n s i d e r e d . T h is r e s u l t e d i n an a g r e e
m en t among t h e t h r e e p e r s o n s w h ic h p r o v e d t o
b e r e a s o n a b l e . T h e r e h a s n o t b e e n a r e c u r
r e n c e o f t r o u b l e .
A cco m p an y in g P u p i l t o O f f i c e
Two i n c i d e n t s w e re s e l e c t e d t o show e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l s t h r o u g h b r i n g i n g t h e p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e . The
f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r
in a Los A n g e le s j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h n i n e and 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s i n e n r o l l m e n t :
A t e a c h e r b r o u g h t tw o g i r l s who w e re d i s
r u p t i n g h e r c l a s s . She e x p l a i n e d i n c l e a r ,
b r i e f s e n t e n c e s j u s t w h a t t h e y w e r e d o i n g t o
d i s r u p t h e r c l a s s and m e n t i o n e d how many d a y s
t h e y had a p p e a r e d u n p r e p a r e d f o r w o rk , and
d e s c r i b e d a d e q u a t e l y t h e i r b e h a v i o r w h ic h
c a u s e d t h e d i s o r d e r i n t h e c l a s s . T h e r e was
no q u e s t i o n i n a n y o n e 's m in d , t h e g i r l s ' o r
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s , a s t o e x a c t l y w h a t w as
w r o n g .
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t s e l e c t e d t o show " b r o u g h t
p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e " a s an e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l t e c h n i q u e
was r e p o r t e d by a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
N e v a d a . The s c h o o l h a s g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e a n d
146
e n r o l l s 1 ,5 5 0 p u p i l s . The r e p o r t e r f a i l e d t o s t a t e who
s u p e r v i s e d t h e c l a s s d u r i n g t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e t e a c h e r .
M iss X r e c e i v e d a b i g , o v e rg ro w n s e n i o r boy
i n h e r s o c i o l o g y c l a s s . He i m m e d ia te l y b e g a n m ak ing
s m a rt r e m a r k s t o t h e o t h e r s t u d e n t s and in g e n e r a l
c r e a t i n g a d i s t u r b a n c e . M iss X q u i e t l y a s k e d
him t o s i t down and b e q u i e t , b u t t h e n o i s e c o n
t i n u e d . She t h e n m o tio n e d t o him t o come u p t o
h e r d e s k , w h ic h h e d i d , r e a l l y e n j o y i n g t h e
a t t e n t i o n . She t h e n a s k e d h im t o f o l l o w h e r o u t
o f t h e room and b r o u g h t him t o my o f f i c e . I
a s k e d them t o b e s e a t e d an d a s k e d M iss X w h at
I c o u l d d o . She f i r s t s t a t e d t h a t J o h n w as a
l i t t l e c o n f u s e d on p r o p e r c o n d u c t and t h o u g h t
p e r h a p s t h a t t h e t h r e e o f u s c o u l d t a l k o v e r
h i s c o n d u c t an d make c l e a r w h a t t h e d e s i r e d
a t t i t u d e w a s , w h i l e i n c l a s s . Not o n c e d i d t h e
t e a c h e r r a i s e h e r v o i c e o r a c c u s e him o f a n y t h i n g
m ore t h a n b e i n g c o n f u s e d on p r o p e r c o n d u c t . At
t i m e s s h e p r a i s e d t h i n g s a b o u t h im , o r t h i n g s
s h e h a d h e a r d . T h i r t y m i n u t e s o f t a l k , l a r g e l y
q u e s t i o n s and a n s w e r s , b r o u g h t a b o u t a c h a n g e
in J o h n . He s t o o d u p , th a n k e d M iss X a n d m y s e l f ,
s t a t i n g t h e r e w o u ld b e no f u r t h e r t r o u b l e from
h im . The s t a t e m e n t p r o v e d t r u e .
A rra n g e m e n t f o r P u p i l - T e a c h e r -
A d m i n i s t r a t o r C o n f e r e n c e
The f o l l o w i n g com m ent, a d d e d by a j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o h i s c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t , shows t h e
e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r
e n c e :
A gym t e a c h e r i n o u r s c h o o l , w h e n e v e r he
h a s a p ro b le m s t u d e n t , a s k s t h a t I d e a l w i t h t h i s
s t u d e n t a t a t im e when t h e t e a c h e r i s a v a i l a b l e .
He f e e l s t h a t t h e p ro b le m c a n b e t t e r be s o l v e d
147
i f h e comes t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h t h e b o y . T h is
p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t shows r e s u l t s .
T h re e i n c i d e n t s w e re s e l e c t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e
" a r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e " a s
an e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e . The f i r s t tw o i n c i d e n t s
w e re r e p o r t e d fro m j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , b o t h w i t h g r a d e s
s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e an d b o t h w i t h f e w e r th a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t i s from G e o r g i a ; t h e s e c o n d from
Los A n g e l e s .
An e i g h t h g r a d e boy had n o t b e en d o in g h i s
c l a s s w o rk . He c o n t i n u e d t o t r y t o " e n t e r t a i n "
t h e c l a s s and a n n o y t h e t e a c h e r . The t e a c h e r
a s k e d t h e p r i n c i p a l t o m eet w i t h h e r and t h e
p u p i l a f t e r s c h o o l f o r a c o n f e r e n c e . L a t e r t h e
p a r e n t s o f t h e p u p i l w e re a s k e d t o come in f o r
a c o n f e r e n c e .
The Los A n g e le s i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
In t h i s c a s e t h e t e a c h e r had spo ken a b o u t
t h e g i r l in q u e s t i o n t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l t w i c e
d u r i n g t h e s e m e s t e r , a s k i n g f o r any i n f o r m a t i o n
t h a t m ig h t h e l p h e r t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e g i r l . On
t h o s e o c c a s i o n s h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n r e v e a l e d t h a t
s h e :
a . Had lo o k e d u p t h e in d e x and r e a d i n g
a b i l i t y s c o r e s in t h e C o u n s e l in g O f f i c e ,
b . Was a w a re o f t h e g i r l ' s h e a l t h p ro b le m ,
c . Had c o n t a c t e d t h e p a r e n t s v i a u n s a t i s
f a c t o r y n o t i c e a t t h e 1 5 -w e e k s ,
d . Had sp o k e n t o t h e g i r l i n d i v i d u a l l y and
p r i v a t e l y on m ore t h a n one a c c a s i o n .
On day p r e v i o u s t o s e n d i n g g i r l t o o f f i c e ,
s h e m e n tio n e d t h a t t h i s s t e p m ig h t be n e c e s s a r y
148
i f g i r l r e f u s e d t o g i v e a s s i g n e d r e p o r t .
On t h e d a y t h e g i r l was s e n t t o t h e o f f i c e ,
t h e t e a c h e r s e n t a n o t e a l o n g e x p l a i n i n g t h e
d i f f i c u l t y and t h e p r o b a b l e e f f e c t upon t h e
g i r l ' s f i n a l m a rk . The t e a c h e r r e q u e s t e d t h a t
t h e g i r l b e d e t a i n e d u n t i l t h e t e a c h e r c o u l d
come in a t t h e en d o f t h e p e r i o d t o d i s c u s s
s e v e r a l i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n a t t i t u d e and b e h a v i o r .
D u rin g t h e p u p i l - t e a c h e r - v i c e p r i n c i p a l
c o n f e r e n c e t h e t e a c h e r s t a t e d w i t h o u t m a l i c e
t h a t s h e was c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e g i r l ' s f i n a l
m ark b e c a u s e i t c o u l d p r e v e n t h e r g r a d u a t i o n .
She r e v i e w e d b e f o r e t h e p u p i l t h a t s h e h a d b e e n
w a rn e d t h a t t h i s r e p o r t w as v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o t h e
f i n a l m a rk , t h a t i t h a d b e e n a s s i g n e d t o t h e
c l a s s t h r e e w eeks p r e v i o u s l y , and t h a t t h e e n t i r e
c l a s s h a d b e e n n o t i f i e d a t t h a t t im e t h a t p u p i l s
who f e l t u n a b l e t o g i v e r e p o r t s b e f o r e t h e c l a s s
c o u l d make a p p o i n t m e n t s w i t h t h e t e a c h e r t o g i v e
them d u r i n g o u t - o f - s c h o o l t i m e . She re m in d e d
t h e g i r l t h a t h e r r e p o r t h a d b e e n d u e on t h e
p r e v i o u s day and t h a t t h e t e a c h e r h a d e x te n d e d
h e r t im e w i t h o u t l o s s o f c r e d i t . On b e i n g p r e
s e n t e d w i t h t h e a l t e r n a t i v e o f g i v i n g t h e r e p o r t
i n c l a s s , o u t s i d e o f c l a s s , o r o f p h o n in g h e r
m o th e r t o sa y s h e p r e f e r r e d n o t t o g i v e t h e
r e p o r t , t h e g i r l d e c i d e d a t o n c e t o make t h e
o u t - o f - s c h o o l a p p o i n t m e n t , on w h ic h sh e f o l
low ed t h r o u g h . W h ile t h i s so u n d s l i k e a p ro b le m
o t h e r t h a n d i s c i p l i n e , 1 b e l i e v e i t was a c t u a l l y
a b e h a v i o r p r o b le m . T h is g i r l h a s much p o i s e
and s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e . She i s o f b e t t e r - t h a n -
n o r m a l i n t e l l i g e n c e . She i s n o t shy o r r e t i r i n g
i n t h e l e a s t a n d h a s n e v e r shown a n x i e t y p r e
v i o u s l y o v e r h a v i n g t o s p e a k i n f r o n t o f a c l a s s
g r o u p . She d o e s , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , seem t o n e e d
a t t e n t i o n and f r e q u e n t l y s t o p s a t n o t h i n g t o
a t t r a c t a t t e n t i o n i n t h e c l a s s r o o m s i t u a t i o n and
on t h e g r o u n d s . B oth t h e t e a c h e r an d I f e l t
t h a t t h e i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d h e r e was b u t one m ore
m i s c h i e v o u s a t t e m p t t o s t a l l , t o d e l a y p r o g r e s s
o f t h e c l a s s , and t o a t t r a c t a t t e n t i o n t o h e r s e l f .
149
The f i n a l i n c i d e n t sho w in g t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f
t h e p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e w as r e p o r t e d
by a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a
s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e and w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o
2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
A t e a c h e r r e c e n t l y s e n t a boy t o my o f f i c e
whom h e d id n o t know t o o w e l l b e c a u s e t h e boy
w as s t u b b o r n and b e l l i g e r e n t . The t e a c h e r made
n o s c e n e in t h e c l a s s r o o m b u t r e f e r r e d t h e boy
t o me an d a s k e d i f t h e t h r e e o f u s c o u l d h a v e
a c o n f e r e n c e l a t e r . A f t e r t h e c o n f e r e n c e t h e
t e a c h e r h a d a b e t t e r a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e b o y 's
home l i f e , an d i t s s h o r t c o m i n g s , and t h e boy
f e l t t h a t t h e t e a c h e r was a r e g u l a r g u y . S i n c e
t h e n t h e t e a c h e r h a s becom e an e x - o f f i c i o c o u n
s e l o r f o r t h e boy and t h e b o y 's w ork i n t h i s
c l a s s h a s im p ro v e d g r e a t l y - - a l s o im prov ed
t h r o u g h o u t t h e s c h o o l .
R e f e r r a l o f P u p i l f o r H e lp t h e
T e a c h e r C a n n o t P r o v i d e
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s r e p o r t e d t h a t a t e a c h e r o f t e n
r e a l i z e s t h a t a p u p i l n e e d s h e l p bey o n d t h e pow er o f t h e
t e a c h e r t o p r o v i d e , e s p e c i a l l y in c a s e s i n v o l v i n g t h e
n e c e s s i t y o f a home i n v e s t i g a t i o n o r t h e h e l p o f a com
m u n ity a g e n c y , o r i n c a s e s i n v o l v i n g t h e p u p i l and o t h e r
t e a c h e r s i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e r e f e r r i n g t e a c h e r .
One C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t was s e l e c t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e
t h i s e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e . The s c h o o l i s a s e n i o r
150
h i g h w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e , t h e s i z e n o t s t a t e d .
A t e a c h e r n o t i c e d t h a t a f a i r l y good s t u d e n t
was n o t w o rk in g t o p a r - - w a s b e co m in g i r r i t a b l e
a nd even r u d e . She was v e r y p a t i e n t , a n d a t
t h e f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y ( w i t h o u t m aking t h e c h i l d
c o n s p i c u o u s ) a s k e d t h e s t u d e n t t o come t o s e e
h e r .
A f t e r g a i n i n g t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e c h i l d
s h e fo u n d a b r o k e n home and d e s p e r a t i o n t o t h e
e x t e n t o f r u n n i n g aw ay.
I t was t h e n r e f e r r e d t o me an d t o o t h e r
p r o p e r a g e n c i e s so t h a t t h e s t u d e n t i s f a i r l y
w e l l a d j u s t e d in a f o s t e r home and i s m akin g
no m ore r u n away t h r e a t s and g r a d e s and c o n d u c t
a r e b a c k t o n o r m a l. The s t u d e n t f e e l s f r e e now
t o t a l k t o t h a t t e a c h e r a s s h e knows s h e ( t h e
t e a c h e r ) i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s e c u r i t y an d w e l l
b e i n g .
Im m e d ia te R e f e r r a l i n C a se s I n v o l v i n g
" P r o b le m 1 1 P a r e n t s
Two i n c i d e n t s w e re r e p o r t e d in w h ic h t h e t e a c h e r s
i n v o l v e d i m m e d ia te ly r e f e r r e d t o t h e i r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
c a s e s i n v o l v i n g " p r o b le m " p a r e n t s . The i n c i d e n t s e l e c t e d
f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a h i g h s c h o o l
a d m i n i s t r a t o r who f a i l e d t o s t a t e t h e s i z e o f t h e s c h o o l
and w h e t h e r i t i s a j u n i o r o r a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l .
A ngry m o th e r a p p e a r e d a t s c h o o l , w i t h o u t
a p p o i n t m e n t , t o c o n f r o n t t e a c h e r who had b e e n
" p i c k i n g o n " h e r s e v e n t h g r a d e d a u g h t e r i n
s o c i a l s t u d i e s . M o th er w o u ld n o t l i s t e n o r
b e m o l l i f i e d .
151
T e a c h e r b r o u g h t m o th e r t o v i c e p r i n c i p a l .
D a u g h t e r was c a l l e d fro m c l a s s t o j o i n t h e c o n
f e r e n c e . G i r l was q u e s t i o n e d by t e a c h e r an d
m o th e r t o show how t h e g i r l ' s b e h a v i o r was n o t
l a d y - l i k e o r p r o p e r i n c l a s s o r o u t . T e a c h e r
c o n v i n c e d m o th e r and d a u g h t e r t h a t s h e l i k e d
g i r l b u t had r e a s o n s t o n o t l i k e h e r a c t i o n s .
V ic e p r i n c i p a l and m o th e r a g r e e d t h a t t h e
g i r l s h o u l d s t a y a f t e r s c h o o l and t h a t m o th e r
w o u ld t a k e a p r i v i l e g e away fro m d a u g h t e r a t
hom e. F u r t h e r i n c i d e n t s w e re t o b e r e p o r t e d
t o m o th e r .
R e q u ir e m e n t t h a t P u p i l H i m s e lf W r i t e
t h e F a c t s o f t h e R e f e r r a l
A lth o u g h i t was m e n tio n e d in o n l y two i n c i d e n t s ,
h a v i n g t h e p u p i l w r i t e h i s own r e f e r r a l n o t e was r e
p o r t e d l y an e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e . The i n c i d e n t s e l e c t e d
f o r i l l u s t r a t i o n was r e p o r t e d by a Los A n g e le s s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a s c h o o l w i t h
g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h t w e lv e and w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
In p l a c e o f t h e t e a c h e r ' s u s u a l r e f e r r a l
n o t e , a t e a c h e r r e q u i r e d t h e p u p i l t o w r i t e t h e
n o t e , s t a t i n g j u s t w h a t t h i n g s h e h a d d o n e , and
why t h e y w e re i r r i t a t i n g t o t h e t e a c h e r . The
n o t e was t h e n s u b m i t t e d t o t h e t e a c h e r f o r
a p p r o v a l and t h e n b r o u g h t t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l
by t h e s t u d e n t .
A f t e r t h i s p r o c e d u r e t h e s t u d e n t was in an
e x c e l l e n t fra m e o f m ind f o r c o u n s e l i n g when h e
a r r i v e d in t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l ' s o f f i c e .
152
Summary
C r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s w e re p r e s e n t e d t o show e a c h o f
t h e f o l l o w i n g e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s : im m e d ia te
r e f e r r a l i n a s e r i o u s e m e r g e n c y ; r e f e r r a l o f c a s e o n l y
a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s ; r e f e r r a l o f c a s e w i t h
c o m p l e t e an d a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n ; ‘ p r o p e r r e f e r r a l o f an
o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p r o b le m ; c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a d v a n c e o f t h e r e f e r r a l ; a c c o m
p a n y in g p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e ; a r r a n g e m e n t f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r -
a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e ; r e f e r r a l o f p u p i l f o r h e l p t h e
t e a c h e r c a n n o t p r o v i d e ; im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l o f c a s e
i n v o l v i n g " p r o b l e m " p a r e n t s ; an d r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t t h e
p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l h i m s e l f . Most o f
t h e s e p r o c e d u r e s w e re r e p o r t e d a s e f f e c t i v e i n h i g h
s c h o o l s o f v a r i o u s s i z e s , in h i g h s c h o o l s in t h e v a r i o u s
a r e a s s t u d i e d , and in b o t h j u n i o r and s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .
V I. CRITICAL INCIDENTS SHOWING INEFFECTIVE
REFERRAL PROCEDURES USED BY TEACHERS
In t h i s s e c t i o n , s e l e c t e d i n c i d e n t s fro m d i s c i
p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a r e p r e s e n t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e i n e f f e c
t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s u s e d by t e a c h e r s , l i s t e d a c c o r d i n g
t o c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s e s t a b l i s h e d fro m t h e d a t a , a s f o l l o w s :
r e f e r r a l o f c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t h a n d l e d by good
t e a c h i n g ; r e f e r r a l w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g ;
r e f e r r a l w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t p u p i l b e
d ro p p e d fro m c l a s s ; i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
made w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l ; a l l o w i n g s e r i o u s c a s e s t o r e a c h
t h e c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e r e f e r r a l ; r e f e r r a l o f p u p i l t o
t h e o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r o t h e r n o t i c e ; and a d v i c e t o
a d m i n i s t r a t o r on how t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e r e f e r r e d . T h ese
i n c i d e n t s show ed , a s d i d t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s and t a b u l a
t i o n s , t h a t t h e r e w e re few d i f f e r e n c e s i n i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s when c o m p a r is o n s w e re made b e tw e e n
h i g h s c h o o l s o f v a r i o u s s i z e s , b e tw e e n h i g h s c h o o l s w i t h
d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n , o r b e tw e e n h i g h s c h o o l s
in v a r i o u s g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s .
R e f e r r a l o f C la s s r o o m N u is a n c e C a s e ,
B e s t H a n d le d by Good T e a c h in g
F i v e i n c i d e n t s and two com m ents fro m a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
w e re s e l e c t e d t o show r e f e r r a l s o f c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e
c a s e s w h ic h a r e b e s t h a n d le d by good t e a c h i n g , a s an
i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e . A d m i n i s t r a t o r s com m ented t h a t
t h e s e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s , o f t e n r e f e r r e d , c o u l d a l s o be
154
h a n d l e d by good t e a c h e r p l a n n i n g and i n t e r e s t : c h a n g in g
s e a t s , c h e w in g gum, f a i l u r e t o b r i n g t e x t b o o k s t o c l a s s ,
t a l k i n g i n c l a s s w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n , w a l k in g a ro u n d t h e
room , and m ak in g u n n e c e s s a r y r e m a r k s .
The f i r s t two i n c i d e n t s w e re r e p o r t e d by Los
A n g e le s j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , i n s c h o o l s
w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
A m ath t e a c h e r s e n t a boy t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h
t h e f o l l o w i n g r e f e r r a l - - " N o b o o k , no p a p e r , no
p e n c i l . " I t i s known by b o t h t e a c h e r and a d m in
i s t r a t o r t h a t t h e boy h a s a b e lo w a v e r a g e i n d e x ,
i s n o t o r i o u s l y l a z y , and q u i t e u n i n t e r e s t e d in
l e a r n i n g . T h is i s n o t a c a s e f o r t h e V ice
P r i n c i p a l ' s o f f i c e b e c a u s e i t i s a p ro b le m o f
somehow b r i n g i n g a b o u t a l e a r n i n g s i t u a t i o n .
P u n is h m e n t i s n o t g o in g t o b r i n g a b o u t t h i s
r e s u l t . The a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n t h i s c a s e was
f o r c e d t o do w h a t t h e t e a c h e r s h o u l d d o , t h a t
i s , t r y t o a r o u s e a s p a r k o f d e s i r e t o l e a r n .
The p l a c e t o do t h i s i s i n a t e a c h i n g s i t u a t i o n .
The s e c o n d Los A n g e le s i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
T h is m o rn in g one o f t h e t e a c h e r s r e f e r r e d
a boy t o t h e o f f i c e f o r d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n a s
h e w as t h r o w i n g an a i r p l a n e p a p e r a ro u n d t o t h e
d i f f e r e n t s e c t i o n s o f t h e room . The boy d i d
n o t h a v e h i s book and d i d n o t b r i n g any m a t e r i a l
w i t h w h ic h t o w o rk . T h is i s a s i t u a t i o n w h ic h
s h o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a ll o w e d t o a r i s e a s t h e
t e a c h e r s h o u l d h a v e known t h e boy w ou ld b e in
some s o r t o f t r o u b l e a s h e h a d l o t s o f tim e t o
k i l l in c l a s s . The t e a c h e r d i d n o t p r o v i d e
a n y t h i n g f o r t h e y o u n g s t e r t o do a s s h e s a i d
t h a t a n y o n e who d i d n ' t b r i n g m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s ,
w o u ld h a v e t o s i t i t o u t f o r t h e p e r i o d .
155
The d i s c i p l i n e f a c t o r s h o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n
a l l o w e d t o grow a s t h e boy c o u l d h a v e h a d some
h e l p w i t h t h e hom eroom t e a c h e r o r t h e g r a d e
c o u n s e l o r . He h a d n o t b e e n a p r o b le m i n s c h o o l
p r i o r t o t h i s i n c i d e n t . Some h e l p c o u l d h a v e
b e e n g i v e n t o t h e s t u d e n t a t t h i s t i m e t o
p r e v e n t t h e i n c i d e n t .
In t h e n e x t tw o i n c i d e n t s , t h e f i r s t fro m N e b r a s k a
an d t h e s e c o n d fro m C a l i f o r n i a , t h e p u p i l f a i l e d t o b r i n g
h i s book t o c l a s s , a n d was r e f e r r e d . B o th s c h o o l s h a v e
f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d . The N e b r a s k a h i g h
s c h o o l h a d g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d t h e C a l i f o r n i a
h i g h s c h o o l o n l y g r a d e s e l e v e n an d t w e l v e . The i n c i d e n t s
f o l l o w :
D i s c i p l i n e i s n o t a m a j o r p r o b le m i n o u r
s c h o o l . M ost t e a c h e r s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o u s e t h e
o f f i c e f o r h e l p i n d i s c i p l i n e p r o b le m s i f by s o
d o i n g t h e r e i s a b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t on t h e r e m a i n d e r
o f t h e c l a s s .
A m o st r e c e n t c a s e w as t h e boy who r e p e a t e d l y
f a i l e d t o b r i n g a t e x t b o o k t o c l a s s . A f t e r
s e v e r a l w a r n i n g s by t h e i n s t r u c t o r , h e was s e n t
t o t h e o f f i c e . In a l l p r o b a b i l i t y t h i s c o u l d
h a v e b e e n h a n d l e d j u s t a s e f f e c t i v e l y by t h e
t e a c h e r u s i n g a n o t h e r m eans o f d i s c i p l i n e s i n c e
o u r s c h o o l h a s a n i n t h h o u r p e r i o d f o r s u c h
p r o b l e m s .
The C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
The s t u d e n t came t o t h e c l a s s w i t h o u t h i s
b o o k . T h is was a f i r s t o f f e n s e d u r i n g t h e f i r s t
e i g h t w eek s o f t h e s e m e s t e r . The s t u d e n t w as s e n t
t o t h e D e a n 's o f f i c e w i t h a n o t e s a y i n g , " T h i s
s t u d e n t came t o c l a s s w i t h o u t h i s b o o k - - h e i s o f
156
no u s e h e r e . " The Dean h a d h a d no p r e v i o u s c o n
t a c t w i t h t h i s s t u d e n t an d d i d n o t know a n y m ore
t h a n j u s t w h a t was w r i t t e n on t h e n o t e . The
f a c t t h a t t h i s was a f i r s t o f f e n s e w as l e a r n e d
l a t e r i n t h e d ay when i t was p o s s i b l e t o s e e
t h e t e a c h e r i n v o l v e d . The f a c t t h a t t h e t e a c h e r
w as t r y i n g t o i m p r e s s h i s c l a s s d o e s n o t seem
t o b e s u f f i c i e n t r e a s o n t o s e n d t h e s t u d e n t t o
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e s . We f e e l t h a t t h e
t e a c h e r s h o u l d h a v e two o r t h r e e e x t r a b o o k s t o
t a k e c a r e o f s t u d e n t s who l o s e , m i s l a y o r even
f o r g e t t o b r i n g t h e i r b o o k s o c c a s i o n a l l y . I f
a s t u d e n t shows any te n d e n c y t o a b u s e t h i s
c o u r t e s y on t h e p a r t o f t h e t e a c h e r , t h e n t h e
c e n t r a l o f f i c e s h o u l d b e n o t i f i e d o f t h e f a c t s
and b e g i v e n a c h a n c e t o c a l l t h e s t u d e n t in
and a t t e m p t t o b r i n g a b o u t a c h a n g e in h a b i t s .
The f i n a l i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s
n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d fe w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 in e n r o l l m e n t .
A p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n i n s t r u c t o r r e f e r r e d
s e v e n b o y s t o me one d a y f o r " p i c k i n g o r a n g e s
fro m an o r a n g e g r o v e an d t h r o w i n g th em a ro u n d
t h e a t h l e t i c f i e l d d u r i n g t h e p h y s i c a l e d u c a
t i o n p e r i o d . " A l l t h e b o y s w e re f re s h m e n and
n o t one o f them had b e e n r e f e r r e d t o roe o n ce
d u r i n g t h e e n t i r e y e a r by any o f t h e t e a c h e r s .
In o t h e r w o r d s , t h e y w e re c o n s i d e r e d t o be
p r e t t y good c i t i z e n s .
I b e l i e v e t h i s c a s e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n h a n d le d
by t h e t e a c h e r , p a r t i c u l a r l y when t h a t t e a c h e r
i s a c o a c h , b e c a u s e I f e e l t h a t c o a c h e s a r e in
a p a r t i c u l a r l y good p o s i t i o n t o d i s c i p l i n e f o r
m il d i n f r a c t i o n s o f t h e r u l e s . In t h e f i r s t
p l a c e , t h e i n c i d e n t w o u ld n o t h a v e o c c u r r e d i f
t h e p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n i n s t r u c t o r h a d b e e n
d i r e c t l y s u p e r v i s i n g t h e b o y s , a s h e s h o u l d h a v e
b e e n . In t h e s e c o n d p l a c e , t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s
o f t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l ' s o f f i c e f o r d i s c i p l i n e
157
i s w e a k e n e d , I b e l i e v e , when s t u d e n t s a r e s e n t
i n f o r a t r i v i a l f i r s t o f f e n s e . To b e o f optim um
e f f e c t i v e n e s s , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n
s h o u l d b e s a v e d f o r o n l y t h e m ore s e r i o u s o r
h a b i t u a l o f f e n d e r s .
W ith a c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t , a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r made t h e f o l l o w i n g p e r t i n e n t
comment r e g a r d i n g t h e t e a c h e r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n h a n d l i n g
c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e s :
S i n c e we h a v e h a d a b o y s ' a n d g i r l s ' v i c e
p r i n c i p a l t h e te n d e n c y seem s t o be f o r t e a c h e r s
t o r e f e r m ore and m ore s t u d e n t s f o r d i s c i p l i n a r y
p u r p o s e s . In t o o many c a s e s t h e r e f e r r a l s a r e o f
s u c h a n a t u r e t h a t t h e i n c i d e n t i s n o t o f s e r i o u s
n a t u r e and c o u l d h a v e v e r y w e l l b e en h a n d le d by
t h e i n d i v i d u a l t e a c h e r . We h a v e o f t e n w o n d e re d
i f t e a c h e r s may n o t b e s h i r k i n g some o f t h e i r
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h i s m a t t e r o f h a n d l i n g d i s
c i p l i n e a n d a r e p a s s i n g i t on t o t h e v i c e p r i n
c i p a l s a s a m a t t e r o f e x p e d i e n c y .
Many c a s e s o f s t u d e n t d i s c i p l i n e a r e b r o u g h t
a b o u t t h r o u g h u n w is e a c t i o n on t h e p a r t o f t h e
t e a c h e r . Many r e f e r r a l s a r e made when t h e t e a c h e r
h a s l o s t c o n t r o l o f t h e s i t u a t i o n and t h e t e a c h e r
f e e l s t h e a u t h o r i t y o r ju d g m e n t o f t h e v i c e
p r i n c i p a l c a r r i e s m ore w e i g h t .
The f o l l o w i n g w as a l s o r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r :
One o f o u r t e a c h e r s h a s a d o p te d a p h i l o s o p h y
o f t e a c h i n g t o t h o s e who w an t t o l e a r n . T h is
i s i d e a l , b u t a s a r e s u l t t h o s e t h a t a r e n o t
t o o i n t e r e s t e d o r n o t m e n t a l l y c a p a b l e a r e l e f t
t o r u n w i l d . T h is i s w h a t h a s h a p p e n e d . We a r e
now i n t h e p r o c e s s o f a t t e m p t i n g t o h a v e t h i s
t e a c h e r a d j u s t h i s s i g h t s a b i t t o i n c l u d e a l l
158
t h e y o u n g s t e r s i n t h e c l a s s and t h i s i s v e r y
d i f f i c u l t , b o t h w i t h t h e s t u d e n t s and w i t h t h e
t e a c h e r . T h e re w e re a num ber o f y o u n g s t e r s t h a t
w e re c o n t i n u a l l y b e i n g s e n t t o t h e o f f i c e f o r
s u c h i n f r a c t i o n s a s , t a l k i n g , r e f u s e s t o w o rk ,
d o e s n o t do hom ew ork, e t c . ! A r e a s , a c t u a l l y ,
t h a t show n o n - i n t e r e s t on t h e p a r t o f t h e p u p i l .
We are still working with the teacher to adjust
his teaching habits.
Referral Without Previous
Personal Counseling
Several of the critical incidents illustrated the
point that "referred a case without previous personal
counseling" was an ineffective procedure.
The f i r s t s e l e c t e d i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a
Los A n g e le s j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r fro m a
s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and m ore t h a n
2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
(I am not the "Administrator in Charge of
Discipline" but do occasionally handle disci pl ine
cases.)
A t e a c h e r ( lo n g te rm s u b s t i t u t e ) s e n t a boy
i n f o r " c o n t i n u a l l y t a l k i n g . " As t h e t e a c h e r
h a d b e en h a v i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e t r o u b l e w i t h d i s
c i p l i n e , I g o t t h e b o y 's c u m u l a t i v e r e c o r d and
f o u n d t h a t h e h a d a r e a d i n g g r a d e p la c e m e n t o f
1 0 .4 in a B9^ c l a s s and an e x p e c t a n c y o f 1 0 .1 .
I t a l k e d w i t h him a b o u t n o t m ak in g t h e b e s t u s e
o f h i s tim e and h i s l a c k o f good s p o r t s m a n s h i p
i n t a l k i n g so much and k e e p i n g o t h e r s fro m
w o r k i n g . 1 t o l d him i f h e w e re s e n t i n t o me
a g a i n we w o u ld i s o l a t e him i n my o f f i c e w i t h
o n l y s t u d y and w r i t t e n w ork so t h a t h e c o u ld
159
n o t d i s t u r b t h e r e s t o f t h e c l a s s .
A few d a y s l a t e r t h e t e a c h e r came in t o
t h a n k me f o r t h e r e m a r k a b l e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n I
h a d w o rk e d i n t h e yo ung m a n 's c o n d u c t . 1 a s k e d
h e r w h a t s h e h a d done t o h e l p h im , an d s h e
a s s u r e d me t h a t s h e h a d sp o k e n s h a r p l y t o him
t w i c e . I a s k e d i f s h e had h a d a p r i v a t e c o n
f e r e n c e w i t h h im , c a l l e d h i s p a r e n t s , i s o l a t e d
him i n t h e room , g i v e n m ore w ork t o k e e p him
b u s y . She s a i d s h e h a d n o t , t h a t h e was in a
b i g c l a s s (33) so s h e had j u s t n o t h ad t i m e .
The n e x t tw o i n c i d e n t s w e re fro m C a l i f o r n i a h i g h
s c h o o l s w i t h fe w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t . The
f i r s t s c h o o l i s a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h n i n e ; an d t h e s e c o n d a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h
g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e .
A s t u d e n t w as s e n t in f o r d i s t u r b i n g t h e
c l a s s . The s t u d e n t c l a i m e d h e r boo k f e l l t o t h e
f l o o r w i t h a lo u d c r a s h . A f t e r f u r t h e r i n q u i r i e s ,
i t f e l l b e c a u s e t h e s t u d e n t i n f r o n t p u t h i s
arm b a c k ( a c c i d e n t a l l y ) and due t o s l o p i n g d e s k s ,
t h e book w e n t s l i d i n g . The ow ner o f t h e book
was t u r n e d to w a rd t h e s i d e b o a r d so d i d n o t s e e
t h e s l i d i n g in tim e t o c a t c h t h e b o o k .
I f e l t t h e t e a c h e r c o u ld h a v e fo u n d o u t
t h e s e f a c t s b e f o r e s e n d i n g t h e s t u d e n t i n - -
c a u s i n g a f e e l i n g o f r e s e n t m e n t and u n f a i r n e s s
to w a rd h e r .
The s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t was a s f o l l o w s :
U n c o o p e r a t i v e n e s s in c l a s s by a s m a l l g ro u p
o f g i r l s who d i d n ' t t h i n k t h e t e a c h e r l i k e d
t h e m - - a l w a y s p i c k i n g on u s . T e a c h e r r e a c t i o n
was l o s s o f t e m p e r , r a i s i n g o f v o i c e , e t c .
H o p e le s s s i t u a t i o n e n d ed i n s e v e r a l b e i n g
s e n t o u t o f c l a s s by t e a c h e r .
160
C o n f e r e n c e s w i t h s t u d e n t s an d t e a c h e r r e v e a l e d
t h a t s t u d e n t s d i d n ' t u n d e r s t a n d aim s o r p u r p o s e
o f c l a s s o r f e e l i n g o f t e a c h e r . T e a c h e r h a d
made no a t t e m p t t o t a l k o v e r t h e p ro b le m w i t h
h e r g r o u p and r e a c h an u n d e r s t a n d i n g .
C l a s s w ork m u st c o n t i n u a l l y b e i n t e r p r e t e d
t o s t u d e n t s and made m e a n i n g f u l .
The n e x t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r fro m a s c h o o l
w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e lv e and w i t h m ore t h a n 2 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
On c h e c k i n g t h r o u g h t h e f i l e s I r a n a c r o s s
t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c a s e . M iss S m ith , a new t e a c h e r ,
h ad t h e f o l l o w i n g e x p e r i e n c e t h e f i r s t day o f
s c h o o l i n an E n g l i s h c l a s s .
J o e Brown, a j u n i o r , t h e l a r g e s t boy i n t h e
c l a s s , c h o s e a s e a t i m m e d ia te l y in f r o n t o f h e r
c l a s s an d e l e c t e d h i m s e l f a s h e r p r o t e c t o r . H is
c o n m e n ts r a n l i k e t h i s : . . s o you a r e a new
t e a c h e r . I w a n t t o h e l p y o u . " He t h e n t u r n e d
a ro u n d and s a i d , "You g u y s p i p e down. T h is i s
a new t e a c h e r . " He b u i l t t h i s up u n t i l i t
becam e a r i d i c u l o u s s i t u a t i o n and t h e c l a s s
soon g o t o u t o f c o n t r o l . The t e a c h e r s e n t t h e
s t u d e n t t o t h e A s s i s t a n t P r i n c i p a l ' s o f f i c e
and s e n t o v e r an a c c o u n t c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e
a b o v e by a n o t h e r s t u d e n t .
The c a s e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n h a n d le d by t h e
t e a c h e r . She l o s t i m p o r t a n t g ro u n d a t t h e v e r y
b e g i n n i n g o f s c h o o l , w h ic h , i n t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
c l a s s , was a lm o s t f a t a l . One o f t h e ax io m s o f
an e x p e r i e n c e d t e a c h e r i s " c u r e t h e t o u g h e s t
b i r d f i r s t . "
In t h e a b o v e c a s e t h e t e a c h e r f a i l e d t o
r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h i s boy was t h e t o u g h e s t b i r d .
161
She a ll o w e d t h e s i t u a t i o n t o e n g u l f h e r b e f o r e
r e a l i z i n g w h a t was g o i n g o n . She w as c o m p l e t e l y
o u t - s m a r t e d by a " p r o . "
You d i d n o t a s k e x a c t l y w h a t t h e t e a c h e r
s h o u l d h a v e d o n e , b u t i n o u r o p i n i o n h e r t r a i n
in g s h o u l d h a v e b e e n o f s u c h a n a t u r e t h a t s h e
c o u l d r e c o g n i z e i m m e d ia te l y w h a t was g o in g on
and t h e boy s h o u l d h a v e b e e n d e a l t w i t h a t o n c e .
T h e re a r e v a r i o u s t h i n g s t h a t s h e c o u l d h a v e
d o n e , s u c h a s , p r o p e r r e m a rk s t o h im , i . e . ,
" I do n o t n e e d y o u r a s s i s t a n c e , p l e a s e r e m a in
q u i e t . " She c o u l d h a v e s p a r r e d f o r t i m e ; s e n t
him on an e r r a n d u n t i l s h e c o u l d h a v e t a l k e d
t o him p r i v a t e l y , w h ic h i s t h e b e s t m etho d
i n d i c a t e d .
O ld e r and m ore e x p e r i e n c e d t e a c h e r s u s u a l l y
f i n d t h a t i t i s b e s t t o i n m e d i a t e l y s t a r t s t r i c t
c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l a s t h e y h a v e d i s c o v e r e d i t i s
e a s i e r t o s l a c k up a t a l a t e r p e r i o d t h a n t o
t i g h t e n up a t a l a t e r p e r i o d . The o b e d i e n c e
c l a u s e i n o u r S c h o o l Code was n o t c o n s i d e r e d
i n t h e a b o v e c a s e . T h is p a r t i c u l a r t e a c h e r
d i d n ' t know a b o u t p a r a g r a p h No. 1 6 0 7 3 , p a g e
5 4 0 , i n o u r S c h o o l Code r e g a r d i n g t h e w i l l f u l
d i s o b e d i e n c e .
The n e x t two i n c i d e n t s a r e fro m j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s , t h e f i r s t in N e b r a s k a and t h e se c o n d i n M ontana.
B o th s c h o o l s h a v e g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e a n d f e w e r
th a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s . The i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v e d t e a c h e r s who
r e f e r r e d c a s e s w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g .
Home Room t e a c h e r s a r e a s k e d t o k e e p an y
p u p i l f o r t h i r t y m i n u t e s a f t e r s c h o o l i f r e p o r t s
t o p a r e n t s a r e n o t r e t u r n e d , s i g n e d , by a g i v e n
d a t e . T h is i s a s c h o o l - w i d e p o l i c y .
One t e a c h e r b r o u g h t a s e t o f r e p o r t c a r d s
t o t h e a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l b e c a u s e o n l y some o f
162
th em h a d b e e n s i g n e d . The t e a c h e r s a i d , " S h a l l
we c a l l h e r i n now o r s h a l l I w a i t u n t i l a f t e r
s c h o o l ? "
The a d m i n i s t r a t o r f e l t t h a t i t m ig h t a i d t h e
t e a c h e r i n g e t t i n g t h e c a r d s s i g n e d i f t h e p u p i l
w as c a l l e d i m m e d i a t e l y , t h e r e b y g i v i n g h e r t h e
o p p o r t u n i t y t o g e t t h e c a r d s s i g n e d d u r i n g l u n c h
p e r i o d . B e f o r e t h e g i r l a r r i v e d i n t h e o f f i c e
t h e Home Room t e a c h e r l e f t t h e o f f i c e l e a v i n g
t h e a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l t o h a n d l e t h e s i t u a t i o n .
In t h e f i r s t p l a c e t h e p r o b le m w as o f s u c h
a m in o r n a t u r e t h a t t h e t e a c h e r s h o u l d n o t h a v e
t a k e n an a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s t im e t o d i s c u s s i t .
S e c o n d l y , a p o l i c y e x i s t s f o r h a n d l i n g t h e
s i t u a t i o n . T h i r d l y , t h e t e a c h e r d e l i b e r a t e l y
dumped h e r p r o b l e m on som eone e l s e when i t
w as c l e a r l y h e r own.
The M o n tan a i n c i d e n t w as a s f o l l o w s :
T h i s i s t h e c a s e o f a s t u d e n t who was
r e f e r r e d t o t h e p r i n c i p a l ' s o f f i c e f o r h a v i n g
f a i l e d t o r e p o r t a f t e r s c h o o l f o r s p e c i a l h e l p .
The t e a c h e r h a d f a i l e d t o c h e c k w i t h t h e s t u d e n t
c a r e f u l l y t o a s c e r t a i n why t h e s t u d e n t h a d n o t
s t a y e d b u t h a d m e r e l y r e f e r r e d t h e s i t u a t i o n t o
t h e o f f i c e a s much a s t o s a y , " I h a v e t r i e d
e v e r y t h i n g u p t o t h i s t im e and n o t h i n g seem s
t o w o r k . " H ow ever, t h i s was t h e f i r s t r e f e r r a l
f o r t h i s s t u d e n t and no o p p o r t u n i t y was g i v e n
f o r t h e s t u d e n t an d t e a c h e r t o t r y t o r e a c h an
u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e f o r e r e f e r r a l t o t h e o f f i c e
w as m ad e. T h is p e r h a p s com es fro m n o t t a k i n g
t h e t im e on t h e p a r t o f t h e t e a c h e r t o c h e c k
i n t o t h e s i t u a t i o n c a r e f u l l y b e f o r e r e p o r t i n g
i t t o t h e o f f i c e .
The l a s t tw o i n c i d e n t s s e l e c t e d t o show t h e
i n e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s " w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s
p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g " w e re fro m Iowa a n d I n d i a n a ,
163
r e s p e c t i v e l y . The i n c i d e n t s w e re r e p o r t e d by d i s c i p l i n e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w i t h f e w e r t h a n
1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d . The f i r s t s c h o o l i s o r g a n i z e d
w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e ; t h e s e c o n d g r a d e s t e n
t h r o u g h t w e l v e .
S tu d y H a l l s t u d e n t w h i s p e r e d . T e a c h e r h ad
s t u d e n t g e t on k n e e s f o r r e s t o f p e r i o d . S t u d e n t
was n o t g o in g t o bow t o a n y t e a c h e r , f a t h e r s t a t e d
same t h i n g . I t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n h a n d l e d w i t h o u t
a n y t r o u b l e w i t h r o u t i n e 7 t h p e r i o d o r a s h o r t
c o n f e r e n c e o r a p h o ne c a l l t o p a r e n t , i n s t e a d
to o k a b o u t a w eek t o s e t t l e .
The I n d i a n a i n c i d e n t was a s f o l l o w s :
T e a c h e r s e n d i n g s t u d e n t fro m c l a s s f o r
r e a d i n g a m a g a z in e . The t e a c h e r d i d n o t h a v e
any d i s c u s s i o n w i t h t h e s t u d e n t a s t o t h e n a t u r e
o f t h e m a t e r i a l o r i f h e h a d a l e g i t i m a t e r e a s o n
f o r r e a d i n g t h e m a t e r i a l .
Referral with Notification or Request
that Pupil Be Dropped from the Class
S ix i n c i d e n t s w e re s e l e c t e d t o show " r e f e r r e d t h e
c a s e w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t p u p i l be d ro p p e d
fro m t h e c l a s s " a s an i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e .
The f i r s t two i n c i d e n t s w e re r e p o r t e d by Los
A n g e le s h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . B o th
s c h o o l s e n r o l l 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s . The f i r s t s c h o o l
i s a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e ;
164
t h e s e c o n d a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e l v e .
M ary, a l a r g e , o v e r w e i g h t e i g h t h g r a d e g i r l ,
i n d e x 8 9 , cam e i n w i t h a b e l l i g e r e n t a i r , t h r u s t i n g
a t me a r e p o r t t o V ic e P r i n c i p a l , r e a d i n g :
" R e p e a te d i n s o l e n c e , d e f i a n c e , t a r d i n e s s ,
t a l k i n g . T h i s g i r l i s i m p o s s i b l e . "
" I ' m n o t g o i n g b a c k t o t h a t c l a s s . He
c a l l e d me a b i g f a t s l o b . He y e l l e d , 'G e t o u t t a
h e r e , " 1 s a i d M ary. " I s t o o d o u t s i d e i n t h e h a l l
f o r a w h i l e . He s a y s I w as l o o k i n g i n t h e d o o r ,
m a k in g f a c e s a t t h e c l a s s . I w a s n ’ t . I w as
r i g h t o u t s i d e t h e d o o r . H e 's a lw a y s l a t e . Then
h e m akes u s go o u t s i d e a n d s t a n d in t h e h a l l i f
we a r e n ' t i n o u r s e a t s when h e g e t s h e r e . "
A p p r o a c h e d a b o u t a c o n f e r e n c e , t h e t e a c h e r
s a i d , " I t ' s a w a s t e o f t i m e . P ut h e r a n y w h e re
y o u l i k e . J u s t d o n ' t s e n d h e r b a c k t o m e ."
F i n a l l y i n d u c e d t o come i n f o r a c o n f e r e n c e ,
t h e t e a c h e r q u i c k l y e s t a b l i s h e d c o m m u n ic a tio n
w i t h M ary, w i t h m u tu a l a g r e e m e n t t h a t : (1)
W h ile h e n e v e r m e a n t M ary, an d n e v e r c a l l e d a n y
p u p i l s a n y n a m e s, h e f r e q u e n t l y s a i d s u c h t h i n g s
a s , " D o n 't a c t l i k e a s l o b . Be a l a d y . " (2)
Mary h a d n e v e r b e e n m a rk e d t a r d y . W h ile sh e
u n d e r s t o o d an d s u b s c r i b e d t o t h e s c h o o l p o l i c y
o f c o u n t i n g t a r d y a n y o n e n o t i n h i s s e a t w o r k i n g ,
t h i s t e a c h e r h a d n e v e r b o t h e r e d t o m ark t h e
f r e q u e n t l y r u n n i n g - s l i d i n g p u p i l s t a r d y .
The s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t w as a s f o l l o w s :
T e a c h e r r e f e r r e d c h i l d i n f o r n o t t u r n i n g
i n hom ew ork a n d s u g g e s t e d re m o v a l fro m c l a s s .
We f e e l t h a t a s u b j e c t l i k e t h i s s h o u l d b e
r e f e r r e d t o t h e o f f i c e o n l y a f t e r a r e a l a t t e m p t
on t h e p a r t o f t h e t e a c h e r t o c o r r e c t t h e s i t u a t i o n .
T r i v i a l r e f e r r a l s a r e o u r g r e a t e s t p r o b le m .
165
The n e x t two i n c i d e n t s w e re fro m C a l i f o r n i a h i g h
s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . The f i r s t i s fro m a j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h t e n and f e w e r th a n
1 ,5 0 0 in e n r o l l m e n t ; t h e s e c o n d fro m a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e lv e an d 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 in
e n r o l l m e n t .
C o m p la i n t. T e a c h e r A s e n t s t u d e n t t o V ice
P r i n c i p a l f o r d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n i n v o l v i n g a
s t u d e n t t h a t was d i s t u r b i n g c l a s s by e x c e s s i v e
t a l k i n g . T e a c h e r A h a d t o l d s t u d e n t t h a t s h e
was o u t o f h i s c l a s s a n d had w r i t t e n on s t u d e n t
p a s s t h a t s t u d e n t had c h e c k e d in h e r b o o k s and
was o u t o f h i s c l a s s f o r r e s t o f t e r m .
A c t i o n . V ic e P r i n c i p a l c h e c k e d w i t h s t u
d e n t ' s c o u n s e l o r and fo u n d o u t t h a t t e a c h e r h ad
made no e f f o r t t o c o n t a c t him a b o u t s t u d e n t ' s
b a c k g ro u n d o r e m o t i o n a l s t a b i l i t y . S t u d e n t h ad
n o t b e e n r e f e r r e d t o c o u n s e l o r f o r any r e a s o n
p r i o r t o t h i s i n c i d e n t . C o u n s e l o r s t a t e d s t u d e n t
was som ewhat e m o t i o n a l l y u n s t a b l e . V ic e P r i n
c i p a l c h e c k e d w i t h t h e s c h o o l n u r s e and fo u n d
o u t t h a t s t u d e n t was u n d e r m e d i c a l c a r e f o r
e m o t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e . In c o n f e r e n c e w i t h
t e a c h e r , V ice P r i n c i p a l e x p l a i n e d t h e s e f a c t s
t o t e a c h e r . T e a c h e r s t a t e d h e was u n a w a re o f
t h e s e f a c t s an d t h a t u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s
h e w o u ld a c c e p t t h e s t u d e n t b a c k . The V ice
P r i n c i p a l a s k e d t h a t i f t h e s t u d e n t becam e a
d i s t u r b i n g i n f l u e n c e i n c l a s s a g a i n t o se n d h e r
t o h i s o f f i c e .
Comment. B e c a u se o f l a c k o f i n t e r e s t o r
e f f o r t on p a r t o f t e a c h e r in t h i s c a s e t o o b t a i n
i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t was a v a i l a b l e , t h e t e a c h e r h a s
p l a c e d h i m s e l f i n a v e r y u n f a v o r a b l e p o s i t i o n
w i t h h i s c l a s s . I f h e h a d t a k e n tim e t o g e t
i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e i n c i d e n t w o u ld n o t h a v e become
166
a d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m i n c l a s s and h e w o u ld h a v e
known how t o h a n d l e t h e s i t u a t i o n when i t
o c c u r r e d .
The s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t w as a s f o l l o w s :
An a v e r a g e boy i n an a v e r a g e E n g l i s h c l a s s
h a s r e f u s e d t o do an y w o rk a l l q u a r t e r . The
t e a c h e r s e n t him t o t h e o f f i c e f o r c o u n s e l i n g ,
w i t h t h e r e q u e s t h e b e rem o ved fro m c l a s s a s h e
had no i n t e r e s t .
On t a l k i n g w i t h t h e boy was in f o r m e d t h a t
he d i d n ' t know f o r s u r e w h a t w as s u p p o s e d t o b e
do n e and h a s g o t t e n f u r t h e r and f u r t h e r b e h in d
in t h i s c l a s s and now h a s l o s t a l l i n t e r e s t .
On t a l k i n g w i t h h i s o t h e r t e a c h e r s we f i n d t h a t
h e i s d o in g s a t i s f a c t o r y w o rk .
T h is E n g l i s h t e a c h e r h a d n o t m o t i v a t e d t h i s
l a d . She had f o r g o t t e n t h a t t h e r e a r e i n d i v i d u a l s
i n h e r c l a s s and n o t a g r o u p o f s t u d e n t s e q u a l
in a l l p h a s e s o f a b i l i t y . She f o r g o t t o g i v e
him a l i t t l e i n d i v i d u a l a t t e n t i o n and u n d e r
s t a n d i n g . T h e re was no r e a s o n t h a t t h i s l a d
s h o u l d b e r e f e r r e d i f s h e w o u ld h a v e done h e r
jo b .
The f i n a l two i n c i d e n t s a l s o showed " r e f e r r e d t h e
p u p i l w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t p u p i l be d ro p p e d
fro m c l a s s " a s an i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e t o f o l l o w . They
w e re fro m K e n tu c k y and S o u th D a k o ta , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The
f i r s t w as fro m a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s se v e n
t h r o u g h n i n e and f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 in e n r o l l m e n t ; t h e
se c o n d fro m a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h
t w e l v e and 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 e n r o l l m e n t .
167
In t h i s i n s t a n c e a t e a c h e r , w i t h o u t h a v in g
c o n s u l t e d w i t h t h e p r i n c i p a l c o n c e r n i n g t h e m a t t e r ,
s e n t a p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h a n o t e s t a t i n g
t h a t sh e h a d b e e n im p u d e n t and t h a t t h e p u p i l
c o u l d n o t r e t u r n t o t h e c l a s s . T h is p l a c e d an
e x t r a b u r d e n on t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r who was r e q u i r e d
t o s o l v e t h e t e a c h e r ' s p ro b le m a s w e l l a s t h a t
o f t h e c h i l d .
The S o u th D a k o ta i n c i d e n t w as a s f o l l o w s :
A 1 0 th g r a d e boy i s b u i l d i n g a t a b l e in
w o o d sh o p . On t h e d a y in q u e s t i o n he f i n i s h e d
g l u e i n g t h e t o p and had n o t h i n g t o do t h e l a s t
f i v e o r t e n m i n u t e s o f t h e h o u r . He th r e w a
c l e a n i n g c l o t h a t one o f t h e o t h e r b o y s . The
t e a c h e r s e n t him t o t h e Dean o f Boys and A s s i s t
a n t P r i n c i p a l w i t h a n o t e s t a t i n g t h a t h e d i d
n o t w a n t him i n c l a s s a n y m o re . Would t h e
p r i n c i p a l p l e a s e d i s p o s e o f him?
R e f e r r a l Made w i t h I n c o m p le te
o r I n a c c u r a t e S t a t e m e n t s
T h re e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s w e re s e l e c t e d fro m t h o s e
w h ic h showed "m ade i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l " a s an i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a Los A n g e le s
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s
t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
R e c e n t l y a boy was r e f e r r e d t o t h i s o f f i c e
w i t h a s t a t e m e n t t h a t h e h a d s t o l e n a v a l u a b l e
pen fro m t h e t e a c h e r ' s d e s k . At f i r s t t h e c a s e
w as p r o c e s s e d a s an o b v io u s t h e f t c a s e , b u t upon
c o n t i n u e d p r o t e s t s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l , t h e a d m in
i s t r a t o r c h e c k e d t o v e r i f y t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e
168
t e a c h e r ' s i n i t i a l r e p o r t . I t w as f o u n d t h a t t h e
t e a c h e r h a d n o t b e e n i n t h e room a t t h e t i m e
o f t h e d e s c r i b e d i n c i d e n t ( s h e w as n o t s u r e who
w as i n t h e r o o m ) , a n d t h a t s h e h a d s e n t t h e bo y
t o t h e o f f i c e m e r e l y b e c a u s e s h e knew t h a t h e
h a d h a d an u n d e s i r a b l e r e c o r d i n t h e c l a s s .
F u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n b o r e o u t t h e f a c t t h a t i n
t h i s p a r t i c u l a r i n c i d e n t t h e b o y w as n o t
i n v o l v e d . As a r e s u l t , t h e h a n d l i n g o f t h e
c a s e w as i n e f f e c t i v e , n o t o n l y fro m t h e s t a n d
p o i n t o f t h e b o y , b u t a l s o t h e t e a c h e r .
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t w as r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r . The s c h o o l h a s g r a d e s n i n e
t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
A t e a c h e r ' s l a c k o f c o n f i d e n c e i n h i m s e l f h a s
c a u s e d a g r e a t d e a l o f c o n f u s i o n . He d o e s n ' t
know when t h e p r o b le m i s h i s o r when i t b eco m es
n e c e s s a r y t o c a l l f o r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e l p . Any
l i t t l e p r o b le m s u c h a s s t u d e n t s n o t h a v i n g
p r o p e r t o o l s - - b o o k s , p e n c i l s , p a p e r , e t c . - -
a n d i n s t e a d o f h a n d l i n g t h i s l i t t l e m a t t e r , h e
s e n d s a l l c o m e rs i n t o s e e t h e Dean o f B o y s.
H is r e p o r t s t o t h e Dean a r e " c a r e l e s s l a n g u a g e " ;
" u n - c o o p e r a t i v e " ; " n e e d s t o g e t a b e t t e r u n d e r
s t a n d i n g o f s c h o o l a n d i t s p u r p o s e s , " e t c .
T h e r e i s n o g r e a t d e a l o f e x p l a i n i n g a s you c a n
s e e , r a t h e r a c h a n c e o f g e t t i n g r i d o f t h e
y o u n g s t e r f o r a t i m e . He a l s o " p r e a c h e s " t o t h e
y o u n g s t e r s r a t h e r t h a n e x p l a i n i n g t o th e m . None
o f h i s c a s e s a r e o f m a j o r d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d a l l
o f th em c o u l d h a v e b e e n h a n d l e d m ore e f f e c t i v e l y
t h a n by s e n d i n g th em i n t o t h e o f f i c e f o r c o r
r e c t i o n . By s e n d i n g th em i n f o r s u c h m in o r
i n f r a c t i o n s h e h a s l o s t a g r e a t d e a l o f r e s p e c t
fro m t h e y o u n g s t e r s . H is c o n t e n t i o n s a r e t h a t
h e i s p a i d t o t e a c h and n o t t o d i s c i p l i n e ; t h a t
t h e j o b o f t h e Dean i s t o d i s c i p l i n e f o r t h a t
i s a l l t h a t h e h a d t o d o .
The t h i r d i n c i d e n t , s e l e c t e d t o i l l u s t r a t e
169
t h e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e i n w h ic h t h e t e a c h e r "made
i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l , "
w as fro m C a l i f o r n i a . The s c h o o l i s a j u n i o r h i g h w i t h
g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e an d f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 in
e n r o l l m e n t .
The t e a c h e r i n a s o c i a l s t u d i e s c l a s s o f
b o t h b o y s an d g i r l s o f 7 t h g r a d e l e v e l . T e a c h e r
s e n t boy t o o f f i c e o v e r a n o t e b e i n g p a s s e d and
h ad d e f i n i t e l y s t a t e d t h a t t h e boy h a d w r i t t e n
t h e n o t e , w h ic h l a t e r p r o v e d h e h a d n o t . The
t e a c h e r s h o u l d h a v e t r i e d t o f i n d o u t a b o u t t h e
n o t e a f t e r c l a s s fro m t h e bo y i n p l a c e o f
c a u s i n g a c o n f u s i o n d u r i n g t h e c l a s s p e r i o d and
l e a v i n g h e r c l a s s w h i l e s h e came t o t h e o f f i c e
w i t h t h e b o y . She l a t e r a p o l o g i z e d t o t h e boy
f o r t h e f a l s e a c c u s a t i o n .
A llo w in g S e r i o u s C ase t o R each
C r i s i s S t a g e B e f o r e R e f e r r a l
In some o f t h e i n c i d e n t s , t e a c h e r s f a i l e d t o s e e k
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a s s i s t a n c e when t h e y w e re f i r s t a w a re t h a t
a s e r i o u s c a s e was d e v e l o p i n g . Two i n c i d e n t s w e re
s e l e c t e d t o show " l e t s e r i o u s c a s e g o t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e
b e f o r e r e f e r r i n g " a s an i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r in M ic h ig a n , fro m a s c h o o l w i t h
g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e , b u t w i t h no d e s i g n a t i o n o f
s i z e .
170
Tony w as a c o n s t a n t i r r i t a t i o n t o h i s E n g l i s h
t e a c h e r - - e a t i n g c a n d y an d p e a n u t s , r e f u s i n g t o
b e q u i e t when e x p l a n a t i o n s w e r e i n p r o g r e s s ,
l i g h t i n g h i s c i g a r e t t e l i g h t e r . Tony s h o u l d h a v e
b e e n k e p t a f t e r c l a s s e a r l y i n t h e s c h o o l y e a r
f o r a t h o r o u g h d i s c u s s i o n i n p r i v a t e . I n s t e a d ,
t h e t e a c h e r q u a r r e l e d w i t h him r e p e a t e d l y b e f o r e
t h e g r o u p , a r g u i n g a b o u t h i s c o n d u c t , a n d a l l o w
i n g Tony t o a r g u e w i t h h im . The boy e n j o y e d t h e
p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n im m e n s e ly . When t h e c a s e w as
r e f e r r e d t o me i t w as t o o l a t e t o re m e d y . The
a rg u m e n t h a d p r o g r e s s e d t o t h e p o i n t w h e re i t
w as n e c e s s a r y f o r me t o rem ov e Tony fro m t h e
c l a s s p e r m a n e n t l y , w i t h c o n s e q u e n t l o s s o f c r e d i t .
A s i m i l a r i n c i d e n t w as r e p o r t e d by a s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n C o n n e c t i c u t i n a s c h o o l w i t h
g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e and w i t h 1 ,5 7 5 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
The i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d tw o i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s : " l e t
s e r i o u s c a s e go t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e r e f e r r i n g "
a n d " a d v i s e d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e
r e f e r r e d . "
R easo n f o r s e n d i n g p u p i l (a g i r l ) t o o f f i c e :
P u p i l ' s s t o r y - - s m i l i n g and t a l k i n g t o a b o y .
T e a c h e r ' s r e a s o n f o r r e f e r r a l : T r i e d t o
c a u s e a d i s t u r b a n c e when b o y s r e t u r n e d fro m an
a s s e m b l y , a t a tim e when b o y s w e re s ta m p in g
f e e t . "A ssum ed s h e c o u l d a n s w e r t e a c h e r b a c k . "
T o ld g i r l t h a t " i f M iss ------- i s n o t s a t i s f i e d
w i t h y o u r b e h a v i o r , t h e n a p a r e n t v i s i t w i l l
b e n e c e s s a r y . "
R e aso n t e a c h e r c o n s i d e r s t h i s c a s e a s c h o o l
p r o b le m r a t h e r t h a n a t e a c h e r p r o b le m : " I h a v e
t r i e d u p t o F r i d a y , May 31 . I a s k e d C ( t h e
g i r l ) t o a c t j u s t n o r m a l . " She g a v e me a t e s t
p a p e r g r a d e d " 0 " a n d now t h i n k s s h e c a n do a s
171
sh e p l e a s e s .
T e a c h e r f a i l u r e : S h o u ld h a v e r e f e r r e d t h e
c a s e t o an a d m i n i s t r a t o r when t e a c h e r was f i r s t
a w a re o f n e e d f o r h e l p - - i n s t e a d o f p e r m i t t i n g
i t t o g e t so c o m p l e t e l y o u t o f c o n t r o l - - t h a t
t h e p u p i l e v en f a i l e d i n h i s w o rk . A l s o ,
h a v i n g r e f e r r e d t h e c a s e t o an a d m i n i s t r a t o r ,
h e a l s o recom m ended t r e a t m e n t o f p a r e n t s ' v i s i t
t o s c h o o l . In o t h e r w o r d s , he r e f e r s t h e c a s e
and recom m ends t r e a t m e n t t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r
a t t h e same tim e t h a t he h i m s e l f i s s e e k i n g
h e l p .
P r o g n o s i s f o r t e a c h e r : S h o u ld s e n s e
h i s c a s e s e a r l y and d e a l w i t h them h i m s e l f in
o r d e r t o s t r e n g t h e n h i m s e l f o r r e f e r t o t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r h e l p and a d v i c e i f he f e e l s
h e n e e d s i t . A l s o , i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c a s e
t h e r e a l c a u s e o f t h e t r o u b l e was s ta m p in g
o f f e e t on b o y s ' p a r t - - w h i c h h e seem s t o
o v e r l o o k .
R e f e r r a l t o O f f i c e W ith o u t
N o te o r O th e r N o t i c e
Two i n c i d e n t s w e re s e l e c t e d w h ic h showed i n e f
f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d by t e a c h e r s in s e n d i n g p u p i l s t o
t h e o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r o t h e r n o t i c e .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a Los A n g e le s
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r . The s c h o o l
h a s g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
The i n s t r u c t o r s e n t t h r e e o r f o u r y o u n g s t e r s
a t a tim e w i t h no i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e V i c e - P r i n
c i p a l . In t h e same c l a s s h e s e n t o t h e r y o u n g s t e r s
w i t h l i t t l e i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o w h at t h e d i f f i c u l t y
w a s . No a t t e m p t s w e re made by t h e i n s t r u c t o r t o
172
t a l k w i t h t h e b o y s a f t e r c l a s s , se n d n o t e s home
t o p a r e n t s , o r c o n t a c t t h e home by t e l e p h o n e .
No e f f o r t was made by t h e i n s t r u c t o r t o lo o k
o v e r t h e c u m u l a t i v e r e c o r d c a r d s f o r i m p o r t a n t
i n f o r m a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d o r c o n s u l t t h e c o u n
s e l o r a b o u t t h e c a s e s . P u b l i c l y t h e i n s t r u c t o r
made t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t h e h a d b e e n g i v e n " a l l
t h e h o o d lu m s an d c r i m i n a l s " i n s c h o o l . On two
o c c a s i o n s , t h e i n s t r u c t o r made t h e s t a t e m e n t
i n t h e h e a r i n g o f p u p i l s t h a t h e "w o u ld n o t
h a v e S b a c k i n c l a s s . " When a s k e d by t h e
V i c e - P r i n c i p a l t o come i n t o d i s c u s s t h e p ro b le m
a n d t o r e c e i v e s u g g e s t i o n s a b o u t b e t t e r ways
o f d e a l i n g w i t h t h e c l a s s , t h e i n s t r u c t o r i g n o r e d
t h e r e q u e s t f o r s e v e r a l d a y s and f i n a l l y came
i n and seem ed t o t a k e t h e s u g g e s t i o n s i n p o o r
s p i r i t . C o n c r e t e i d e a s w e re g i v e n a s t o b e t t e r
ways o f h a n d l i n g c l a s s r o u t i n e s , m oving t h e
f u r n i t u r e i n t h e room , h i n t s on p s y c h o l o g y o f
w o r k in g w i t h J u n i o r H igh y o u n g s t e r s , e t c . , b u t
f r e q u e n t c l a s s v i s i t s showed l i t t l e a p p l i c a t i o n
o f t h e s u g g e s t i o n s . The i n s t r u c t o r a l s o was
h e a r d t o " g r i p e " a t t h e lu n c h e o n t a b l e t h a t
t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n w o u ld "d o n o t h i n g " t o h e l p
h im .
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s
t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e and 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 in e n r o l l m e n t :
S t u d e n t an d t e a c h e r h ad some d i f f i c u l t y in
t h e c l a s s r o o m . S t u d e n t was s e n t o u t o f t h e room
t o " s t a n d i n t h e h a l l . " The s t u d e n t was t o be
s e e n a f t e r t h e c l a s s by t h e t e a c h e r , b u t a t t h e
end o f t h e p e r i o d t h e s t u d e n t was t o l d t h a t t h e
t e a c h e r was t o o b u s y . H ow ever, t h i s p e r i o d was
t h e l a s t o ne in t h e d a y . The f o l l o w i n g day when
t h e s t u d e n t r e p o r t e d t o c l a s s s h e was t o l d , "Go
t o t h e d e a n . " No r e g u l a r s l i p was s e n t w i t h
t h e s t u d e n t ; t h e d e a n was n o t n o t i f i e d t h a t
t h e s t u d e n t w o u ld a r r i v e .
173
S i n c e t h e p r o b le m w as one o f a l a t e p a p e r t h e
t e a c h e r becam e i n v o l v e d i n a d i s c i p l i n a r y s i t u a
t i o n o f h i s own m a k in g . S t u d e n t s do n o t s t a n d
i n t h e h a l l f o r a n y r e a s o n ; p r o c e d u r e s a r e f o l
lo w ed i n m a k in g d e a n r e f e r r a l s ; some s t a t e m e n t
o f t h e p r o b le m i s e i t h e r t e l e p h o n e d o r w r i t t e n ;
a p p o i n t m e n t s made w i t h s t u d e n t s a r e k e p t .
A d v ic e t o A d m i n i s t r a t o r on How t o
H a n d le t h e C a se R e f e r r e d
The f o l l o w i n g i s a s i g n i f i c a n t c o n m en t r e c e i v e d
fro m a C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r :
The c a s e w h ic h comes t o m ind i s a p r o b le m
t e a c h e r w ho, w h e n e v e r h e h a s a p r o b le m i n c l a s s ,
t e l l s t h e s t u d e n t w h a t a c t i o n w i l l b e t a k e n by
t h e o f f i c e , a n d t h e n s e n d s him t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h
a r e q u e s t f o r o n l y t h a t a c t i o n w h ic h h e p r o m i s e d .
O f t e n h i s p r o m is e d p u n is h m e n t i s n o t i n a c c o r d
w i t h t h e a c t .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r fro m a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h n i n e and f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
T e a c h e r i n m e t a l s h o p s e n t b o y t o me who
h a d c o m p l e t e d o n l y on e p r o j e c t s i n c e t h e b e g i n
n i n g o f t h e s e m e s t e r (tw o w e e k s ) . He h ad b e e n
a b e h a v i o r p r o b le m , b u t h a d n e v e r b e e n s e n t t o
t h e o f f i c e f o r sam e. The t e a c h e r s e n t w i t h t h e
b o y a n o t i c e o f u n s a t i s f a c t o r y w o rk d a t e d two
w e ek s b e f o r e w h ic h h e h a d f o r g o t t e n t o g i v e t h e
b o y an d t h e r e f e r r a l fo rm s u g g e s t e d s u s p e n s i o n
o f t h e boy u n t i l h e ( t h e b o y ) c o u l d r e t u r n w i t h
h i s p a r e n t s t o s e e w h a t c o u l d b e d o n e t o im p ro v e
m a t t e r s .
174
V I I. CHAPTER SUMMARY
In t h i s c h a p t e r w e re p r e s e n t e d t h e c r i t i c a l
i n c i d e n t s c o n c e r n i n g t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l s o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e
c a s e s , a s r e p o r t e d by h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
A lm o st f o u r h u n d r e d c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s , t o g e t h e r
w i t h com m ents a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e and s t a t e m e n t s o f d i s
c i p l i n e p o l i c y , w e re r e c e i v e d fro m m ore t h a n two h u n d r e d
h i g h s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . The i n c i d e n t s
w e re s u b m i t t e d fro m r e s p o n d e n t s i n t w e n t y - s i x s t a t e s and
t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o lu m b ia , a s f o l l o w s : a p p r o x i m a t e l y one
f o u r t h came from Los A n g e l e s ; m ore th a n o ne h a l f came
fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s ; and fe w e r t h a n one f o u r t h
came fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . About one h a l f
o f t h e i n c i d e n t s came fro m s c h o o l s w i t h f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0
in p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t ; an d a b o u t one h a l f fro m s c h o o l s w i t h
e n r o l l m e n t s b e tw e e n 1 ,5 0 1 and 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
A p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e t h i r d o f t h e i n c i d e n t s came
fro m j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , t h e o t h e r two t h i r d s fro m s e n i o r
s c h o o l s . A p p r o x im a te ly two t h i r d s o f t h e d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r
r a l s w e re t o v i c e o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s ; t h e r e m a i n i n g
c a s e s w e re h a n d le d by c o u n s e l o r s , d e a n s , and p r i n c i p a l s .
One h a l f o f t h e c a s e s c o n c e r n e d b o y s , and a b o u t
175
one t h i r d i n v o l v e d g i r l s . The r e m a i n d e r o f c a s e s i n v o l v e d
b o t h b o y s and g i r l s .
The m i s b e h a v i o r s , i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n
by t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , w e re t h e s e : c a u s i n g
d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e i n a g r o u p ; d e f i a n c e o f and
d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r ; f i g h t i n g ; f a i l u r e t o b r i n g
m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s ; o b s c e n i t y an d p r o f a n i t y ; t a r d i n e s s ;
t r u a n c y an d c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s ; p e t t y t h e f t ; c h e w in g gum;
an d c u t t i n g a s s i g n e d s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n .
A p p r o x i m a t e l y two t h i r d s o f t h e m i s b e h a v i o r s
r e f e r r e d t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o c c u r r e d in t h e r e g u l a r
c l a s s r o o m , i n c l u d i n g t h e a c a d e m i c , b u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n ,
and f i n e a r t s c l a s s e s . The r e m a i n d e r o f t h e c a s e s w e re
fro m sh o p and hom em aking c l a s s e s , s t u d y h a l l , p h y s i c a l
e d u c a t i o n , t h e h a l l s , t h e p l a y g r o u n d , and t h e s c h o o l
a s s e m b l y .
When p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s w e r e c o m p a re d on t h e
b a s e s o f g e o g r a p h i c a r e a o r j u n i o r - v e r s u s - s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l , few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re o b s e r v e d .
The m o st e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d
by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e : im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l o f
a s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y ; r e f e r r a l a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s ; r e f e r r a l w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n ;
176
p r o p e r r e f e r r a l o f an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p r o b le m ; c o n s u l t a
t i o n w i t h d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l ;
a c c o m p a n y in g p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e ; a r r a n g e m e n t f o r p u p i l -
t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e ; r e f e r r a l f o r h e l p w h ic h
t e a c h e r c a n n o t p r o v i d e ; im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l o f c a s e s c o n
c e r n i n g " p r o b l e m " p a r e n t s ; an d r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t p u p i l
w r i t e t h e f a c t s f o r t h e r e f e r r a l h i m s e l f . On t h e b a s i s
o f g e o g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n , few d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e n o t e d in
t h e r e l a t i v e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f r e f e r r a l
p r o c e d u r e s m e n tio n e d m o st o f t e n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a
t o r s . When e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s m e n t i o n e d m o st
o f t e n by j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e re c o m p a re d
w i t h t h o s e m e n t i o n e d by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ,
few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re n o t e d .
The i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d m ost
o f t e n by d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e : r e f e r r a l o f
c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e s , b e s t h a n d l e d by good t e a c h i n g ;
r e f e r r a l o f a c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g ;
r e f e r r a l w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t p u p i l b e
d r o p p e d fro m c l a s s ; i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
made w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l ; t a r d y r e f e r r a l , a l l o w i n g a
s e r i o u s c a s e go t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e b e f o r e m ak in g
177
r e f e r r a l ; r e f e r r i n g p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e ; and t e a c h e r ' s a d v i c e t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r o f
how t o h a n d l e a r e f e r r e d c a s e . Few d i f f e r e n c e s i n i n e f
f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s w e r e n o t e d when i n c i d e n t s
w e r e c o m p a re d i n te r m s o f g e o g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n . When
j u n i o r and s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l r e f e r r a l s w e re c o m p a re d ,
few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re n o t e d .
S e l e c t e d c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s w e re p r e s e n t e d t o
i l l u s t r a t e b o t h e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o
c e d u r e s i n m a k in g r e f e r r a l s . E ach i n c i d e n t was i d e n t i f i e d
a s t o i t s g e o g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n , s c h o o l s i z e , and t y p e o f
s c h o o l o r g a n i z a t i o n . A g a i n , few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re n o t e d
when i n c i d e n t s w e re c o m p a re d in te r m s o f g e o g r a p h i c a r e a ,
s i z e o f s c h o o l , o r j u n i o r v e r s u s s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .
CHAPTER V
EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCEDURES IN HANDLING PUPIL DISCIPLINE
In t h i s c h a p t e r a r e p r e s e n t e d t h e r e s p o n s e s made
by t e a c h e r s in answ er t o t h e r e q u e s t t h a t th e y r e p o r t th e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g o f h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t d i s c i p l i n e
c a s e s .
The c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h i s s t u d y ,
when r e q u e s t e d t o subm it anonym ously an e q u a l number o f
i n c i d e n t s showing e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s , r e p o r t e d a lm o s t t w i c e a s many
e f f e c t i v e a s i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s : 595 i n c i d e n t s , o r
6 6 .1 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l o f 900 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by
t e a c h e r s , showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g o f
t h e c a s e s ; w h i l e 305, o r 3 3 .9 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l ,
showed i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
I . BACKGROUND INFORMATION
S t a t e s R e p r e s e n t e d
T h i r t y - s i x s t a t e s and t h e D i s t r i c t o f Colum bia
w e re r e p r e s e n t e d in t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s fro m t e a c h e r s .
Seven h u n d re d t h i r t y - s e v e n i n c i d e n t s , o r 8 1 .9 p e r c e n t
o f t h e t o t a l , w e re from C a l i f o r n i a ; 162 i n c i d e n t s , o r 18
p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , w e re fro m t h i r t y - f i v e o t h e r s t a t e s
and t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o lu m b ia . F o r one i n c i d e n t t h e
g e o g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n c o u l d n o t be d e t e r m i n e d . T a b le XXII
shows t h e s t a t e s r e p r e s e n t e d and t h e number o f i n c i d e n t s
r e c e i v e d fro m e a c h s t a t e .
Among 900 C a l i f o r n i a r e s p o n s e s , 197 i n c i d e n t s , o r
2 1 .9 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , w e re o b t a i n e d from Los A n g e le s
c i t y h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s ; and 540, o r 60 p e r c e n t o f t h e
t o t a l , w e re r e c e i v e d from t e a c h e r s in o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a
c i t i e s .
Of t h e t o t a l o f 737 C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t s , 4 8 9, o r
6 6 . 4 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g
248, o r 3 3 .7 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
Of t h e t o t a l o f 162 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , 105, o r 6 4 . 8 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d
180
TABLE XXII
STATES FROM WHICH REPLIES FROM TEACHERS W ERE RECEIVED
Number of Number of
S ta te c i t i e s r e p l ie s
Arkansas 1 4
C a lif o rn ia
*
627
Colorado 1 2
Connecticut 2 9
D i s t r i c t of Columbia 1 5
F lo rid a 1 4
Georgia 1 1
Indiana 1 2
Iowa 1 2
Louisiana 1 1
Maryland 1 1
M assachusetts 1 4
Michigan 1 1
Minnesota 1 4
Montana 2 3
Nebraska 2 8
New Hampshire 1 4
Nevada 2 10
New York 2 5
North C arolina 1 2
Oklahoma 1 6
Oregon 2 9
Pennsylvania 1 2
Rhode Islan d 1 3
South C arolina 1 3
South Dakota 2 6
Tennessee 1 4
Texas 1 3
Utah 1 4
Vermont 1 1
Washington 1 5
West V irg in ia 1 2
Wisconsin 1 1
Wyoming 2 8
Total 41** 756
* In p o ssib le to compute
** Excluding C a lifo rn ia c i t i e s
181
e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ; and 57, o r 3 5 .2 p e r
c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g . T a b le X X III shows
e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s a c c o r d i n g t o g e o
g r a p h i c a r e a s .
S c h o o l S iz e
S c h o o ls w ere c l a s s i f i e d a s f o l l o w s : (1) t h o s e
u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 In p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t , (2) t h o s e w i t h 1 ,5 0 1
t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s and (3) t h o s e w i t h o v e r 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
From t h e s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s o f e a c h s i z e i n c l u d e d , t h e r e
w ere a p p r o x i m a t e l y t w i c e as many i n c i d e n t s show ing e f f e c
t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s a s i n e f f e c t i v e . The
l a r g e s t number o f i n c i d e n t s (4 59 , o r 51 p e r c e n t ) came
from h i g h s c h o o l s t h a t e n r o l l e d b e tw e e n 1 ,5 0 1 and 2 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s . Of t h e s e , 307, o r 6 6 .9 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d e f f e c
t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ; 152, o r 3 3 .1 p e r c e n t ,
d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
From t h e s c h o o l s u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 in p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t ,
t h e r e w ere 323 i n c i d e n t s , o r 3 5 .9 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
o f 900 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d . Of t h e s e , 216, o r 6 6 .9 p e r
c e n t , d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g and 107,
o r 3 3 .1 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g . From
t h e s c h o o l s w i t h more t h a n 2 ,5 0 0 in p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t , 80
182
TABLE X X III
EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE INCIDENTS,
BY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
G e o g ra p h ic
a r e a
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
E f f e c - I n e f -
t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l
P e r c e n t
o f t o t a l
Los A n g e le s 125 72 197
C a l i f o r n i a , e x c l u d i n g
Los A n g e le s 364 176 540
U n i t e d S t a t e s , e x c l u d i n g
C a l i f o r n i a 105 57 162
Not known 1 0 1
2 1 .9
6 0 . 0
1 8 .0
0.1
T o t a l 595 305 900 1 0 0 .0
183
i n c i d e n t s , o r 8 .9 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l o f 900, w ere
r e c e i v e d . Of t h e s e 80 i n c i d e n t s , 54, o r 6 7 .5 p e r c e n t ,
d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g and 26, o r
3 2 .5 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
For 38 o f t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d , o r 4 . 2 p e r c e n t
o f t h e t o t a l , t h e s i z e o f s c h o o l c o u ld n o t be d e te r m i n e d .
Of t h e s e , 18 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
h a n d l i n g and 20 d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g . T a b le
XXIV shows d a t a r e g a r d i n g s c h o o l s i z e .
Type o f School O r g a n i z a t i o n
I n c i d e n t s w ere r e c e i v e d from b o t h j u n i o r and
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s . Two h un d red s e v e n t y - t h r e e ,
o r 3 0 .3 p e r c e n t , o f t h e i n c i d e n t s came from t e a c h e r s in
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s seven th r o u g h n i n e o r
seven th ro u g h t e n . F iv e hu n d red f o r t y i n c i d e n t s , o r 60
p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , came from s e n i o r h i g h sc h o o l
t e a c h e r s . The s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s w ere o r g a n i z e d in
t h r e e w ays: w i t h g r a d e s seven t h r o u g h t w e lv e , w i t h
g r a d e s te n th r o u g h t w e lv e , o r w i t h g r a d e s n i n e th r o u g h
t w e lv e . E i g h t y - s e v e n i n c i d e n t s , o r 9 .7 p e r c e n t , w ere
from t e a c h e r s who d id n o t s t a t e t h e ty p e o f s c h o o l o r g a n
i z a t i o n o f t h e i r s c h o o l s .
184
TABLE XXIV
DISTRIBUTION OF INCIDENTS REPORTED,
ACCORDING TO SIZE OF SCHOOL
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
S iz e o f E f f e c - I n e f - P er c e n t
s c h o o l t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
Less th a n 1,500 216 107 323 3 5 .9
1,501 to 2,500 307 152 459 5 1 .0
More t h a n 2,500 54 26 80 8 .9
Not s t a t e d 18 20 38 4 .2
T o t a l 595 305 900 100.0
185
Of t h e 595 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , 182, o r 3 0 .6 p e r
c e n t , w e re from j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s sev en
t h r o u g h n i n e o r sev en t h r o u g h t e n ; 183, o r 60 p e r c e n t ,
w e re from s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a s f o l l o w s : 23 i n c i d e n t s ,
o r 7 . 5 p e r c e n t , w e re from s c h o o l s w h ic h i n c l u d e g r a d e s
se v e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e ; 70 i n c i d e n t s , o r 23 p e r c e n t , w e re
from s c h o o l s w hich i n c l u d e g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e ; and
90 i n c i d e n t s , o r 2 9 .5 p e r c e n t , w e re from s c h o o l s w h ic h
i n c l u d e g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e . T a b le XXV shows t h e
t y p e s o f s c h o o l o r g a n i z a t i o n from w hich t h e i n c i d e n t s
w e re r e c e i v e d w i t h number o f e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t s from e a c h t y p e o f o r g a n i z a t i o n .
Sex o f P u p i l I n v o lv e d in
R e p o r te d I n c i d e n t s
In t h e i n c i d e n t s , more t h a n t h r e e tim e s as many
d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s w e re r e p o r t e d by t e a c h e r s a b o u t boys
t h a n a b o u t g i r l s .
Of t h e 900 i n c i d e n t s , 4 90 , o r 5 4 .4 p e r c e n t , c o n
c e r n e d boys a l o n e ; 158, o r 1 7 .6 p e r c e n t , c o n c e r n e d g i r l s
a l o n e ; and 202, o r 2 2 .4 p e r c e n t , c o n c e r n e d b o t h boys
and g i r l s . In 50 o f t h e i n c i d e n t s ( 5 .6 p e r c e n t o f t h e
t o t a l ) , t h e sex o f t h e p u p i l was n o t i n d i c a t e d .
186
TABLE XXV
DISTRIBUTION OF INCIDENTS REPORTED, BY
TYPE OF SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
Number o f I n c i d e n t s
School
o r g a n i z a t i o n s E f f e c - I n e f - Per c e n t
and g r a d e s t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
J u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
(g r a d e s 7-9 and 7 -1 0 ) 182 91 273 3 0 .3
S e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l
( g r a d e s 1 0-12) 156 70 226 2 5 .1
S e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l
( g r a d e s 7 -1 2 ) 42 23 65 7 .2
S e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
( g r a d e s 9 -1 2 ) 159 90 249 27.7
Not s t a t e d 56 31 87 9 .7
T o ta l 595 305 900 1 0 0 .0
187
Of t h e 490 i n c i d e n t s c o n c e r n i n g b o y s , 308, o r 6 2 .9
p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ; and
182, o r 3 7 .1 p e r c e n t , i n e f f e c t i v e . Of t h e 158 i n c i d e n t s
c o n c e r n i n g g i r l s , 109, o r 6 9 .0 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ; and 4 9 , o r 3 1 .0 p e r c e n t , showed
i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g . Of t h e 202 i n c i d e n t s c o n c e r n i n g
b o t h bo ys and g i r l s , 149, o r 7 3 .9 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c
t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g , and 53, o r 2 6 .7 p e r c e n t ,
i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g . Of t h e 50 i n c i d e n t s in w h ic h t h e
se x o f t h e p u p i l s was n o t i n d i c a t e d , 29 c a s e s , o r 58 p e r
c e n t , w ere h a n d l e d e f f e c t i v e l y by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ; and
21 c a s e s , o r 42 p e r c e n t , w ere h a n d le d i n e f f e c t i v e l y .
T hus, a g r e a t e r p e r c e n t a g e o f e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s i n v o lv e d
p u p i l s o f b o t h s e x e s r a t h e r th a n boys a l o n e o r g i r l s
a l o n e . M o reo v er, a g r e a t e r p e r c e n i a g e o f e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t s i n v o lv e d g i r l s a l o n e t h a n boys a l o n e . T a b le
XXVI shows t h e number o f i n c i d e n t s , b o t h e f f e c t i v e and
i n e f f e c t i v e , a r r a n g e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e se x o f t h e p u p i l
i n v o l v e d in t h e r e p o r t e d i n c i d e n t s .
I I . TYPES OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR
F o r p u r p o s e s o f c o m p a r is o n , k i n d s o f p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r w e re t a b u l a t e d f o r t h e t o t a l s t u d y , t h e n f o r
TABLE XXVI
DISTRIBUTION O F INCIDENTS REPORTED, ACCO R D IN G
T O TH E SEX O F TH E PUPIL IN VO LVED
Number o f in c id e n ts
Sex o f E ffe c In e f Per cen t
p u p ils tiv e f e c tiv e T otal o f t o t a l
Boy 308 182 490 5 4 .4
G irl 109 49 158 17.6
Both 149 53 202 22.4
Not sta te d 29 21 50 5 .6
T otal 595 305 900 100.0
each of the following: Los Angeles high schools, high
schools in California excluding Los Angeles, and high
schools in states other than California,
Kinds of Misbehavior Reported
in Total Study
Misbehaviors in 233 of the to ta l of 900 incidents
could not be c la ssified under the headings set up and 78
other described several types of pupil misbehavior within
each incident, The remaining 589 incidents described one
classified pupil misbehavior in each incident, Table
XXVII is a tabulation of the c r itic a l incidents from
teachers showing pupil misbehaviors, In rank order, the
highest ten pupil misbehaviors reported in the to ta l
study were these: causing disorder or disturbance in a
group, defiance of and disrespect for a teacher, dressing
inappropriately for school, fighting, petty th e ft, ob
scenity or profanity, truancy and cutting of classes,
tardiness, smoking, and throwing l i t t e r in buildings or
on school grounds. Table XXVII shows the number of cases
and rank order of each misbehavior for the to ta l study.
190
TABLE XXVII
INCIDENTS SHOWING PUPIL MISBEHAVIORS,
AS REPORTED BY TEACHERS
Number
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f in~
o f i n c i d e n t s c i d e n t s
I n c i d e n t s w i t h m i s b e h a v i o r s c l a s s i f i e d
u n d e r h e a d i n g s s e t up
I n c i d e n t s w i t h m i s b e h a v i o r s n o t
c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r h e a d i n g s s e t up
I n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g m u l t i p l e o r
s e v e r a l p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n
e a c h i n c i d e n t
T o t a l
589
233
78
900
191
Types o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v io r M e n tio n e d in
I n c i d e n t s R e p o r te d by Los A n g e le s
T e a c h e r s
Of t h e 197 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from Los A n g e le s
h i g h s c h o o l s , 49 c o u l d n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s
s e t up and 19 o t h e r s d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l t y p e s o f p u p i l
m i s b e h a v i o r , m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r r i n g w i t h i n s i n g l e
i n c i d e n t s . The r e m a i n i n g 129 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e o n ly one
c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r in e a c h i n c i d e n t . The m ost
f r e q u e n t l y l i s t e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s in Los A n g e le s a r e
e x a c t l y t h e same a s t h o s e in t h e t o t a l l i s t , b u t t h e
r a n k o r d e r i s d i f f e r e n t . In r a n k o r d e r t h e h i g h e s t t e n
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s l i s t e d in t h e Los A n g e le s C i t y i n c i d e n t s
a r e t h e s e : c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p ,
d e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r , t a r d i n e s s ,
o b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y , sm oking, p e t t y t h e f t , th r o w in g
l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s o r on s c h o o l g r o u n d s , d r e s s i n g i n a p
p r o p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l , f i g h t i n g , and t r u a n c y and c u t t i n g
o f c l a s s e s . T a b le XXVIII shows t h e number o f c a s e s and
t h e r a n k o r d e r o f t h e t e n m ost f r e q u e n t l y m e n tio n e d
m i s b e h a v i o r s r e p o r t e d from Los A n g e le s h i g h s c h o o l s .
152
TABLE XXVIII
PUPIL MISBEHAVIORS REPORTED BY TEACHERS IN CRITICAL INCIDENTS, LISTED IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
Los Angeles
C a l i f o r n i a (e x c lu d
ing Los A ngeles)
C a l if o r n ia ( in c lu d
ing Los Angeles)
S t a t e s o th e r
than C a l if o r n ia
T o ta l
Type o f p u p il Number of Rank Number o f Rank Number of Rank Number of Rank Number o f Rank
m isbehavior i n c id e n t s o r d e r i n c i d e n t s ord er
in c id e n t s order in c id e n t s o rd e r i n c id e n t s o rd e r
Causing d is o r d e r o r d is tu r b a n c e in a group 47 1 151 1 198 1 37 1 235* 1
D efiance o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a te a c h e r 16 2.5 23 2 39 2 4 8 43 2
D ressing i n a p p r o p r ia te ly fo r school 5 5 18 5 23 7 8 2 31 4.5
F ig h tin g 5 5 21 3 25 3,5 5 6 ,5 31 4 ,5
P e tty t h e f t 7 6.5 15 4 26 3,5 5 6,5 31 4 ,5
Use of o b s c e n ity and p r o f a n i ty 8 5 17 7 22 5.5 6 4 31 4 .5
Truancy and c u t t i n g of c l a s s e s 5 5 17 7 22 6 6 4 28 7
T a rdiness 5 4 16 8 25 5,5 2 ■ 27 8
Smoking 7 6,5 13 5 20 9,5 6 4 26 9
Throwing l i t t e r in b u ild in g s or on grounds 5 5 15 10 20 9,5 1 ■ 21 10
D rinking i n t o x ic a n ts 0
-
8 4 9 12
L o ite rin g 1 2.5 2 3 3 10 6
A ssau lt o f te a c h e r 2 ■
10 1 11
F a il u r e to b r in g n e c e ss a ry m a t e r i a l s to c l a s s 2 - 5 7 0 7
Bombs and bomb s c a re s 0 - 5 5 1 6
F orgery
F a il u r e to d re s s fo r P h y sic a l Education
3
0
■ 2
5 1
0
6
6
Using poor t a s t e in b o y - g i r l r e l a t i o n s ; p e t t i n g 3 - 2
5 0 5
Hazing 1 - 3 4 1 5
D estroying m a t e r i a l s and p ro p e rty 1 ■ 3 1 4 1 5
Chewing gum 0
•
3
-
3
1 4
S e t t i n g sm all f i r e s or f a l s e f i r e alarms 0 - 2 •
2 0 2
Gambling; matching coins 1 1 2 0 2
* For one in c id e n t , the g eo g ra p h ic a l lo c a ti o n vas unknown; e lse w h ere , 236 j u n i o r and s e n io r hig h school m isbehaviors o f t h i s type a re mentioned,
193
Types o f P u p i l M i s b e h a v io r R e p o r te d by
T e a c h e r s fro m C a l i f o r n i a S c h o o ls
O u t s i d e Los A n g e le s
Of t h e 540 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from C a l i f o r n i a
c i t i e s ( e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s ) , 136 c o u ld n o t b e c l a s s i f i e d
u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t up and 41 o t h e r s d e s c r i b e s e v e r a l
t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n
t h e i n c i d e n t . The r e m a i n i n g 363 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e o n ly
one c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r in e a c h i n c i d e n t . The
m ost f r e q u e n t l y l i s t e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s in C a l i f o r n i a
( e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e le s ) w ere e x a c t l y t h e same a s t h o s e
b o t h in Los A n g e le s C i t y and on t h e t o t a l l i s t o f 900,
b u t t h e r a n k o r d e r i s d i f f e r e n t . In r a n k o r d e r t h e
h i g h e s t t e n p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s l i s t e d Ln t h e C a l i f o r n i a
i n c i d e n t s ( e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e le s C i t y ) w ere t h e s e :
c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p , d e f i a n c e of
and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r , f i g h t i n g , p e t t y t h e f t ,
d r e s s i n g i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l , o b s c e n i t y and
p r o f a n i t y , t r u a n c y and c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s , t a r d i n e s s ,
th r o w i n g l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s and on s c h o o l g r o u n d s , and
sm oking. T a b le XXVIII shows t h e number o f c a s e s and r a n k
o r d e r o f t h e m i s b e h a v i o r s r e p o r t e d from C a l i f o r n i a h i g h
s c h o o l s ( e x c l u d i n g Los 'Vngeles'* .
194
Types o f P u p i l M is b e h a v io r R e p o rte d
from A l l C a l i f o r n i a S ch o o ls
Of t h e t o t a l o f 737 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from
t e a c h e r s in t h e s t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a - - f r o m Los A n geles
C ity and from a l l o t h e r c i t i e s - - 1 8 5 c o u ld n o t be c l a s s i f i e d
u n d e r th e h e a d i n g s s e t up and 60 o t h e r s d e s c r i b e s e v e r a l
ty p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n
each i n c i d e n t . The r e m a in in g 492 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e
o n ly one c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r in e ach i n c i d e n t .
In r a n k o r d e r th e h i g h e s t te n m i s b e h a v i o r s from t h e t o t a l
C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t s - -Los A n g e les C i t y and o t h e r c i t i e s
in C a l i f o r n i a - - w e r e t h e s e : c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e
in a g ro u p , d e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r ,
f i g h t i n g , p e t t y t h e f t , o b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y , t a r d i n e s s ,
d r e s s i n g i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l , t r u a n c y and c u t t i n g
o f c l a s s e s , th ro w in g l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s o r on s c h o o l
g r o u n d s , and sm oking. T a b le XXVIII shows th e number o f
c a s e s and ra n k o r d e r o f m i s b e h a v i o r s r e p o r t e d from C a l i
f o r n i a h i g h s c h o o l s .
Types o f P u p i l M is b e h a v io r R e p o rte d
from S t a t e s O th e r Than C a l i f o r n i a
Of th e 162 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from c i t i e s in t h e
195
U n ite d S t a t e s ( e x c l u d i n g t h o s e in C a l i f o r n i a ) , 48 c o u ld
n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t up and 18 o t h e r s
d e s c r i b e s e v e r a l t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , m u l t i p l e
m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n t h e i n c i d e n t . The r e m a in i n g 96
i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d one c l a s s i f i e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r in
e a c h i n c i d e n t .
Among t h e h i g h e s t t e n m i s b e h a v i o r s from i n c i d e n t s
r e c e i v e d from s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a , two new ones
a p p e a r , d r i n k i n g and l o i t e r i n g . D r i n k i n g , a l t h o u g h n o t
in t h e to p t e n , was l i s t e d in e i g h t i n c i d e n t s from C a l i
f o r n i a . L o i t e r i n g , a l s o n o t in t h e t o p t e n , was l i s t e d
in one i n c i d e n t from Los A n g e le s and in two i n c i d e n t s from
o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s . Not among t h e h i g h e s t t e n m i s
b e h a v i o r s from s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a a r e t h e s e
w hich a p p e a r on b o t h t h e Los A n g e les C i ty and C a l i f o r n i a
l i s t s ( e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e les C i t y ) : t a r d i n e s s and t h r o w
ing l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s o r on s c h o o l g r o u n d s . T ab le
XXVIII shows t h e number o f c a s e s and r a n k o r d e r o f th e
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s r e p o r t e d from h i g h s c h o o l s in s t a t e s
o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a .
196
A Com parison o f R e f e r r e d P u p i l M is b e h a v io r s
in J u n i o r V ersus S e n i o r High S c h o o ls
The h i g h e s t t e n p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s r e p o r t e d by
t e a c h e r s in t h e 182 j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t s w ere
e x a c t l y t h e same as t h e h i g h e s t te n r e p o r t e d in th e 357
s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t s . Only th e ra n k o r d e r was
d i f f e r e n t . The h i g h e s t t e n j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l m i s
b e h a v i o r s , in o r d e r o f m e n tio n , w e re: c a u s i n g d i s t u r b a n c e
in a g ro u p , d e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r ,
o b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y , p e t t y t h e f t , d r e s s i n g i n a p p r o
p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l , f i g h t i n g , t r u a n c y and c u t t i n g o f
c l a s s e s , sm oking, t a r d i n e s s , and th r o w in g l i t t e r in
b u i l d i n g s and g r o u n d s .
The h i g h e s t two s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l m i s b e h a v i o r s
in o r d e r o f m e n tio n w ere e x a c t l y t h e same as t h e h i g h e s t
two in j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s : c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r o r d i s
t u r b a n c e in a g ro u p and d e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r
a t e a c h e r . The n e x t m i s b e h a v i o r s in s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s
in o r d e r o f m e n tio n w ere sm oking, t a r d i n e s s , d r e s s i n g
i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l , p e t t y t h e f t , t r u a n c y and
c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s , o b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y , th ro w in g
l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s and on g r o u n d s , and f i g h t i n g . T a b le
197
XXIX shows th e p u p il m is b e h a v io r s in j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s
and in s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s l i s t e d in fr e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n .
P l a c e in Scho ol Where M is b e h a v io r
O ccu rre d
In 720, o r 80 p e r c e n t , o f t h e 900 i n c i d e n t s ,
t e a c h e r s l i s t e d t h e p l a c e w here t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
o c c u r r e d . The l a r g e s t num ber, 447 c a s e s o r 4 9 .7 p e r
c e n t , came from t h e r e g u l a r c l a s s r o o m s i t u a t i o n : academ ic
c l a s s e s , i n c l u d i n g E n g l i s h , s o c i a l s t u d i e s , m a t h e m a ti c s ,
s c i e n c e , and f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s ; t h e f i n e a r t s , i n c l u d i n g
a r t and m u sic ; and b u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n . The second h i g h e s t
num ber, 62 c a s e s o r 6 .9 p e r c e n t , was from shop o r home-
m aking c l a s s e s . The t h i r d h i g h e s t number (60 c a s e s ,
o r 6 .7 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l ) was from t h e p l a y g r o u n d .
In a t i e f o r f o u r t h p l a c e (52 c a s e s , o r 5 .8 p e r c e n t o f
t h e t o t a l ) w ere c a s e s from p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n ; and 52
c a s e s , o r 5 .8 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , w ere from th e h a l l s .
Next in o r d e r was t h e s c h o o l a s s e m b ly , w i t h 26 c a s e s , o r
2 .9 p e r c e n t o f t h e L o t a l . The l e a s t number came from
s t u d y h a l l : 21 c a s e s , o r 2 .3 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l .
T a b le XXX shows t h e s c h o o l l o c a t i o n s o f t h e p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r s w i t h t h e p e r c e n t o c c u r r i n g in e a c h l o c a t i o n .
198
TABLE XXIX
PUPIL MISBEHAVIORS REPORTED BY TEACHERS FROM JUNIOR AND SENIOR
HIGH SCHOOLS, LISTED IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
Pupil
m isbehavior
rep o rted
by teachers
Junior
Number
of in
cid en ts
high
Rank
order
Senior
Number
of in
cid en ts
high
Rank
order
Causing d iso rd e r o r d istu rb an ce in group 76 1 139 1
Defiance, d isre s p e c t for a teacher 19 2 20 2
Obscenity and p ro fa n ity 15 3 15 8
P e tty t h e f t 12 4 17 6
Dressing in a p p ro p ria te ly for school 11 5 18 4.5
F ig h tin g 9 6 14 10
Truancy and c u ttin g of c la sse s 6 8.5 17 7
Smoking 5 8.5 20 3
Tardiness 5 8.5 18 4.5
Throwing l i t t e r in b u ild in g s and on grounds 5 8.5 14 9
F a ilu re to brin g m a te ria ls to c la ss 3 11.5 3 18. 5
Chewing gum 3 11.5 1 22.5
A ssault of teacher 2 13.5 9 12
F a ilu re to d ress for Physical Education 2 13.5 3 18.5
Causing bomb scares 1 17 5 14.5
Forging p a r e n t 's name on school forms 1 17 5 14.5
Gambling 1 17 1 22.5
Using poor taBte in b o y -g irl r e la tio n s on
campus; p e ttin g 0 0 4 17
199
TABLE XXIX ( c o n t i n u e d )
PUPIL MISBEHAVIORS REPORTED BY TEACHERS FROM JUNIOR AND SENIOR
HIGH SCHOOLS, LISTED IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
Pupil
m isbehavior
reported
by teachers
Ju n io r high
Number
of in- Rank
c id e n ts order
Senior high
Number
of in- Rank
c id en ts order
S e ttin g small f i r e s or s e tt i n g o ff
f i r e alarm 0 0 2 20.5
Cheating 0 0 2 20.5
Drinking 0 0 11 11
Hazing 0 0 5 14.5
L o iterin g 0 0 5 14.5
2 0 0
TABLE XXX
SCHOOL LOCATION OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIORS
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
P l a c e w here i n c i d e n t E f f e c - I n e f - P er c e n t
o c c u r r e d t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
S tu d y h a l l 16 5 21 2 .3
Shop o r Homemaking
c l a s s 45 17 62 6 .9
P h y s i c a l E d u c a tio n 37 15 52 5.7
C l a s s e s o t h e r th a n
t h o s e l i s t e d 290 157 447 4 9 .6
H a l l 28 24 52 5 .8
P la y g ro u n d 44 16 60 6 .7
Assembly 13 13 26
2.9
Not c l a s s i f i e d h e r e i n 122 58 180 20 .0
T o ta l 595 305 900 1 0 0 .0
2 0 1
Summary
When p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s in one g e o g r a p h ic a i t a
w ere compared w i t h t h o s e in a n o t h e r a r e a , few d i f f e r e n c e s
c o u ld be o b s e r v e d . Of t h e t o p t e n m i s b e h a v i o r s on b o th
t h e Los A n g e les C i ty l i s t and t h e l i s t from o t h e r C a l i
f o r n i a c i t i e s , e i g h t m i s b e h a v i o r s a p p e a re d on t h e l i s t
from s L a te s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a . Two m i s b e h a v i o r s - -
d r i n k i n g i n t o x i c a n t s and l o i t e r i n g - - w e r e among th e to p
te n on th e l i s t o f s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a . D r i n k i n g ,
a l t h o u g h on th e C a l i f o r n i a l i s t , was n o t h i g h ; l o i t e r i n g ,
a l t h o u g h on b o th th e Los A n g e les l i s t and th e l i s t from
o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s , was n o t h i g h . Not among t h e
to p te n m i s b e h a v i o r s from s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a
w ere t h e s e w h ich a p p e a r on b o th t h e Los A n g e les C ity
l i s t and t h e l i s t from o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s : t a r d i n e s s
and th ro w in g l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s and on sc h o o l g ro u n d s .
When p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s
w ere compared t o t h o s e in s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s t h e r e w ere
few d i f f e r e n c e s . The h i g h e s t te n p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
r e p o r t e d by j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s w ere e x a c t l y th e
same a s t h e to p t e n r e p o r t e d by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
t e a c h e r s , b u t t h e r a n k o r d e r in f r e q u e n c y o f m en tio n was
d i f f e r e n t .
2 0 2
I I I . REFERRAL PERSONNEL WHO HANDLED THE CASES
REPORTED IN THE INCIDENTS
T i t l e o f R e f e r r a l P e r s o n n e l
The r e f e r r a l p e r s o n n e l i n c l u d e d c o u n s e l o r s ,
d e a n s , v i c e and a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s , and p r i n c i p a l s . Of
t h e 900 i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d , 75, o r 8 .3 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d
d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s h a n d l e d by c o u n s e l o r s ; 129, o r 1 4 .3 p e r
c e n t , w ere h a n d le d by d e a n s ; 382, o r 4 2 . 4 p e r c e n t , w ere
h a n d le d by v i c e p r i n c i p a l s o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s ; 212,
o r 2 3 .6 p e r c e n t , w e re h a n d le d by p r i n c i p a l s ; and 102, o r
1 1 .3 p e r c e n t , w ere h a n d l e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s n o t named.
The l a r g e r number o f i n c i d e n t s (more t h a n f o u r o u t o f t e n )
w e re h a n d l e d by v i c e p r i n c i p a l s o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s .
Of t h e 75 c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o c o u n s e l o r s , 4 7 , o r
6 2 .7 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ;
28 c a s e s , o r 3 7 .3 p e r c e n t , e x h i b i t e d i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
Of t h e 129 c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o d e a n s , 84, o r 6 5 .1 p e r c e n t ,
showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ; 45 c a s e s , o r
3 4 .9 p e r c e n t , showed i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g . Of t h e 382
c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o v i c e p r i n c i p a l s o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s ,
254, o r 6 6 .5 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
203
h a n d l i n g ; 128 c a s e s , o r 3 3 .5 p e r c e n t , i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d li n g .
Of t h e 212 c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o t h e p r i n c i p a l s , 147, o r
6 9 .3 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ;
65 c a s e s , o r 3 0 .7 p e r c e n t , showed i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
Of t h e 102 c a s e s h a n d l e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s n o t named
h e r e i n , 6 3 , o r 6 1 . 8 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g ;
w h i l e 39, o r 3 8 .2 p e r c e n t , showed i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
T h us, among 900 c a s e s r e p o r t e d , t h e p r i n c i p a l r a n k e d f i r s t
among a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f c a s e s h a n d le d
e f f e c t i v e l y ; t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l s and a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s
r a n k e d s e c o n d ; t h e d e a n s , t h i r d ; t h e c o u n s e l o r s , f o u r t h .
T a b le XXXI shows t h e t i t l e s o f r e f e r r a l p e r s o n n e l and
t h e number o f i n c i d e n t s h a n d le d by e a c h a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
E x te n t o f A d m i n i s t r a t i v e B a ck in g
In t h e 900 i n c i d e n t s , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g o r
s u p p o r t o f th e t e a c h e r was s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n tio n e d in
o n l y 42 o r 4 . 7 p e r c e n t o f c a s e s : 31 i n c i d e n t s , o r 3 .4
p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ;
and 11 i n c i d e n t s , o r 1 .2 p e r c e n t , d e s c r i b e d i n e f f e c t i v e
h a n d l i n g . A lth o u g h n o t m e n tio n e d s p e c i f i c a l l y , a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e b a c k i n g was i n h e r e n t and i m p l i e d in many o f t h e
i n c i d e n t s w h ic h showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
204
TABLE XXXI
TITLES OF REFERRAL PERSONNEL AND NUMBER OF
INCIDENTS IN WHICH THEY WERE INVOLVED
Admin i s t r a t o r
h a n d l i n g c a s e
Number o f i n c i d e n t s
E f f e c - I n e f - P er c e n t
t i v e f e c t i v e T o t a l o f t o t a l
C o u n s e lo r
Dean
V i c e - p r i n c i p a l o r
a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l
P r i n c i p a l
Not C l a s s i f i e d
47
84
254
147
63
28
45
128
65
39
75
129
382
212
102
8 .3
1 4 .3
4 2 .5
2 3 .6
11.3
T o ta l 595 305 900 1 0 0 .0
205
The r e c e i v i n g o f b a c k i n g was s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n tio n e d in 31
e f f e c t i v e l y h a n d le d i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s : c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in
a g r o u p , t h r o w in g l i t t e r i n b u i l d i n g s o r on s c h o o l g r o u n d s ,
t a r d i n e s s , p e t t y t h e f t , a s s a u l t , l o i t e r i n g , t r u a n c y ,
d e s t r o y i n g s c h o o l m a t e r i a l s o r p r o p e r t y , d e f i a n c e o f and
d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r , f a i l u r e t o d r e s s f o r P h y s i c a l
E d u c a t i o n , and o b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y .
B a c k in g was m e n t i o n e d a l s o in t h e s e e f f e c t i v e l y
h a n d l e d i n c i d e n t s : t h r e e t h a t d e s c r i b e s e v e r a l t y p e s o f
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s , m u l t i p l e m i s b e h a v i o r s w i t h i n e a c h
i n c i d e n t ; and f i v e o t h e r e f f e c t i v e l y h a n d l e d c a s e s t h a t
a r e n o t c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r h e a d i n g s s e t
up h e r e i n . T a b le XXXII shows t h e number o f i n c i d e n t s
t h a t s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n tio n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g , a lo n g
w i t h t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s o f e a c h i n c i d e n t .
F a i l u r e t o r e c e i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g was
s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n tio n e d in f i v e i n e f f e c t i v e l y h a n d le d
i n c i d e n t s , i n v o l v i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s :
c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p , d e f i a n c e o f
and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r , d r i n k i n g , p e t t y t h e f t , and
t r u a n c y . F a i l u r e t o r e c e i v e b a c k i n g was a l s o s p e c i f i c a l l y
206
TABLE XXXI1
EFFECTIVE INCIDENTS MAKING SPECIFIC MENTION
OF ADMINISTRATIVE BACKING
Type o f p u p i l Number o i
m i s b e h a v i o r _____________________________________________i n c i d e n t s
C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e i n a g roup 10
T hrow ing l i t t e r i n b u i l d i n g s o r on th e
s c h o o l g ro u n d s 2
T a r d i n e s s 2
P e t t y t h e f t 2
A s s a u l t
L o i t e r i n g
T ru an c y
V a n d a lism
D e f ia n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r t h e t e a c h e r
Not d r e s s i n g f o r P h y s i c a l E d u c a tio n
O b s c e n it y o r p r o f a n i t y
Not c l a s s i f i e d , i n c l u d i n g m u l t i p l e 8
207
m e n tio n e d in f i v e i n c i d e n t s in w h ic h t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
w e re n o t c l a s s i f i e d f o r t h i s s t u d y and in one i n c i d e n t
t h a t d e s c r i b e s s e v e r a l p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s in t h e one
i n c i d e n t .
IV. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES USED IN
HANDLING PUPIL MISBEHAVIORS
Of t h e t o t a l o f 900 i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d , 595, o r
6 6 . 1 p e r c e n t , showed e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g ,
w h i l e 305, o r 3 3 .9 p e r c e n t , showed i n e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g .
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s Used
in E f f e c t i v e I n c i d e n t s
Among t h e 595 i n c i d e n t s show ing e f f e c t i v e p r o
c e d u r e s in p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , 416 r e l a t e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s t h a t h a v e been c l a s s i f i e d in t h i s s t u d y ; 87
r e l a t e d p r o c e d u r e s t h a t c o u l d n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e
h e a d i n g s s e t up ; and 92 showed t h a t in e a c h t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r u s e d many p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s in t r y i n g t o
h a n d l e a g i v e n r e f e r r a l . T a b l e XXXIII shows a summary
o f t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s from
t e a c h e r s . In o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s ,
t h e h i g h e s t t e n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w ere
208
TABLE X X X III
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS SHOWING EFFECTIVE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, AS
REPORTED BY REFERRING TEACHERS
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n Number o f
o f i n c i d e n t s i n c i d e n t s
I n c i d e n t s i n w hich p r o c e d u r e s were
c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r h e a d i n g s s e t up 416
I n c i d e n t s i n w hich p r o c e d u r e s were
n o t c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r h e a d i n g s s e t up 87
I n c i d e n t s i n w hich m u l t i p l e p o l i c i e s
were r e p o r t e d w i t h i n a s i n g l e i n c i d e n t 92
T o t a l 595
209
t h e s e : h ad g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l ; s u s p e n d e d
p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e ; had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h
p a r e n t s ; ch an g e d p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g t h e
t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ; w it h d r e w p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r ; c o n t a c t e d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r o r
home v i s i t ; c o u n s e l e d a g r o u p o f p u p i l s ; had c o n f e r e n c e
w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , and t e a c h e r ; e x p e l l e d - - d r o p p e d from
s c h o o l ; a r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y and p r o m p t l y .
E f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s a r e l i s t e d in T a b le
XXXIV in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n .
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s Used
in I n e f f e c t i v e I n c i d e n t s
Among t h e 305 i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , 249 d e s c r i b e d
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s t h a t had b een c l a s s i f i e d in t h i s
s t u d y ; 50 c o u ld n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t
up; and s i x d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l t y p e s o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s . T a b le XXXV shows a summary o f t h e c l a s s i f i c a
t i o n o f t h e i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s from t e a c h e r s .
In o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s , t h e
h i g h e s t n i n e i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w e re :
d id n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t e a c h e r k no w s- - f a i l e d t o n o t i f y
t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n ; o n l y t a l k e d t o p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d
TABLE XXXIV
2 1 0
EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES USED, LISTED
IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION BY TEACHERS
A d m inistrative Number of
procedures in c id e n ts
Had guidance conference w ith p u p il 74
Suspended pu p il and req u ired paren t conference 64
Had conference with p aren ts 43
Changed p u p i l ’s program a f t e r co n su ltin g teach ers involved 37
Withdrew p r iv ile g e s re la te d to the m isbehavior 35
Contacted p aren ts by telephone, l e t t e r or home v i s i t 25
Counseled a group of p u p ils 17
Had conference w ith p u p il, parent and teach er 15
Expelled p u p il; dropped from school 13
Arranged for pup il to apologize e a s ily and promptly 12
Had conference w ith pupil and tea c h e r 12
Assigned s u ita b le before or a f t e r school d ete n tio n 11
Made r u le s , re g u la tio n s and p e n a ltie s c le a r to pupil
through o ra l and w r itte n communication 11
Referred pu p il to o u tsid e -o f-s c h o o l agencies 10
Had pup il make r e s t i t u t i o n or re p a ra tio n 9
Used p hysical punishment in privacy of o f fic e 8
Rewarded pupil 7
Assigned pu p il to "cooling o f f" period in o f f ic e 6
Lengthened school day 3
Gave dem erits 2
T ran sferred pupil to another school for adjustment 2
Total 416
2 1 1
TABLE XXXV
NUMBER OF INCIDENTS SHOWING INEFFECTIVE
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
AS REPORTED BY REFERRING TEACHERS
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n Number o f
o f i n c i d e n t s i n c i d e n t s
I n c i d e n t s i n w h ic h p r o c e d u r e s w ere
c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r h e a d i n g s s e t up 234
I n c i d e n t s i n w h ic h p r o c e d u r e s w ere
n o t c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r h e a d i n g s s e t up 63
I n c i d e n t s i n w h ic h m u l t i p l e p o l i c i e s
w ere r e p o r t e d w i t h i n a s i n g l e i n c i
d e n t 6
T o t a l 305
2 1 2
o r warned p u p i l ; changed p u p i l ' s program w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s in v o lv e d ; suspended p u p i l f o r a few d ay s;
dropped c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l lo w th r o u g h and work w i t h
p u p i l ; re p rim a n d e d a w hole group f o r t h e m is b e h a v io r of
a few p u p i l s ; a s s i g n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f b e f o r e o r a f t e r
sc h o o l d e t e n t i o n ; w ith d re w p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o th e
m is b e h a v io r ; r e q u i r e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e . I n e f
f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s a r e l i s t e d in T able
XXXVI in o r d e r o f fre q u e n c y o f m en tio n by t e a c h e r s .
A n a l y s i s o f E f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e
P r o c e d u r e s , A cco rd in g t o G eographic
A reas
The e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u sed in
h a n d l i n g th e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d from th e f o l lo w in g
g e o g ra p h ic a r e a s were compared: (1) Los A n g e le s, (2)
C a l i f o r n i a , e x c l u d in g Los A n g e le s, (3) C a l i f o r n i a , i n c l u d
ing Los A n g e le s, and (4) s t a t e s oLher th an C a l i f o r n i a .
(For one e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t , as r e p o r t e d e a r l i e r , t h e
g e o g ra p h ic l o c a t i o n i s unknown.) In T ab le XXXVII a r e
p r e s e n t e d th e e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d
from each o f t h e s e g e o g ra p h ic a r e a s .
From Los A n g e le s, 125 c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g
213
TABLE XXXVI
INEFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES USED, LISTED
IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION BY TEACHERS
Adm inistrative Number of
procedures incidents
Did nothing, as fa r as teacher knows; f a ile d to
n o tify teacher of any a ctio n 123
Merely talked to p u p il; admonished or warned pupil 24
Changed p u p i l 's program without co nsulting teachers
involved 18
Suspended pupil for a few days 14
Dropped case; fa ile d to follow through and work with
pup i 1 13
Reprimanded a whole group for the misbehavior of a
few pupils 8
Assigned b r ie f periods of before or a f t e r school detention 7
Withdrew p riv ile g e s not re la te d to the misbehavior 6
Required or forced pupil to apologize 5
Used physical punishment in the presence of other pupils 4
Returned pupil to c la ss during the same class period
when re fe rre d , having detained him for only a short
time 4
Acceded to wishes or th re a ts of parents 4
Threatened pupil 4
T o ta l 234
TABLE XXXVII
2 1 4
A R A N K O R D E R C O M PA R ISO N , A C C O R D IN G TO G E O G R A PH IC A REAS, O F INEFFECTIVE AD M IN ISTRA TIV E
P R O C E D U R E S U S E D IN PUPIL DISCIPLINE CASES, A S R E PO R T E D B Y T E A C H E R S
C alifornia (exclud- C alifornia (in* States other
Los Angeles log Los Angeles) eluding Los Angeles) than C alifornia
E ffective
procedures
Num be
incid
of Rank Number of Rank Number of Rank Number of Rank
n ts order incidents order incidents order incidents order
Had guidance conference with pupil
Suspended pupil and required parent conference
Withdrew p rivileges related to the misbehavior
Arranged for pupil to apologize easily and promptly
Changed p u p il's program a fte r consulting with the teachers involved
Had conference with parents
Used physical punishment in the privacy of the o ffice
Assigned before or a fte r school detention of appropriate length
Counseled a group of pupils
Expelled the pupil; dropped from school
Transferred the pupil to another school for adjustment
Had conference with p u p il, parent and teachers
Made ru les, regulations and penalties c le ar by oral and w ritten communication
Had conference with pupil and teacher
Referred pupil to outside-of-school agencies
Contacted parents by telephone, le tte r or home v is it
Had pupil make reparation or re stitu tio n
Lengthened school day
Rewarded pupil
Gave pupil demerits
Assigned pupil to s i t in o ffice for "cooling o f f 1 period
1
2
3
4.5
4.5
6
8.5
8.5
8.5
10+
10+
10+
10+
48
46
20
3
1
1
4
3
10
3.5
3.5
64
58
27
U
30
34
6
10
14
7
2
15
7
1
8 9
10
6
1
10
6
8.5
8.5
215
e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w e re r e c e i v e d , 30 o f
w h ic h d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n
e a c h i n c i d e n t ; and 23 o f w hich d e s c r i b e d p r o c e d u r e s t h a t
w ere n o t c l a s s i f i e d in t h i s s t u d y . Each o f t h e r e m a in i n g
72 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d one e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o
c e d u r e . The t e n h i g h e s t - r a n k e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s , in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by Los
A n g e le s t e a c h e r s , w e re :
1. Had g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e p u p i l .
2. Suspended p u p i l and r e q u i r e d parent, c o n f e r e n c e .
3. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r .
4 . A rra n g e d f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y
and p r o m p tl y .
5. Changed p u p i l ' s p ro gram a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
6. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
7. Used p h y s i c a l p u n ish m e n t in t h e p r i v a c y o f
t h e o f f i c e .
8. A s s ig n e d b e f o r e o r a f t e r s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n
o f a d e q u a t e l e n g t h .
9. C o u n se le d a g r o u p o f p u p i l s .
From C a l i f o r n i a , e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s , 364
216
c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s w ere r e c e i v e d , 52 o f w hich d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n each i n c i d e n t , and 44
o f w h ich m e n tio n e d p r o c e d u r e s t h a t w ere n o t c l a s s i f i e d
in t h i s s t u d y . Each o f t h e r e m a in in g 268 i n c i d e n t s
d e s c r i b e d one e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e . The
te n h i g h e s t - r a n k e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s ,
in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m en tio n by C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r s ,
w e r e :
1. Had g u id a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l .
2. Suspended p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e .
3. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
4. Changed p u p i l ' s program a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
5. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t i n g to th e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
6. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , and
t e a c h e r .
7. C o u n seled a g ro u p o f p u p i l s .
8. A ssig n ed b e f o r e o r a f t e r s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n
o f a d e q u a te l e n g t h .
9. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l and t e a c h e r .
10. R e f e r r e d p u p i l t o o u t s i d e - o f - s c h o o l a g e n c i e s .
217
From t h e e n t i r e s t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a , i n c l u d i n g Los
A n g e l e s , 489 c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g e f f e c t i v e a d m in
i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w ere r e c e i v e d , 82 o f w h ich d e s c r i b e d
s e v e r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n e a c h i n c i d e n t ,
and 77 o f w h ic h m e n tio n e d p r o c e d u r e s t h a t w ere n o t c l a s s i
f i e d in t h i s s t u d y . Each o f t h e r e m a in i n g 340 i n c i d e n t s
d e s c r i b e d one e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e . The
t e n h i g h e s t - r a n k e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s ,
in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r s
( i n c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s ) , w e re:
1. Had g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l .
2. Suspended p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e .
3. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
4 . Changed p u p i l ' s prog ram a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
3. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d t o th e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
6. C o n t a c te d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r , o r
home v i s i t .
7. Had c o n f e r e n c e wiLh p u p i l , p a r e n t , and
t e a c h e r .
8. C o u n se le d a g ro u p o f p u p i l s .
9. A rra n g e d f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y and
218
q u i c k l y .
10. A s s ig n e d b e f o r e o r a f t e r s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n
o f a d e q u a t e l e n g t h .
From s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a , 105 i n c i d e n t s
w e re r e p o r t e d o f e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s .
Ten d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n
e a c h i n c i d e n t , and 20 d e s c r i b e d p r o c e d u r e s t h a t w e re n o t
c l a s s i f i e d in t h i s s t u d y . Each o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 75
d e s c r i b e d one e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e . The
n i n e h i g h e s t - r a n k e d e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s ,
in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s in s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , w e re :
1. Had g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e p u p i l .
2. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
3. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
4. Changed p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
5. Suspended p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e .
6. E x p e l l e d - -d ro p p e d from s c h o o l .
7. C o n t a c te d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r , o r
home v i s i t .
8. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l and t e a c h e r .
219
9. Made r u l e s , r e g u l a t i o n s , and p e n a l t i e s
c l e a r t h r o u g h o r a l and w r i t t e n co m m u n icatio n .
When e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d
by t e a c h e r s w ere com pared a c c o r d i n g t o g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s ,
few d i f f e r e n c e s w ere n o t e d .
S ix p r o c e d u r e s a p p e a re d among t h e h i g h e s t t e n in
f r e q u e n c y o f m en tio n by t e a c h e r s in a l l f o u r g e o g r a p h ic
a r e a s : (1) had g u id a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l ; (2) s u s
pended p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e ; (3) w ith d re w
p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r ; (4) changed p u p i l ' s
program a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s in v o lv e d ; (5) had
c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s ; and (6) c o u n s e l e d a g ro u p o f
p u p i l s . The two h i g h e s t - r a n k e d p r o c e d u r e s , in o r d e r of
f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s , w ere e x a c t l y t h e same
in a l l g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s : (1) had g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e
w i t h p u p i l , and (2) su sp en d e d p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t
c o n f e r e n c e . One e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e h ig h
on t h e C a l i f o r n i a l i s t s ("had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l ,
p a r e n t , and t e a c h e r " ) was n o t m e n tio n e d in any i n c i d e n t
r e p o r t e d from a s t a t e o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a . A ll o t h e r
e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s h i g h on t h e Los
A n g e le s and C a l i f o r n i a l i s t s , w ere r e p o r t e d a t l e a s t
2 2 0
once in c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s s u b m i t t e d by s t a t e s o t h e r
th a n C a l i f o r n i a .
A C om parison o f I n e f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e
P r o c e d u r e s , by G e o g ra p h ic A re a s
The i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d
in c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s from t h e f o l l o w i n g g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s
w ere com pared : Los A n g e l e s , C a l i f o r n i a e x c l u d i n g Los
A n g e l e s , C a l i f o r n i a i n c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s , and s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . The r e s u l t s o f t h e a n a l y s i s o f
t h e d a t a a r e p r e s e n t e d in T a b le XXXVIII, show ing t h e
number o f c l a s s i f i e d i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s a r r a n g e d by
g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s .
From Los A n g e l e s , 72 c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g
i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w ere r e c e i v e d . One
o f Lhese d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , and 14 m e n tio n e d i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
t h a t d id n o t f a l l w i t h i n c a t e g o r i e s e s t a b l i s h e d in t h i s
s t u d y . Each o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 57 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d one
i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e . In o r d e r o f f r e
qu en cy o f m e n tio n by Los A n g e le s t e a c h e r s , t h e s e w e re :
1. Did n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t e a c h e r k no w s- - f a i l e d
t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n .
221
TABLE O T I I U
A R A N K O R D E R C O M P A R IS O N , A C C O R D IN G T O G E O G R A P H IC A R E A S , O F
IN E FFE C T IV E A D M IN IS T R A T IV E P R O C E D U R E S U S E D IN PUPIL
DISCIPLINE C A SE S, A S R E P O R T E D B V T E A C H E R S
California (exclud- California (includ- States, other
T ^ Los Angeles ing toe Angeles) ing Los Angeles) than California
Ineffective . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
procedures
Num ber of
Incidents
Rank
order
Number of
incidents
Rank
order
Number of
incidents
Rank
order
Num ber oi
incidents
Rank
order
Did nothing, as far as teacher knows; failed to notify teacher of any action 30 1 77 1 107 1 16 I
Merely talked to the pupil; admonished or warned the pupil 7 2 13 2 20 2 4 3,5
Changed pupil's program without consulting the teachers involved 2 5,5 12 3 14 3 4 3.5
Suspended pupil for a few days 2 5.5 10 4 1 2 4 2 6,5
Dropped the case; failed to follow through and wotk with the pupil 4 3 4 1 8 5 5
Reprimanded a whole group for the misbehavior of a few pupils
• 1 5 1 8 1 8.5
Assigned brief periods of before or after school detention 2 5,5 2 8,5 4 9,5 3 5
Withdrew privileges which were not related to the misbehavior 1 10,5 5 8 5 7 0 i
Required or forced the pupil to apologize 3 4 2 8,5 5 8 0
Used physical punishment in the presence of other pupils 1 10,5 1 1 2 2 13 2 6,5
Returned pupil to class during the same class period, having detained
him for a short time 2 5,5 2 7,5 4 9,5 0
Acceded to the wishes or threats of parents 2 5,5 2 8.5 4 9,5 0
Threatened the pupil 1 10,5 2 8.5 3 12 1 8,5
2 2 2
2. M e rely t a l k e d t o t h e p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r
w arn ed t h e p u p i l .
3. D ropped c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h and
work w i t h p u p i l .
4 . R e q u ir e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e .
5. Changed p u p i l ’ s p ro g ra m w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
6. Suspended p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
7. A s s ig n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f b e f o r e o r a f t e r
s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n .
8. R e tu r n e d p u p i l t o c l a s s t h e same c l a s s p e r i o d ,
h a v i n g d e t a i n e d p u p i l f o r a s h o r t tim e .
9. A cceded t o w i s h e s o r t h r e a t s o f p a r e n t s .
10. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
11. Used p h y s i c a l p u n ish m e n t in t h e p r e s e n c e
o f o t h e r p u p i l s .
12. T h r e a te n e d p u p i l .
From C a l i f o r n i a e x c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s , 176 c r i t i c a l
i n c i d e n t s w h ic h d e l i n e a t e d i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s w e re r e c e i v e d . In e a c h o f f o u r i n c i d e n t s ,
more t h a n one i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e was
223
d e s c r i b e d , and in 33, i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w h ic h d id
n o t f a l l w i t h i n c a t e g o r i e s e s t a b l i s h e d in t h i s s t u d y w e re
r e p o r t e d . Each o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 139 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d
one c l a s s i f i a b l e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e . T hese i n e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n
by C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r s ( e x c l u d i n g t h o s e in Los A n g e l e s ) ,
w ere a s f o l l o w s :
1. Did n o t h i n g a s f a r as t h e t e a c h e r s know --
f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r s o f any a c t i o n .
2. M erely t a l k e d t o t h e p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r
warned t h e p u p i l .
3. Changed t h e p u p i l ' s p ro g ram w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
4 . Suspended t h e p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
5. R eprim anded a w h ole g r o u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r
o f a f ew pu p i 1 s .
6. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
7. Dropped c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h and
work w i t h t h e p u p i l .
8. A s s ig n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e
o r a f t e r s c h o o l .
9. R e q u ire d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e .
2 2 4
10. R e tu rn e d p u p i l t o c l a s s th e same c l a s s p e r i o d ,
h a v in g d e t a i n e d p u p i l f o r a s h o r t tim e .
11. Acceded t o t h e w is h e s o r t h r e a t s o f p a r e n t s .
12. T h r e a te n e d p u p i l .
13. Used p h y s i c a l p u n ish m en t in th e p r e s e n c e
o f o t h e r p u p i l s .
From C a l i f o r n i a i n c l u d i n g Los A n g e le s , 248 i n c i
d e n t s r e p o r t i n g i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s were
r e c e i v e d . F i v e d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n e ach i n c i d e n t ; and 47 d e s c r i b e d p r o
c e d u r e s t h a t w ere n o t c l a s s i f i e d in t h i s s t u d y . Each o f
th e r e m a in in g 196 i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d one i n e f f e c t i v e
p r o c e d u r e . These i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s ,
in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y of m e n tio n by C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r s
( i n c l u d i n g t h o s e in Los A n g e l e s ) , w ere a s f o l l o w s :
1. Did n o t h i n g as f a r as t h e t e a c h e r know s--
f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t h e t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n .
2. M erely t a l k e d t o th e p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r
w arned t h e p u p i l .
3. Changed p u p i l ' s program w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o lv e d .
4. Suspended t h e p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
225
5. Dropped c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h and
work w i t h t h e p u p i l .
6. R eprim anded a w h ole g ro u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r
o f a few p u p i l s .
7. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
8. R e q u ire d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e .
9. A s s ig n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e
o r a f t e r s c h o o l .
10. R e tu rn e d p u p i l t o c l a s s th e same c l a s s p e r i o d ,
h a v in g d e t a i n e d p u p i l f o r a s h o r t t i m e .
11. A cceded t o t h e w i s h e s o r t h e t h r e a t s o f
p a r e n t s .
12. T h r e a te n e d p u p i l , and u s e d p h y s i c a l p u n ish m en t
in t h e p r e s e n c e o f o t h e r p u p i l s .
From s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a , 57 c r i t i c a l
i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
w ere r e c e i v e d . One d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t p r o c e d u r e s ,
and 18 m e n tio n e d p r o c e d u r e s t h a t w ere n o t c l a s s i f i e d in
t h i s s t u d y . Each o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 38 d e s c r i b e d one
i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e . These i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s , in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s
226
in s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , w ere a s f o l l o w s :
1. Did n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t e a c h e r know s- - f a i l e d
t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n .
2. Dropped t h e c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h
and work w i t h t h e p u p i l .
3. M erely t a l k e d t o p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r
w arned p u p i l .
A. Changed p u p i l ' s program w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o lv e d .
5. A ssig n ed b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e
o r a f t e r s c h o o l .
6. Suspended p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
7. Used p h y s i c a l p un ish m en t in t h e p r e s e n c e
o f o t h e r p u p i l s .
8. Reprimanded a w hole g ro u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r
o f a few p u p i l s .
9. T h r e a te n e d p u p i l .
When t h e i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
r e p o r t e d by t e a c h e r s w ere compared a c c o r d i n g t o g e o g r a p h i c
a r e a s , few d i f f e r e n c e s w ere n o t e d . The i n e f f e c t i v e p r o
c e d u r e r e p o r t e d most o f t e n from a l l a r e a s was: "Did
n o t h i n g as f a r as t h e t e a c h e r k n o w s - - f a i l e d t o n o t i f y
227
t h e t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n . " One i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e - -
"M e re ly t a l k e d t o t h e p u p i l " - - w a s se co n d among most
i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d from t h r e e o f t h e f o u r
g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s (Los A n g e le s ; C a l i f o r n i a e x c l u d i n g Los
A n g e l e s ; and C a l i f o r n i a i n c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s ) ; and i t
t i e d f o r t h i r d p l a c e among i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d
from s t a t e s oL her t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . One p r o c e d u r e - -
"Changed p u p i l ' s p ro g ram w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s
i n v o l v e d " - - w a s among t h e t o p f i v e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
m e n tio n e d from a l l g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s . One i n e f f e c t i v e
p r o c e d u r e - - " D r o p p e d t h e c a s e ; f a i l e d t o f o l l o w th r o u g h
and w ork w i t h t h e p u p i l " - - w a s in t h i r d p l a c e among Los
A n g e le s r e p o r t s and in se co n d p l a c e among r e p o r t s from
s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a ; and i t was m e n tio n e d in
i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d from C a l i f o r n i a . The f o l l o w i n g f o u r
i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w ere n o t m e n tio n e d among i n c i d e n t s
r e p o r t e d from s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a : (1) w ith d r e w
p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r , (2) r e q u i r e d
o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e , (3) r e t u r n e d t h e p u p i l t o
c l a s s t h e same c l a s s p e r i o d , h a v in g d e t a i n e d him f o r a
s h o r t t i m e , and (4) a c c e d e d t o t h e w i s h e s o r t h r e a t s
o f p a r e n t s .
228
A n a l y s i s o f E f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e
P r o c e d u r e s in J u n i o r V ersus S e n io r
High S c h o o ls
I t was d e s i r e d t o a s c e r t a i n t h r o u g h a n a l y s i s o f
t h e d a t a w h e th e r t h e r e w ere o b s e r v a b l e d i f f e r e n c e s in
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ' e f f e c t i v e h a n d l i n g o f d i s c i p l i n e
r e f e r r a l s when d a t a from j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s and s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l s w ere com pared. Among 182 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s
r e c e i v e d from j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s , 31 c o u ld n o t be
c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t up, and 31 d e s c r i b e d
s e v e r a l ty p e s o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , m u l t i p l e
p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n e ach i n c i d e n t . Each o f t h e r e m a in in g
124 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from j u n io r h i g h s c h o o l s
d e s c r i b e d one c l a s s i f i a b l e e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e . In ra n k
o r d e r , th e t e n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s l i s t e d most f r e
q u e n t l y a s e f f e c t i v e ways o f h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w ere:
1. Had g u id a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h th e p u p i l .
2. Suspended p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e .
3. C o n ta c te d p a r e n t by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r , o r
home v i s i t .
4. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d t o th e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
229
5. Changed p u p i l ' s p ro g ram a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
6. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
7. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , and
t e a c h e r .
8. A rra n g e d f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y
and p r o m p tl y .
9. Used p h y s i c a l p u n ish m e n t i n p r i v a c y o f
t h e o f f i c e .
10. R e f e r r e d p u p i l t o o u t s i d e - o f - s c h o o l a g e n c i e s .
E f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s
a r e l i s t e d in T a b le XXXIX in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n
by t e a c h e r s .
Among 357 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s , 48 c o u ld n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r
h e a d i n g s s e t up f o r t h e s t u d y , and 57 d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l
d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e o r m u l t i p l e
p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n e a c h i n c i d e n t . Each o f t h e r e m a in i n g
252 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s from s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s d e s c r i b e d
one c l a s s i f i e d p r o c e d u r e . In r a n k o r d e r , t h e t e n a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s l i s t e d m ost f r e q u e n t l y a s e f f e c t i v e
ways o f h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s in s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s w e re :
230
TABLE XXXIX
EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES REPORTED
BY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, IN RANK
ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
Rank E f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e Number o f
o r d e r u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n c i d e n t s
1 Had g u id a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l 24
2 S u spen ded p u p i l a n d r e q u i r e d p a r e n t
c o n f e r e n c e 14
3 .5 C o n t a c t e d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r ,
o r home v i s i t 11
3 .5 W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d t o m i s b e h a v i o r 11
5 . 5 Changed p u p i l ' s p rog ram a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d 10
5 .5 Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s 10
7 Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , and
t e a c h e r 6
8 .5 A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y
and p r o m p tly 5
8 . 5 Used p h y s i c a l p u n ish m e n t i n t h e p r i v a c y
o f t h e o f f i c e 5
10 R e f e r r e d p u p i l t o o u t s i d e - o f - s c h o o l a g e n c i e s 4
231
1. Suspended p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e .
2. Had g u id a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l .
3. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
4 . Changed p u p i l ’ s pro gram a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
5. W ithdrew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
6. C o n ta c te d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r , o r
home v i s i t .
7. C o u n seled a g ro u p o f p u p i l s .
8. E x p e l l e d - - d r o p p e d from s c h o o l .
9. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l and t e a c h e r .
10. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , t e a c h e r .
In T a b le XL a r e l i s t e d t h e e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o
c e d u r e s in s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s , in t h e o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y
o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s .
T hree p r o c e d u r e s l i s t e d among t h e t e n e f f e c t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s most f r e q u e n t l y m e n tio n e d by j u n i o r h ig h sc h o o l
t e a c h e r s d id n o t a p p e a r among t h o s e r e p o r t e d by s e n i o r
h ig h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s . They w e re : (1) a r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l
t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y and p r o m p tly ; (2) u se d p h y s i c a l
p u n ish m en t in p r i v a c y o f t h e o f f i c e ; and (3) r e f e r r e d
232
TABLE XL
EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES REPORTED
BY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, IN RANK
ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
Rank E f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e Number o f
o r d e r by a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n c i d e n t s
1 S u sp en d e d p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t
c o n f e r e n c e 43
2 Had g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l 41
3 Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s 29
4 Changed p u p i l ' s p ro g ram a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
w i t h t e a c h e r 25
5 W ith d rew p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d t o m i s b e h a v i o r 18
6 C o n t a c t e d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r ,
o r home v i s i t 12
7 C o u n s e le d a g ro u p o f p u p i l s 11
8 E x p e l l e d ; d ro p p e d from s c h o o l 10
9 . 5 Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l and t e a c h e r 8
9 . 5 Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , and
t e a c h e r 8
233
p u p i l t o o u t s i d e - o f - s c h o o l a g e n c i e s .
T h re e p r o c e d u r e s l i s t e d among t h e t e n m ost f r e
q u e n t l y m e n tio n e d by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s d i d n o t
a p p e a r among t h o s e r e p o r t e d by j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s .
They w e re : (1) c o u n s e l e d a w h o le g r o u p ; (2) e x p e l l e d - -
d ro p p e d from s c h o o l ; and (3) h a d c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l
and t e a c h e r .
Seven e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s a p p e a r e d among t h e t e n
m ost e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d by b o t h j u n i o r and
s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s . They w e re : (1) had g u i d a n c e
c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l ; (2) s u s p e n d e d p u p i l and r e q u i r e d
p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e ; (3) c o n t a c t e d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e ,
l e t t e r , o r home v i s i t ; (4) w it h d r e w p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t e d
t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r ; (5) c h ang ed p u p i l ' s p ro gram a f t e r
c o n s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ; (6) had c o n f e r e n c e
w i t h p a r e n t s ; and (7) had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , t e a c h e r ,
and p a r e n t .
A C om parison o f I n e f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e
P r o c e d u r e s Used in J u n i o r and in
S e n i o r High S c h o o ls
A s i m i l a r c o m p a ris o n was made b e tw ee n i n e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s and
234
t h o s e r e p o r t e d from s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s . Among 91 i n e f
f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
t e a c h e r s , 17 c o u l d n o t be c l a s s i f i e d u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s
s e t u p , and 2 d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f a d m in
i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e , m u l t i p l e p r o c e d u r e s b e in g r e c o u n t e d
w i t h i n b o t h i n c i d e n t s . Each o f t h e r e m a in i n g 62 i n e f f e c
t i v e i n c i d e n t s from j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s d e s c r i b e d o n ly
one c l a s s i f i e d p r o c e d u r e . In r a n k o r d e r , t h e n i n e l e a s t
e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s l i s t e d in t h e s e
i n c i d e n t s d e s c r i b e d by j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s w e re :
1. F a i l e d t o r e p o r t b a c k t o t e a c h e r - - d i d
n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t e a c h e r knows.
2. M e rely t a l k e d t o t h e p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r
w a rn ed t h e p u p i l .
3. A s s ig n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e
o r a f t e r s c h o o l .
4 . Dropped c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h
and work w i t h p u p i l .
5. S u spended p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
6. R e tu r n e d p u p i l t o c l a s s t h e same c l a s s
p e r i o d r e f e r r e d , h a v i n g d e t a i n e d p u p i l
s h o r t t i m e .
235
7. Used p h y s i c a l p u n ish m e n t i n t h e p r e s e n c e
o f o t h e r p u p i l s .
8. R eprim anded a w h o le g r o u p .
9. T h r e a t e n e d p u p i l .
T a b le XLI shows t h e t e n m ost i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u se d
in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , l i s t e d in o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y
o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s .
Among 183 i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d from
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s , 31 c o u l d n o t be c l a s s i f i e d
u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g s s e t u p , and 2 d e s c r i b e d s e v e r a l t y p e s
o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , m u l t i p l e p r o c e d u r e s w i t h i n
e a c h i n c i d e n t . Each o f t h e r e m a i n i n g 150 i n e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s
d e s c r i b e d o n l y one c l a s s i f i e d p r o c e d u r e . In r a n k o r d e r ,
t h e t e n l e a s t e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d
by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s w ere:
1. F a i l e d t o r e p o r t b ack t o t e a c h e r - - d i d
n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t e a c h e r knows.
2. M erely t a l k e d t o t h e p u p i l - -ad m o n ish ed o r
w arned t h e p u p i l .
3. Changed p u p i l ' s program w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
4 . Suspended p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
236
TABLE XLI
INEFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES REPORTED
BY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, IN RANK
ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
Rank
o r d e r
I n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e
u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r
Number o f
i n c i d e n t s
1 Did n o t h i n g , a s f a r a s t e a c h e r knows;
f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n 30
2 M erely t a l k e d t o p u p i l ; ad m o n ish ed o r
w arned p u p i l 8
3 Changed p u p i l ' s p ro gram w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t e a c h e r s i n v o lv e d 6
4 .5 A s s ig n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f b e f o r e o r a f t e r
s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n 4
4 .5 Dropped c a s e ; f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h o r
t o work w i t h p u p i l 4
4 .5 S uspended p u p i l f o r a few days 4
7 R e tu r n e d p u p i l to c l a s s t h e same p e r i o d o f
r e f e r r a l , h a v in g d e t a i n e d him o n ly a
s h o r t tim e 3
9 Used p h y s i c a l p u n ish m e n t i n t h e p r e s e n c e
o f o t h e r p u p i l s 2
9 R eprim anded a w hole g ro u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r
o f a few p u p i l s 2
9 T h r e a t e n e d p u p i l 2
237
5. D ropped c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l l o w th r o u g h and
w ork w i t h p u p i l .
6 . R e p rim an d ed a w h o le g r o u p .
7. W ith d rew p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
8. R e q u ir e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e ,
9 . Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
10. A s s ig n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e
o r a f t e r s c h o o l .
T a b le X LII shows t h e t e n m ost i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , l i s t e d in o r d e r
o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s .
T h re e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s l i s t e d among t h e
f o r e g o i n g j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l r e s p o n s e s d i d n o t a p p e a r
among t h o s e r e p o r t e d by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s : (1)
r e t u r n e d p u p i l t o c l a s s d u r i n g same p e r i o d a s r e f e r r a l ,
(2) u s e d p h y s i c a l p u n is h m e n t in p r e s e n c e o f o t h e r p u p i l s ,
and (3) t h r e a t e n e d p u p i l .
T h re e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s l i s t e d among t h e
f o r e g o i n g s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l r e s p o n s e s d i d n o t a p p e a r
among t h o s e r e p o r t e d by j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s : (1)
w ith d r e w p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r , (2)
2 38
TABLE X L II
INEFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES REPORTED
BY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, IN RANK
ORDER OF FREQUENCY OF MENTION
Rank
o r d e r
I n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e
u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r
Number o f
i n c i d e n t s
1 D id n o t h i n g , a s f a r a s t e a c h e r know s;
f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n 78
2 M e re ly t a l k e d t o p u p i l ; a d m o n is h e d o r
w a rn e d p u p i l 14
3 C hanged p u p i l ' s p r o g r a m w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d 10
4 S u s p e n d e d p u p i l f o r a few d a y s 10
5 D ro p p e d c a s e ; f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h
a n d w ork w i t h p u p i l 7
6 R e p rim a n d e d a w h o le g r o u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r
o f a few p u p i l s 5
7 W ith d re w p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r 5
8 R e q u i r e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e 3
9 A c c e d e d t o w i s h e s o r t h r e a t s o f p a r e n t s 3
10 A s s i g n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f b e f o r e o r a f t e r
s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n 2
239
r e q u i r e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e , and (3) had c o n
f e r e n c e w iLh p a r e n t s .
S ix i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s a p p e a r e d among t h e t e n
l e a s t e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d by b o t h j u n i o r and
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s . They w e re : (1) d i d n o t h i n g
a s f a r a s t e a c h e r k n o w s - - f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f any
a c t i o n ; (2) m e r e ly t a l k e d t o t h e p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r
w a rn ed t h e p u p i l ; (3) c h a n g e d p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m w i t h o u t
c o n s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ; (4) d ro p p e d t h e c a s e -
f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h and w o rk w i t h t h e p u p i l ; (5)
s u s p e n d e d t h e p u p i l f o r a few d a y s ; and (6) r e p r im a n d e d
a w h o le g r o u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r o f one o r a few .
V. CRITICAL INCIDENTS REVEALING EFFECTIVE
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
A s id e fro m t h e s t a t i s t i c a l a s p e c t s o f t h e s u r v e y
r e s u l t s , t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s r e v e a l e d so much i n f o r m a
t i o n a b o u t a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s t h a t
f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e i n c i d e n t s was w a r r a n t e d .
Names o f s c h o o l s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , and t e a c h e r s w e re n o t
t o be i n c l u d e d in t h e o r i g i n a l d a t a , and h a v e b e en rem oved
in r e f e r r i n g t o i n c i d e n t s in t h i s p a r t o f t h e a n a l y s i s .
240
O t h e r w i s e , t h e i n c i d e n t s h a v e n o t b e e n e d i t e d e x c e p t t o
e l i m i n a t e r e p e t i t i o n , and t o make e x c e r p t s .
C r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s , i l l u s t r a t i v e o f e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s a s r e p o r t e d by
t e a c h e r s , f e l l n a t u r a l l y w i t h i n t h e f o l l o w i n g c l a s s i f i c a
t i o n s : (1 ) g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l ; (2) s u s p e n s i o n
o f p u p i l , r e q u i r i n g p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e ; (3) c o n f e r e n c e
w i t h p a r e n t s ; (4 ) c h a n g e i n p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m a f t e r c o n
s u l t i n g t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ; (5 ) w i t h d r a w a l o f p r i v i l e g e s
r e l a t e d t o m i s b e h a v i o r ; (6) p a r e n t c o n t a c t s by t e l e p h o n e ,
l e t t e r , o r home v i s i t ; (7) g r o u p c o u n s e l i n g ; (8) c o n
f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , t e a c h e r ; (9) e x p u l s i o n fro m
s c h o o l ; an d (10) a r r a n g e m e n t f o r e a s y an d p ro m p t p u p i l
a p o l o g y .
G u id a n c e C o n f e r e n c e w i t h P u p i l
F o u r o f t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t i n g t h e s u c c e s s f u l
u s e o f t h e g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e a r e u s e d t o i l l u s t r a t e
t h i s t y p e o f e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
A C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l
w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e and 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s
e n r o l l e d r e p o r t e d :
As I h a v e h a d minimum d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s , t h e r e
h a s n o t b e e n much o p p o r t u n i t y t o o b s e r v e t h e t y p e
2 4 1
o f o u t s t a n d i n g d i s c i p l i n a r i a n l e a d e r s h i p c a l l e d
f o r .
I h a v e c a l l e d f o r a s s i s t a n c e fro m t h e v i c e
p r i n c i p a l s o n l y t h r e e t i m e s . In one c a s e , a
g i r l came t o c l a s s i n p i n c u r l s , r e f u s e d t o
rem o ve th e m , w o u ld n o t do h e r w ork an d p e r
s i s t e d i n d i s t u r b i n g t h e c l a s s by t a l k i n g . H er
a t t i t u d e w as c o m p l e t e l y i n s o l e n t . T h e r e was
n o t h i n g t o do b u t s e e t h a t s h e w as i m m e d ia te l y
rem o v ed fro m c l a s s . I was a b l e t o do t h i s
r e a d i l y a s b l u e s l i p s a r e p r o v i d e d t o t e a c h e r s
by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h ic h a l l o w t h e t e a c h e r
t o se n d t h e s t u d e n t o u t o f t h e c l a s s . As a
s t u b i s r e t a i n e d by t h e t e a c h e r t h e s t u d e n t i s
o b l i g a t e d t o r e p o r t . The p o l i c y o f t h e s c h o o l
o f h a v i n g s u c h b l u e s l i p s i s e x t r e m e l y e f f e c
t i v e i n d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n and t h e g e n e r a l
f u n c t i o n i n g o f t h e s c h o o l r o u t i n e .
The v i c e p r i n c i p a l t a l k e d t o t h e g i r l and
made i t c l e a r t o h e r t h a t s h e c o u l d n o t r e m a in
in a c l a s s i f s u c h b e h a v i o r c o n t i n u e d .
The g i r l , b e i n g a g e n e r a l s c h o o l p r o b le m ,
s t r a i g h t e n e d o u t a s much a s c o u l d b e e x p e c t e d .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t , a l s o sh o w in g t h e g u i d a n c e
c o n f e r e n c e a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e , was
r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in
a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and w i t h f e w e r
t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
A f t e r a n i n t h g r a d e boy h a d f a i l e d t o b r i n g
b o o k s , p e n c i l , o r p a p e r t o c l a s s f o r a c o n s i s t e n t
p e r i o d o f t i m e , h e was s e n t t o t h e o f f i c e . The
b o y s ’ v i c e p r i n c i p a l made an a g re e m e n t w i t h t h e
bo y t h a t e a c h day h e w as t o come t o c l a s s w i t h
t h e n e c e s s a r y p r o p e r t i e s o r h e w as t o s p e n d t h e
t im e a f t e r s c h o o l m ak in g u p t h a t p e r i o d . He
242
p o i n t e d o u t t o t h e boy t h a t t h i s was c o n s i d e r e d
a v e r y c h i l d i s h p u n is h m e n t f o r v e r y c h i l d i s h
b e h a v i o r . T h is d i d h e l p t o s o l v e t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
p r o b l e m - - b u t t h e m o st i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e d i s
c i p l i n e was t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l ' s s t a t e m e n t t o
me a b o u t t h e b o y . He s a i d , "We a r e n o t g o i n g
t o c h a n g e t h a t boy t o d a y so t h a t h e w i l l b e a
r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n h e r e a f t e r , b u t i f we c a n
g e t him t o b r i n g h i s b o o k s o n e d a y t h i s w e e k ,
a n d t h e n f o r two d a y s n e x t w e e k , and f i n a l l y
t h r e e o r f o u r da y s e a c h w e e k , we w i l l e v e n t u a l l y
b u i l d a s e n s e o f h a b i t to w a rd r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
a n d t h a t i s an a c c o m p lis h m e n t we c a n f e e l i s
r e w a r d i n g i n t h i s c a s e . "
I t h i n k t o o o f t e n t e a c h e r s e x p e c t a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s t o w o rk m i r a c u l o u s c h a n g e s i n a p u p i l
by o ne v i s i t t o t h e o f f i c e . T h is d o e s n o t h a p p e n .
Any c h a n g e in t h e s e p u p i l s i s g o i n g t o b e g r a d u a l
an d i t t a k e s t h e p r o c e s s e s o f many i n t e r e s t e d
p e o p l e t o b r i n g a b o u t e f f e c t i v e l y an y b e h a v i o r
c h a n g e s i n p u p i l s .
From a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n C o n n e c t i c u t , o r g a n i z e d w i t h
g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e , and w i t h a p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t
b e tw e e n 1 ,5 0 1 a n d 2 , 5 0 0 , t h i s e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t was
r e c e i v e d , r e c o u n t i n g t h e u s e o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r - p u p i l
g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e :
Two b o y s w e re f i g h t i n g i n t h e lu n c h ro o m .
The f i g h t was s t o p p e d by o t h e r b o y s b e f o r e t h e
t e a c h e r i n c h a r g e a r r i v e d . A s e c o n d t e a c h e r
a c c u s e d t h e f i r s t t e a c h e r o f d o i n g w ron g by n o t
s e n d i n g t h e b o y s t o t h e o f f i c e i m m e d i a t e l y . The
f i r s t t e a c h e r saw t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n c h a r g e
o f d i s c i p l i n e . T o ld him t h e s i t u a t i o n an d he
a s k e d o ne q u e s t i o n w h ic h was i n d i c a t i v e o f good
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n - - " W e r e you t h e r e a n d d i d you s e e
t h e f i g h t ? " The a n s w e r w as n o . The a d m i n i s t r a t o r
t o o k t h e nam es o f t h e b o y s who " m ig h t h a v e b e e n "
i n v o l v e d an d sp o k e t o th em i n an e f f e c t i v e m e th o d .
243
L e t t i n g them know h e knew w h a t h a d o c c u r r e d ,
b u t m ore i m p o r t a n t , t h e y knew t h a t t h e s l i g h t e s t
i n c i d e n t in w h ic h t h e y w e re i n v o l v e d i n t h e
c a f e t e r i a w o u ld r e s u l t i n h a r s h p u n is h m e n t f o r
t h e m .
I c o n s i d e r e d t h i s e f f e c t i v e b e c a u s e no p r o o f
c o u l d b e h a d a s t o who w as a c t u a l l y i n v o l v e d ,
b u t no t r o u b l e h a s o c c u r r e d s i n c e t h a t t i m e .
From a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n A r k a n s a s , o r g a n i z e d
w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e , w i t h a p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t
u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 t h i s i n c i d e n t d e p i c t e d t h e u s e o f t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r - p u p i l c o n f e r e n c e a n d s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n t i o n e d
" b a c k i n g " by t h e s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r :
A s t u d e n t u s e d u g l y la n g u a g e and t a l k e d b a c k .
She was s e n t t o t h e o f f i c e an d a f t e r a lo n g t a l k ,
s h e was t o l d s h e c o u l d n o t r e t u r n t o c l a s s u n t i l
s h e c o n v i n c e d me s h e w o u ld c o n f o r m . Our t e a c h e r s
a l l f e e l t h a t we a r e b a c k e d up i n o u r d i s c i p l i n e
by t h e p r i n c i p a l .
S u s p e n s io n o f P u p i l , R e q u i r i n g
P a r e n t C o n f e r e n c e
T h re e i n c i d e n t s r e c o r d i n g t h e u s e o f s u s p e n s i o n
w h ic h r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e a r e g i v e n , t o g e t h e r w i t h a p o l i c y
s t a t e m e n t fro m a t e a c h e r .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t w as r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e
2 4 4
t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
E a r l y i n M arch a g r o u p o f e i g h t s e n i o r
s t u d e n t s d e c i d e d t h a t c l a s s s h o u l d b e h e l d on
t h e law n o u t s i d e o f t h e b u i l d i n g i n w h ic h t h e i r
S o c i a l P ro b le m s c l a s s i s h e l d . They t r i e d t o
p e r s u a d e t h e t e a c h e r a n d o t h e r c l a s s m a t e s t o
"com e on o u t . " A f t e r t h e b e l l r a n g , t h e t e a c h e r
c o n d u c t e d t h e c l a s s a s u s u a l b u t h a d t o do so
o v e r q u i t e a b i t o f n o i s e fro m t h e e i g h t .
A n o t e w e n t t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l who came
w i t h i n two m i n u t e s t o t h e d o o r , an d r e c e i v e d
a b r i e f i n g fro m t h e t e a c h e r on w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d .
He h e r d e d t h e e i g h t s e n i o r s i n t o t h e o f f i c e - -
e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e y w e re d i t c h i n g a n d i n a d d i t i o n
c a u s i n g a d i s t u r b a n c e . The r u l e f o r d i t c h i n g i s
s u s p e n s i o n u n t i l t h e p a r e n t s come t o s c h o o l and
a c o n f e r e n c e i s h e l d . B e f o r e t h e en d o f t h a t
p e r i o d a l l e i g h t s e n i o r s w e re on t h e i r way home
w i t h l e t t e r s t o t h e i r p a r e n t s ! A l l p a r e n t s h a d
b e e n c o n t a c t e d by 8 : 3 0 t h e f o l l o w i n g m o r n in g .
E ach s e n i o r a p o l o g i z e d ( i n h i s own p a r t i c u l a r
f a s h i o n ) t o t h e t e a c h e r and was b a c k i n c l a s s
t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y .
The e n t i r e i n c i d e n t c e r t a i n l y s q u e l c h e d t h e
" s e n i o r i t i s " t h a t w as b e c o m in g a p p a r e n t . I t
d e f i n i t e l y s t r e n g t h e n e d s c h o o l - p a r e n t r e l a t i o n
s h i p a n d was h i g h l y a p p r o v e d by o u r s t u d e n t
g o v e rn m e n t b o d y . The s t a f f ( e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e
w i t h S e n i o r c l a s s e s ) w as m o st warm i n t h e i r
a p p r o v a l o f t h e a c t i o n t a k e n .
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by an O regon
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e
t h r o u g h t w e l v e a n d f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
F o r a so ph o m o re boy who w o u ld n o t s t a y a f t e r
s c h o o l f o r h i s t a r d i n e s s , o u r v i c e p r i n c i p a l
s u s p e n d e d him u n t i l h i s m o th e r came t o s c h o o l f o r
245
a c o n f e r e n c e . T h is w as a h a r d s h i p on h i s m o th e r
an d h i s p r o m p tn e s s im p ro v e d g r e a t l y .
The n e x t i n c i d e n t was r e c e i v e d fro m a Los A n g e le s j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h
n i n e and f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
Boy p u p i l i n hom eroom w as e s p e c i a l l y d i s
t u r b i n g c l a s s w i t h d i s r e s p e c t f o r t e a c h e r , f l a g ,
and o r d e r . He t a l k e d o u t o f t u r n , s h o t r u b b e r
b a n d s , e t c . He was t a k e n t o t h e B o y s' V ic e
Pr in c i p a l .
B o y s ' V ic e P r i n c i p a l t a l k e d t o b o t h h im
an d t e a c h e r , and a f t e r d i s c u s s i o n o f s i t u a t i o n
i n w h ic h h e p u t t h e boy t o sham e, boy was s u s
p e n d e d fro m s c h o o l f o r a minimum o f t h r e e d a y s
and w as r e - a d m i t t e d t o s c h o o l o n l y on t h e c o n
d i t i o n t h a t one o f t h e p a r e n t s come and t a l k
t o him (V ic e P r i n c i p a l ) b e f o r e t h a t t i m e .
I t h a s p r o v e d e f f e c t i v e . Boy h a s b e e n
b e t t e r b e h a v e d s i n c e t h a t t i m e .
The f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t o f s u s p e n s i o n a s an e f f e c
t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c y was r e p o r t e d by a N e b ra s k a
t e a c h e r . The s t a t e m e n t d o e s n o t r e p o r t , h o w e v e r, w h e t h e r
a p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e was r e q u i r e d a f t e r t h e s u s p e n s i o n .
I t i s n o t t h e p o l i c y o f t h e _________ P u b l i c
S c h o o ls t o c a u s e s t u d e n t s t o w e a r a s p e c i f i c t y p e
o f c l o t h i n g . T h a t i s , t h e w ord " a c c e p t a b l e " f o r
\ c l o t h i n g h a s a w id e r a n g e o f m e a n in g .
Our v i c e p r i n c i p a l , Mr. _________ , h a s n o t e d
t h a t when an i n d i v i d u a l s t u d e n t a t t e n d s s c h o o l
d r e s s e d i n d u n g a r e e s h e a c t s d i f f e r e n t l y t h a n
when h e a t t e n d s t h e m i l i t a r y b a l l and i s d r e s s e d
in h i s f i n e s t c l o t h i n g . A l s o , h e o b s e r v e d t h a t
246
t h e r e h a s b e e n a m a rk e d i n c r e a s e i n p u p i l a d j u s t
m en t t o s c h o o l when t h e p u p i l w as r e q u i r e d t o
r i d h i m s e l f o f h i s " d u c k t a i l " h a i r c u t . A f t e r
c o n s u l t i n g t h e f a c u l t y a n d some p a r e n t s i t h a s
becom e an u n w r i t t e n p o l i c y :
1. P u p i l s a r e s u s p e n d e d fro m s c h o o l and
r e q u i r e d t o make up t h e t im e l o s t t o
o b t a i n a n e a t h a i r c u t .
2 . P u p i l s may w e a r d u n g a r e e s i n s c h o o l p r o
v i d e d t h a t t h e y a r e n o t d i r t y and t h a t
t h e y a r e a lw a y s s u p p o r t e d by a b e l t .
( T h is i s f o r m a le s t u d e n t s o n l y . G i r l s
m u st w e a r s k i r t s . )
3 . No boy o r g i r l may a t t e n d an y s c h o o l
f u n c t i o n d r e s s e d i n d u n g a r e e s . * G i r l s may
n o t w e a r s l a c k s o r s h o r t s t o an y s c h o o l
f u n c t i o n . * ( * T h e r e a r e some c a s e s w h e re
p e r m i s s i o n i s g r a n t e d ; t h e s e a r e f e w .)
R e s u l t s : The w h o le a t t i t u d e o f t h e s c h o o l i s
one o f p r i d e . D i s c i p l i n e p r o b le m s a r e n o t a
t h i n g o f t h e p a s t b u t t h e r e i s v e r y d e f i n i t e
d e c r e a s e in ro w d y ism . The t h e o r y i s t h a t i n o r d e r
t o lo o k t o u g h and t o a c t t o u g h t h e i n d i v i d u a l
s t u d e n t d r e s s e s in t h i s way d e s p i t e t h e o b j e c t i o n
o f h i s p a r e n t s . We f i n d t h a t many p a r e n t s a r e
g l a d t h a t t h e y may f a l l b a c k on t h e s t a t e m e n t o f ,
" O t h e r s t u d e n t s a t ____________H igh S c h o o l d o n ' t
d r e s s l i k e h o o d lu m s and l e a v e t h e i r i v y - l e a g u e
s l a c k s a t h o m e ." T h is i s i n a n s w e r t o t h e t y p i c a l
comment o f t e e n - a g e r s , " W e l l, a l l o f t h e o t h e r
s t u d e n t s d r e s s l i k e t h i s . "
C o n f e r e n c e w i t h P a r e n t s
F o u r i n c i d e n t s d e p i c t e d t h e p a r e n t - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e a s an e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
One i n c i d e n t fro m t h e D i s t r i c t o f C o lu m b ia was
247
r e p o r t e d by a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r , i n a s c h o o l
o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e and w i t h 1 ,5 0 1
t o 2 ,5 0 0 i n p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t .
I h a v e c h a r g e o f t h e d e t e n t i o n h a l l a f t e r
s c h o o l - - a g r o u p o f 20 t o 50 s t u d e n t s e a c h a f t e r
no on w h ic h h a v e b e e n g i v e n 40 m i n u t e s d e t e n t i o n
t im e f o r u n e x c u s e d t a r d i n e s s a n d o t h e r i r r e g u
l a r i t i e s . T h r e e v e r y im m a tu re t e n t h g r a d e r s
w e re a s s i g n e d t o t h e h a l l who p e r s i s t e d i n t r y i n g
t o g i g g l e w i t h o r a t e a c h o t h e r . I i n t e r p r e t e d
i t a s a fo rm o f d e f i a n c e o r e x h i b i t i o n i s m , a n d ,
a f t e r s e v e r a l d a y s w a r n i n g an d e x t e n d e d d e t e n t i o n
f o r m is c o n d u c t o f t h i s t y p e , I r e f e r r e d t h e m a t t e r
t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l i n c h a r g e o f b o y s . I n v e s
t i g a t i o n showed t h a t t h e y w e re g u i l t y o f s i m i l a r
b e h a v i o r in c l a s s e s an d i n t h e h a l l s t o t h e p o i n t
o f m ak in g t h e m s e l v e s a p p e a r c o n s p i c u o u s an d s i l l y
e v e n t o t h e s t u d e n t s . They w e r e r e q u i r e d t o
b r i n g in a p a r e n t f o r a c o n f e r e n c e , and t h e
a r r e s t e d g ro w th e v i d e n t t o e v e r y o n e in t h i s c o n
d u c t w as made c l e a r t o t h e p a r e n t a s w e l l a s t h e
way e a c h o f th em was m ak in g h i m s e l f a s u b j e c t
o f r i d i c u l e e v e n among f e l l o w s t u d e n t s . The
c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e p a r e n t w as s e c u r e d t o make
f r e q u e n t i n q u i r y o f t h e s t u d e n t i f h e was s t i l l
e m b a r r a s s i n g b o t h h i m s e l f an d h i s f a m i l y by
t h i s c h i l d i s h fo rm o f d e m o n s t r a t i o n i n p u b l i c .
T h e i r c o n d u c t i n t h e d e t e n t i o n h a l l m a tu r e d
y e a r s o v e r n i g h t .
A s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a C o n n e c t i c u t
s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e , and p u p i l e n r o l l
m ent o f 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 r e p o r t e d e f f e c t i v e u s e o f t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r - p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e :
I h a d a boy who d e c i d e d t o w a lk o u t o f c l a s s ,
a S e n i o r E n g l i s h c l a s s , w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n . L a t e r
in t h e p e r i o d h e came b a c k . I t o l d h im h e m u st
2 4 8
h a v e an a d m it s l i p fro m t h e o f f i c e ; o t h e r w i s e
I c o u ld n o t a d m it h im .
A f t e r s e v e r a l r e q u e s t s , t h e p u p i l r e p l i e d ,
" I f you w a n t an a d m it s l i p , why d o n ' t you g e t
o n e ? " T h a t en d ed h i s c a r e e r in my c l a s s t h a t
d a y .
The o f f i c e k e p t him o u t o f t h e c l a s s u n t i l
h i s m o th e r came in an d h e a r d o f t h e i n c i d e n t .
Not u n t i l th e n was h e r e a d m i t t e d t o E n g l i s h 12.
S in c e t h a t tim e h e h a s b e e n no t r o u b l e w h a t
s o e v e r .
Two j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s , b o t h fro m s c h o o l s
o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and e n r o l l i n g
fe w e r th a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s , r e p o r t e d in e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s
t h e u s e o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r - p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e . The
f i r s t j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i s in C a l i f o r n i a , t h e se c o n d
in A r k a n s a s .
The i n c i d e n t i n v o l v e d tw o s i s t e r s and an
o v e r - p r o t e c t i v e m o th e r , b o t h g i r l s a r e in t h e
same c l a s s . B oth m o th e r and d a u g h t e r s h ad t h e
a t t i t u d e t h a t t h e g i r l s w e re a lw a y s c o r r e c t and
e v e r y o n e e l s e was w ro n g . P u t t i n g them t o g e t h e r
in t h e same c l a s s c r e a t e d a p ro b le m . The g i r l s
r e s e n t e d b e i n g t o g e t h e r ; t h e home p ro b le m s w e re
a lw a y s p r e s e n t . One d a u g h t e r was c o r r e c t e d by
t h e t e a c h e r . The m o th e r f e l t t h a t s h e was
u n f a i r , and w en t b ey o n d h e r r i g h t s and made
t r o u b l e . The t e a c h e r was c o r r e c t in d i s c i
p l i n i n g t h e s t u d e n t .
The f o l l o w i n g day i n c l a s s t h e g i r l s r e f u s e d
t o c o o p e r a t e ; c a u s e d a c l a s s d i s t u r b a n c e , and
i n s u l t e d t h e t e a c h e r .
The G i r l s ' V ic e P r i n c i p a l h a d a c o n s u l t a t i o n
w i t h b o t h p a r e n t s . They w e re made t o s e e t h a t
249
t h e i r d a u g h t e r s * p r o b le m s w e re c a u s e d by t h e
m o t h e r 's o v e r - p r o t e c t i v e a t t i t u d e . The p a r e n t s
w e re w i l l i n g t o f a c e t h e s i t u a t i o n an d s i t down
w i t h b o t h g i r l s , d i s c u s s t h e s i t u a t i o n , and
f i n d a s o l u t i o n t o t h e i r p r o b l e m s .
The i n c i d e n t fro m A r k a n s a s w as a s f o l l o w s :
The d i s c i p l i n e p r o b le m w as o n e d u e t o an
e m o t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e by a c h i l d w h o se p a r e n t s
r e f u s e d t o a c c e p t t h e f a c t t h a t s h e w as m e n t a l l y
d i s t u r b e d . H er b e h a v i o r n o t o n l y c a u s e d d i s
o r d e r in c l a s s , b u t c a u s e d h e r f e l l o w s t u d e n t s
t o sh u n h e r a n d l a u g h a t h e r . When t h e m a t t e r
w as b r o u g h t t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p a l ,
h e a r r a n g e d w i t h t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e ,
g u i d a n c e c o u n s e l o r s , and p a r e n t s t o m eet and
d i s c u s s t h e p r o b l e m s . When t h e p a r e n t s f a c e d
t h e s i t u a t i o n , t h e y d e c i d e d t o s e e k p s y c h i a t r i c
h e l p . The c h i l d i s s t i l l i n s c h o o l . H er
b e h a v i o r i s s t i l l n o t n o r m a l , b u t b e c a u s e o f
t h e p r i n c i p a l ' s a c t i o n , t h e r e i s much b e t t e r
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c h i l d . P e r h a p s s h e h a s
b e e n p r e v e n t e d fro m b e i n g i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d .
To my k n o w le d g e no d e f i n i t e p o l i c y w as f o r m u l a t e d
on t h i s p r o b le m .
C hange i n P u p i l ' s P ro g ra m A f t e r
C o n s u l t i n g T e a c h e r s I n v o l v e d
The f o l l o w i n g f o u r s e l e c t e d i n c i d e n t s show ed
e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e u s e o f t h e p r o c e d u r e o f " c h a n g i n g
t h e p u p i l ' s p r o g ra m a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s
i n v o l v e d . "
A C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l
o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and e n r o l l i n g
1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s r e p o r t e d an i n c i d e n t i n w h ic h t h e
250
a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o l lo w e d s e v e r a l p r o c e d u r e s } f i n a l l y
c h a n g in g t h e p u p i l ' s p ro g ram :
E l l e n i s a c o l o r e d g i r l , who i s n i c e - l o o k i n g ,
w e l l - d r e s s e d , and i n t e l l i g e n t . She h a s am ple
p o t e n t i a l , b u t i s w a s t i n g i t . She m akes no
e f f o r t i n h e r s t u d i e s , h a s a c h i p - o n - t h e -
s h o u l d e r a t t i t u d e and i s v e r y d i s t u r b i n g t o
t h e o t h e r s in t h e c l a s s . Her s t a n d a r d r e a c t i o n
t o d i s c i p l i n e e f f o r t s i s an u n r e p e n t a n t la u g h .
A f t e r num erous c o n f e r e n c e s , d e t e n t i o n s , e t c . , a
m e e ti n g was a r r a n g e d b e tw e e n t h e m o th e r , t h e
g i r l s ' d e a n , and m y s e l f . In t h i s m e e t i n g , t h e
m o th e r a s s e r t e d t h a t h e r d a u g h t e r ' s t r o u b l e s
w e re l a r g e l y w i t h me, and w e re due t o my p r e
j u d i c e The d e an p o i n t e d o u t t h a t h e r r e c o r d s
i n d i c a t e d t h a t e a c h o f t h e g i r l ' s t e a c h e r s h ad
h a d d i f f i c u l t y w i t h h e r , and t h a t I had t h e
g i r l f o r two p e r i o d s r a t h e r th a n j u s t o n e .
N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e m o th e r w a n te d t h e g i r l o u t
o f my c l a s s , and w ent t o t h e p r i n c i p a l a b o u t i t .
He r e f u s e d t o t r a n s f e r h e r u n t i l sh e a c t e d l i k e
a l a d y i n my c l a s s . T h is s h e d i d , and h a s now
b e e n m oved. I t h i n k t h i s a c t i o n h e l p e d show
m o th e r and d a u g h t e r t h a t t h e g i r l ' s p ro b le m s
stemmed fro m h e r own b e h a v i o r , n o t fro m t h e
p r e j u d i c e o f a t e a c h e r .
Two i n c i d e n t s o f t h e c h a n g in g o f p u p i l s ' p ro g ram s
a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e w e re r e p o r t e d
by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s in w i d e l y s e p a r a t e d C a l i
f o r n i a c i t i e s . B oth s c h o o l s w e re o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s
t e n t h r o u g h tw e lv e and had 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
P l a c e : T e n th g r a d e E n g l i s h c l a s s , a f t e r
l u n c h . The c l a s s h a d b e e n p a r t i c u l a r l y u n r u l y
one fro m t h e f i r s t day o f s c h o o l . F o r ty - s o m e
p e o p le in a room f o r 37 f o r t h e f i r s t few w eeks
h a d c r e a t e d an e m o t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n w h ic h t h e
251
t e a c h e r h a d t o c o m b a t f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e
s e m e s t e r . By t h e s e c o n d s e m e s t e r t h e c l a s s was
f i n a l l y w o r k i n g , a l t h o u g h a few " s t u d e n t s " w e r e
s t i l l o b n o x io u s a t t i m e s . A boy who d i d a b s o l u t e l y
n o w o rk d u r i n g t h e f i r s t s e m e s t e r - - g r a d e a v e r a g e
" 0 " i n E n g l i s h - - a n d who w as f o l l o w i n g t h e same
p a t t e r n i n t h e s e c o n d s e m e s t e r m ade a p r e t e x t
a t w o r k i n g , b u t u s u a l l y d i d n o t h i n g .
S i t u a t i o n : X h a d g i v e n t h e a s s i g n m e n t f o r
t h e n e x t d a y , an d t h e c l a s s was w o r k in g w h i l e I
moved a r o u n d t h e c l a s s r o o m t o g i v e i n d i v i d u a l
i n s t r u c t i o n . S u d d e n ly b e h i n d me, I h e a r d my
z e r o s t u d e n t s a y t o h i s n e i g h b o r , "What t h e L
d i d h e s a y ? " T h e n , t o t h e r e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f some
o f h i s n e i g h b o r s , h e a d d e d , " I d i d n ' t s a y
n o t h i n g ! J u s t L . " And h e q u i t e p o i n t e d l y
s a i d L, n o t h e l l .
So I s m i l e d i n d u l g e n t l y f o r h e i s a f r i e n d l y
c h a r a c t e r m o st o f t h e t i m e , an d g a v e him a n o t e
t o go s e e t h e Dean o f B o y s . Then h e becam e
b e l l i g e r e n t . " W h a t 's t h i s f o r ? " h e d em an d ed .
The c l a s s p e r k e d u p , t e n s e n e s s f i l l e d t h e a i r ,
e t c . So I s a i d , "You know w h a t i t ' s f o r . " He
th r e w h i s p e n c i l t o t h e f l o o r (a p e n c i l I h a d
l o a n e d h i m ) , r e f u s e d t o p i c k i t u p , an d r e f u s e d
t o l e a v e t h e room . The e n t i r e i n s t r u c t i o n a l
p ro g ra m h a d s t o p p e d i n f a v o r o f a m ore d r a m a t i c
o n e . I a s k e d a n o t h e r boy t o go g e t t h e Dean o f
Boys and my d r a m a t i c f r i e n d s a i d , " i ' l l go s e e
him m y s e l f . "
I s e n t a n o t e t o t h e Dean o f Boys s t a t i n g
t h a t I w o u ld n o t u n d e r an y c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a v e t h e
boy r e t u r n t o my c l a s s . I f h e h a d d o n e an y w ork
a t a l l i n t h e w e ek s g o n e b y , I w o u ld h a v e d i s
m i s s e d h i s t a n t r u m a s j u s t a t a n t r u m . B ut when
h e d i s r u p t e d t h e c l a s s so v i o l e n t l y - - a s h e h ad
l e s s v i o l e n t l y b e f o r e t h i s - - I saw n o h o p e . I
s p o k e t o t h e b o y ' s c o u n s e l o r , g i v i n g him t h e
c o m p l e t e b a c k g r o u n d , and my r e c o m m e n d a tio n f o r
h i s r e m o v a l fro m t h a t c l a s s w as a p p r o v e d . He i s
now i n a n o t h e r c l a s s w h e re h e c o n t i n u e s t o do
n o t h i n g .
252
M o ra l: The s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n (D eans an d
C o u n s e l o r s ) r e c o g n i z e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e
" c l i m a t e f o r l e a r n i n g " in t h e c l a s s r o o m , know t h a t
t h e t e a c h e r c a n b e s t j u d g e t h a t c l i m a t e , an d
b e l i e v e t h a t an y p e o p l e who r a i s e t h a t c l i m a t e
u n r e a s o n a b l y s h o u l d i n e x tr e m e c a s e s b e re m o v e d .
The s e c o n d C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
A f t e r a lo n g c o n t i n u e d p e r i o d o f m i s b e h a v i o r
i n c l a s s f o r no a p p a r e n t d i r e c t c a u s e , a n d a f t e r
t h e t e a c h e r h a d s t u d i e d t h e s t u d e n t ' s b a c k g r o u n d
and t r i e d i n v a r i o u s w ays t o w in t h e s t u d e n t ' s
c o n f i d e n c e an d c o o p e r a t i o n , t h e s t u d e n t was s e n t
t o h i s c o u n s e l o r b e c a u s e o f t h e e f f e c t o f t h e
d i s t u r b a n c e upon t h e l e a r n i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f
t h e r e s t o f t h e c l a s s . The s t u d e n t h a d e x h i b i t e d
s i m i l a r b e h a v i o r i n o t h e r c l a s s e s , and t h e
c o u n s e l o r h a d t r i e d v a r i o u s d i s c i p l i n a r y t e c h
n i q u e s w i t h o u t n o t a b l e r e s u l t s . F i n a l l y , w i t h
t h e p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e t e a c h e r i n v o l v e d , s i n c e
t h e s t u d e n t ' s a b i l i t y was r e a s o n a b l y g o o d , he
was t r a n s f e r r e d t o an a c c e l e r a t e d s e c t i o n , com
p o s e d o f r e l a t i v e l y s e r i o u s an d a d v a n c e d s t u d e n t s .
I t w as a s i t u a t i o n i n w h ic h t h e t r a n s f e r r e d
s t u d e n t h i m s e l f a p p a r e n t l y r e a l i z e d t h a t h i s
t y p e o f m i s b e h a v i o r w o u ld r e c e i v e no a p p l a u s e
fro m h i s c l a s s m a t e s . I m m e d ia te ly he s e t t l e d
down and becam e no p ro b le m in a p o s i t i v e s e n s e .
T h e re s t i l l r e m a in s t h e p ro b le m o f i n d u c i n g
him t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e c l a s s ,
t o p u t f o r t h a r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t t o l e a r n . The
t e a c h e r i s h o p e f u l t h a t g r a d u a l l y h e w i l l make
t h i s e f f o r t , f i r s t t o w in s t a t u s among h i s
c l a s s m a t e s a n d , s e c o n d , t o g a i n s a t i s f a c t i o n
t h r o u g h t h e a c h ie v e m e n t o f w h ic h h e i s c a p a b l e .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t d e s c r i b e d an a d m i n i s t r a t o r
who f o l l o w e d s e v e r a l p r o c e d u r e s , t h e n c h a n g e d t h e p u p i l s '
p r o g r a m s - - i n t h i s c a s e an e f f e c t i v e d e v i c e a s r e p o r t e d
25 3
by t h e t e a c h e r . The i n c i d e n t t o o k p l a c e i n a s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l i n M o n ta n a , o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e l v e , a n d e n r o l l i n g 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
In a n s w e r i n g t h i s q u e s t i o n n a i r e I f e e l
t h e r e i s one r o u t in e p r o c e d u r e h e r e w h ic h i t i s
i m p o r t a n t t o r e p o r t . T h a t i s - - o n t h e w h o l e - -
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d i s c i p l i n e i s d o n e q u i e t l y ,
a n d much o f i t g o e s on w i t h o u t f a n f a r e o r t o o
much d i s c u s s i o n o r k n o w le d g e o f i t e x c e p t by
t h e p e o p l e i n v o l v e d .
A r e a : C a r r y i n g o u t p o l i c y o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g
t h e a u t h o r i t y o f s u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r s .
I n c i d e n t : R e c u r r i n g b u l l y i n g b e h a v i o r w h e n
e v e r a s u b s t i t u t e t e a c h e r h a d t o b e c a l l e d . T h is
b e h a v i o r c o n s i s t e d o f t a l k i n g o u t l o u d , s c u f f l i n g
f e e t , m a k in g n o i s e s t o drow n o u t s u b s t i t u t e ' s
v o i c e o r s t u d e n t t r y i n g t o r e c i t e , t h r o w i n g
o b j e c t s - - r a n g i n g fro m s p i t b a l l s t o p a p e r a i r
p l a n e s , t o o r a n g e s , s n e a k i n g o u t o f c l a s s , e t c .
( T h is c o n d u c t w as n o t new t o t h e s e s t u d e n t s ,
t h e r e g u l a r c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r h a v i n g h a d t h e
same d i f f i c u l t i e s t o a l e s s e r d e g r e e s i n c e J a n u a r y .
The u s u a l c o n f e r e n c e s , d e m e r i t s on s t u d e n t ' s
r e c o r d , e x t r a tim e i n " d e l i n q u e n t a f t e r s c h o o l
s t u d y h a l l - - h a d b e e n t r i e d , b u t t h e e f f e c t o f
e a c h l a s t e d f o r j u s t two o r t h r e e d a y s a t a
t i m e .)
The s u b s t i t u t e s e n t t h e f o u r b o y s c a u s i n g t h e
g r e a t e s t am ount o f d i s t u r b a n c e t o t h e o f f i c e .
They w e re r e p r i m a n d e d , p r o m is e d t o do b e t t e r ,
g i v e n m ore d e m e r i t s , a n d r e t u r n e d t o t h e c l a s s
t h e n e x t d a y . F a i r o r d e r r e s u l t e d t h a t d a y , b u t
t h e f o l l o w i n g d ay saw a r e c u r r e n c e o f t h e o r i g i n a l
i n t e r r u p t i v e b e h a v i o r . A g a in t h e s u b s t i t u t e p u t
t h e b o y s o u t o f c l a s s a n d w e n t t o t h e p r i n c i p a l
a s k i n g t h a t t h e y b e k e p t o u t o f t h e c l a s s , a t
l e a s t u n t i l t h e r e g u l a r c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r r e t u r n e d .
T h is w as d o n e - - t h e b o y s s a t i n t h e o f f i c e f o r
2 5 4
t h a t p e r i o d e a c h d a y .
When t h e c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r r e t u r n e d s h e
s a i d s h e w o u ld n o t t o l e r a t e t h e i r a c t i o n s any
l o n g e r e i t h e r .
A f t e r a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e t e a c h e r , b o y s ,
an d p a r e n t s , t h e p r i n c i p a l d e c i d e d t o d r o p t h e
b o y s fro m c l a s s , rem and th em t o s t u d y h a l l f o r
t h a t p e r i o d , w i t h t h e r e s u l t i n g l o s s o f a
s e m e s t e r ' s c r e d i t i n t h e r e q u i r e d E n g l i s h
c o u r s e . The e f f e c t on t h e i n d i v i d u a l b o y s I
do n o t k n o w - - e x c e p t t h e y h a v e b e e n i n o r d e r in
s t u d y h a l l - - b u t t h e p r o c e e d i n g s (known by t h e
g r a p e v i n e ) h a v e p e r c o l a t e d t o o t h e r c l a s s e s
w i t h u n r u l y p e o p l e an d a s u b s t i t u t e (sam e one
a n d d i f f e r e n t o n e s ) now an d t h e n , w i t h a v e r y
s a l u t a r y e f f e c t .
A l s o , t h e p r i n c i p a l h a s f o l l o w e d t h i s up by
v i s i t i n g - - a t u n s c h e d u l e d t i m e s - - t h e c l a s s e s w h e re
s u b s t i t u t e s h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g . They h a v e b e e n
c a u t i o n e d t o t a k e r o l l a t t h e b e g i n n i n g and end
o f t h e p e r i o d . The c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r s t h e m s e l v e s
h a v e d i s c u s s e d t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e s u b s t i t u t e
w i t h t h e i r c l a s s e s , an d t h e g e n e r a l r e s p o n s e
h a s b e e n g o o d . S i n c e t h i s o c c u r r e d a b o u t s i x
w e ek s a g o t h e e f f e c t w i l l p r o b a b l y l a s t u n t i l
t h e end o f t h e s e m e s t e r .
W ith d r a w a l o f P r i v i l e g e s R e l a t e d
t o t h e M i s b e h a v i o r
F o u r i n c i d e n t s a n d a s t a t e m e n t o f s c h o o l p o l i c y
i l l u s t r a t e d e f f e c t i v e u s e o f " w i t h d r a w i n g p r i v i l e g e s
r e l a t e d t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r " a s an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o
c e d u r e .
W it h d r a w a l o f t h e p r i v i l e g e o f a s s e m b ly a t t e n d a n c e
255
f o r m i s b e h a v i o r in a s s e m b l i e s was r e p o r t e d a s an e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e i n an i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d by a
C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r i n a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , o r g a n i z e d
w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e , and e n r o l l i n g 1 ,5 0 1 t o
2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
A g r o u p o f g i r l s w e re n o i s y an d i n a t t e n t i v e
a t an a s s e m b ly . A f t e r a s k i n g them t o b e q u i e t ,
I f i n a l l y u s h e r e d them o u t o f t h e a s s e m b ly . I
r e p o r t e d t h e i r names t o t h e g i r l s ' v i c e p r i n
c i p a l . At t h e n e x t a s s e m b ly t h e s e g i r l s w e re
k e p t a t t h e o f f i c e and w e re n o t a ll o w e d t o
a t t e n d t h e a s s e m b ly .
A s c h o o l - w i d e p o l i c y o f d e n y in g p u p i l a t t e n d a n c e
a t a s s e m b l i e s and s c h o o l - s p o n s o r e d s o c i a l a f f a i r s was
r e p o r t e d a s an e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e by a Wyoming j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r . The s c h o o l h a s g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h
n i n e and an e n r o l l m e n t o f fe w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
The s e v e n t h g r a d e r s w e re v e r y im m atu re
t h i s y e a r and c r e a t e d a g r e a t d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m
w h e r e v e r th e y w e r e , t h e c l a s s r o o m , h a l l , r e s t
ro o m s, and lu n c h ro o m . The t e a c h e r s , d e a n s , and
p r i n c i p a l h e l d a c o n f e r e n c e . Out o f t h i s came a
m e r i t s y s te m . Anyone o u t s t a n d i n g l y r u d e in c l a s s ,
a s s e m b ly , and so on w ou ld h a v e a b l a c k mark
a g a i n s t t h e i r name in t h e d e a n 's o f f i c e . So
many b l a c k m ark s m eant no p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n
a s s e m b l i e s , s c h o o l d a n c e s , and o t h e r p r i v i l e g e s .
A f t e r one o r tw o h ad p r i v i l e g e s rem a n d ed , t h e
o t h e r s in t h e c l a s s b e g an t r y i n g t o f o l l o w t h e
s c h o o l r u l e s . They a r e m ak in g p r o g r e s s .
W ith d ra w a l o f p r i v i l e g e - - t h a t o f b e in g a s c h o o l
2 5 6
m a j o r e t t e - - a n d o t h e r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g w as r e p o r t e d
by a N o r th C a r o l i n a t e a c h e r . The s c h o o l i s a j u n i o r h i g h ,
g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e , w i t h f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s
e n r o l l e d . The t e a c h e r p o i n t e d o u t t h a t p r i v i l e g e s w e r e
w ith d r a w n o n l y t e m p o r a r i l y - - o n l y u n t i l goo d c i t i z e n s h i p
w as r e g a i n e d and m a i n t a i n e d .
We h a d a n um ber o f " s h o p - l i f t i n g " c h a r g e s
a g a i n s t some o f o u r g i r l s , who w e re fro m good
f a m i l i e s . Our p r i n c i p a l h a d t h e i r c i t i z e n s h i p
g r a d e s lo w e r e d an d a s k e d t h e g i r l s , who w e re
m a j o r e t t e s , t o t u r n i n t h e i r u n i f o r m s u n t i l
r e s t i t u t i o n was made and a s a t i s f a c t o r y c i t i z e n
s h i p g r a d e w as r e g a i n e d . He s t o o d h i s g r o u n d
e v e n th o u g h lo u d p r o t e s t s w e re made by some
p a r e n t s .
An i n c i d e n t fro m a C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h t e n and e n r o l l i n g
f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s , d e s c r i b e d t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f t h e
p r i v i l e g e o f b e i n g a te a m m em ber:
D u rin g f o o t b a l l s e a s o n , when t h r e e o f o u r
f i r s t - s t r i n g p l a y e r s " c u t " s c h o o l o ne a f t e r n o o n ,
o u r v i c e p r i n c i p a l f o l l o w e d t h e L ea g u e r e c o m
m e n d a ti o n t h a t t h e b o y s b e s u s p e n d e d fro m t h e
tea m f o r t h r e e w e e k s . When t h e tea m l o s t t h e
game t h e f o l l o w i n g w e ek , a g r e a t d e a l o f p r e s
s u r e w as b r o u g h t , by s t u d e n t l e a d e r s an d te a m
m em b ers, e x p l a i n i n g t h a t t h e y knew t h e r e g u l a
t i o n b e f o r e t h e y c o m m itte d t h e b r e a c h ; t h e r e f o r e
i t w as t h e b o y s ' r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , n o t h i s , n o r
t h e c o a c h ' s , n o r a n y o n e 's ! I a d m ir e t h i s s t a n d
v e r y m uch, and i t h a d a m u c h -n e e d e d e f f e c t upon
o t h e r te a m m em b ers, p l a c i n g t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
w h e re i t p r o p e r l y b e l o n g s .
257
I am, h o w e v e r, s u r e t h a t many s t u d e n t s c o n
t i n u e d t o f e e l t h a t i t w as h i s i l l - n a t u r e , r a t h e r
t h a n t h e te a m m e m b ers' d e f i c i e n c i e s , w h ic h c a u s e d
t h e i n c i d e n t . Some s t u d e n t s , h o w e v e r , l e a r n e d
fro m t h i s e x a m p le j u s t w h e re t h e l i n e s o f
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f a l l .
A s c h o o l - w i d e p o l i c y r e g a r d i n g w i t h d r a w a l o f
p u p i l s ' p r i v i l e g e s was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h
t w e l v e and e n r o l l m e n t o f 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
I t seem s r e a s o n a b l e t h a t a p u p i l , w i s h i n g
t o b e n e f i t fro m t h e e x t r a p r i v i l e g e s o f f e r e d in
t h e s c h o o l , s h o u l d q u a l i f y t o r e c e i v e t h e s e e x t r a
p r i v i l e g e s by d e m o n s t r a t i n g e x t r a g o o d b e h a v i o r .
U s in g t h i s a s a p r e m i s e o u r s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r
a t t e m p t s t o make goo d b e h a v i o r f a s h i o n a b l e and
r e w a r d i n g .
" E x t r a p r i v i l e g e s " h e r e r e f e r s t o t h o s e e v e n t s ,
a c t i v i t i e s , a n d h o n o r s o v e r and a b o v e t h e e d u c a
t i o n a l p r i v i l e g e s o r o p p o r t u n i t i e s s p e c i f i e d in
t h e law a n d by t h e a d o p t e d c u r r i c u l u m , p a i d f o r
by t h e t a x p a y e r s an d r e q u i r e d o f a p u p i l f o r
g r a d u a t i o n . P a r t i c i p a t i o n on s c h o o l t e a m s , in
dram a c l u b p l a y s , o r a t t e n d a n c e a t a s s e m b l i e s o r
o t h e r s t u d e n t body e v e n t s , o r e l e c t i o n t o c l a s s
o r s t u d e n t bo d y o f f i c e , o r t o r e p r e s e n t t h e
s c h o o l a t f u n c t i o n s o u t s i d e t h e s c h o o l , a r e some
o f t h e e x t r a p r i v i l e g e s r e f e r r e d t o . T h e s e e x t r a
p r i v i l e g e s h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d by e x t r a e f f o r t ,
t i m e , o r money on t h e p a r t o f t h e s t u d e n t b o d y ,
o t h e r i n t r a - s c h o o l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i n d i v i d u a l
p u p i l s , t e a c h e r s , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , o r o u t s i d e
p e r s o n s o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s who a r e p a t r o n s o f t h e
s c h o o l .
To make t h i s " e x t r a p r i v i l e g e " c o n c e p t m ea n
i n g f u l t o a l l p u p i l s t h i s s c h o o l r e q u i r e s a c o n d u c t
g r a d e a s w e l l a s a s c h o l a r s h i p g r a d e f o r e a c h
2 5 8
p e r i o d o f t h e d a y t o b e e n t e r e d on e a c h p u p i l ' s
r e p o r t c a r d e a c h r e p o r t c a r d p e r i o d . Any p u p i l
who r e c e i v e d fro m tw o o r m ore t e a c h e r s t h e b o tto m
c o n d u c t g r a d e ( i n d i c a t i n g an o f f i c e o r n e a r o f f i c e
d i s c i p l i n e c a s e ) i s p u t on t h e s c h o o l ' s "N on-
P r i v i l e g e l i s t . " ( O t h e r nam es may b e a d d e d t o
t h e n o n - p r i v i l e g e l i s t a t a n y t i m e by t h e o f f i c e
a s p a r t o f a c o u n s e l i n g a c t i o n c o n c e r n i n g c h r o n i c
o r s e r i o u s o f f e n d e r s . )
P u p i l s on t h e N o n - P r i v i l e g e d l i s t a r e c a l l e d
i n f o r c o u n s e l i n g and t h o s e sh o w in g a r e c e p t i v e
a t t i t u d e a r e g i v e n a p e r i o d o f t h r e e t o s i x w eek s
t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t h e y a r e w o r t h y o f b e i n g
r e t u r n e d t o " E x t r a P r i v i l e g e S t a t u s . " On t h e
a p p o i n t e d d ay t h e N o n - P r i v i l e g e d p u p i l c a r r i e s
a fo rm upon w h ic h e a c h t e a c h e r r e c o r d s m a rk s f o r
c o n d u c t and e f f o r t . At t h e c l o s e o f t h e d a y t h e
p u p i l p r e s e n t s t h i s c a r d t o h i s c o u n s e l o r t o
s u p p o r t h i s p e t i t i o n f o r r e i n s t a t e m e n t t o E x t r a
P r i v i l e g e S t a t u s .
When an e v e n t , s u c h a s a s t u d e n t body a s s e m b l y ,
c a l l s f o r a l l p u p i l s w i t h E x t r a P r i v i l e g e S t a t u s
t o a t t e n d , t h o s e on t h e N o n - P r i v i l e g e d l i s t r e p o r t
i n s t e a d t o a d e s i g n a t e d s t u d y h a l l w i t h a d e t e n t i o n
t e a c h e r in c h a r g e . A p e r i o d i c a l l y r e v i s e d Non-
P r i v i l e g e d l i s t i s m im e o g ra p h e d and i s s u e d t o
t e a c h e r s .
T h is w h o le i d e a and p r o c e d u r e m ig h t b e
d e s c r i b e d a s a p o s i t i v e a p p r o a c h t o p r e v e n t i v e
d i s c i p l i n e . As w i t h an y m e th o d , i t s im p a c t and
e f f i c i e n c y d e p e n d s l a r g e l y upon how w e l l t h e i d e a
i s s o l d t o t h e s t u d e n t s , t h e t e a c h e r s , and o t h e r
m em bers o f t h e o f f i c e s t a f f , a n d how w e l l i t
i s f o l l o w e d t h r o u g h by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
c h a r g e o f d i s c i p l i n e , i n t h i s c a s e o u r V ic e
P r i n c i p a l .
T h is p l a n h a s b e e n i n e f f e c t i n t h i s s c h o o l
f o r some t i m e . The s c h o o l show s i t s f a i t h i n t h e
human i n d i v i d u a l by c o n f e r r i n g E x t r a P r i v i l e g e
S t a t u s upon e a c h p u p i l e n t e r i n g t h e s c h o o l . Such
259
s t a t u s t h e p u p i l r e t a i n s t h r o u g h o u t h i s h i g h
s c h o o l e n r o l l m e n t - - u n l e s s h e d i s q u a l i f i e s h im
s e l f . In a s much a s t h e r e h a s b e en o n ly a s m a ll
p e r c e n t a g e o f r e p e a t e r s on t h e N o n - P r i v i l e g e d
l i s t , w i t h good s t u d e n t body s p i r i t m a i n t a i n e d ,
t h e p l a n seem s q u i t e s u c c e s s f u l .
P a r e n t C o n t a c t s by T e l e p h o n e ,
L e t t e r o r Home V i s i t
C o n t a c t i n g p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r o r home
v i s i t , a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e t e c h n i q u e , i s
i l l u s t r a t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g s i x i n c i d e n t s .
Two i n c i d e n t s , one fro m New York and one from
C a l i f o r n i a , r e l a t e e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s in c o n t a c t i n g
p a r e n t s by l e t t e r . The s c h o o l in t h e f i r s t i n c i d e n t i s
a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h
t w e l v e , and w i t h an e n r o l l m e n t o f 1 ,3 5 0 p u p i l s ; t h e
se c o n d s c h o o l i s a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l o r g a n i z e d w i t h
g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h tw e lv e and w i t h an e n r o l l m e n t o f m ore
th a n 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
A boy m is s e d a m ak e-u p gym c l a s s on two
s u c c e s s i v e c l a s s e s . I r e p o r t e d him t o t h e
p r i n c i p a l - -h e in t u r n (1) n o t i f i e d t h e boy in
w r i t i n g , (2) n o t i f i e d t h e c o u n s e l o r i n w r i t i n g ,
(3) n o t i f i e d t h e b o y 's p a r e n t s in w r i t i n g , (4)
i n v i t e d t h e p a r e n t s t o come in t o t h e s c h o o l
and d i s c u s s t h e p r o b le m . T h is w o rk ed v e r y
e f f e c t i v e l y .
The i n c i d e n t fro m C a l i f o r n i a i s a s f o l l o w s :
2 6 0
I am d e s c r i b i n g ___________________, a s t u d e n t i n
my P e r i o d 2 C r a f t s C l a s s . He h a d some b a d h a b i t s
a n d seem ed t o i n d i c a t e a l m o s t no s e l f c o n t r o l
in e x p r e s s i n g h i m s e l f . I f i n a l l y h a d t o s e n d him
t o t h e o f f i c e f o r a p p r o p r i a t e a c t i o n . A l e t t e r
w as w r i t t e n t o h i s p a r e n t s c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n t o
h i s i n a p p r o p r i a t e b e h a v i o r . S i n c e t h e n h e h a s
c o m p l e t e d h i s f i r s t p r o j e c t , h a s c a lm e d down, i s
c o u r t e o u s , a n d q u i e t . I t h i n k a l e t t e r home i s
an e f f e c t i v e m eans o f b r i n g i n g a b o u t a p u p i l ' s
a d j u s t m e n t .
Two i n c i d e n t s , t h e f i r s t fro m C a l i f o r n i a an d t h e
s e c o n d fro m O klahom a, r e l a t e e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s i n co n
t a c t i n g p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e . B o th a r e s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e . The
f i r s t i n c i d e n t i s fro m a s c h o o l w i t h an e n r o l l m e n t o f
l e s s t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 ; t h e s e c o n d a s c h o o l w i t h an e n r o l l m e n t
o f m ore t h a n 2 , 5 0 0 .
A t w e l f t h g r a d e boy who h ad b e e n in t h r e e
s e p a r a t e s c h o o l s j o i n e d u s . He was a " p r o b le m
c h i l d , " w i t h u n r u l y t e n d e n c i e s . T h is boy knew
t h a t t h e s c h o o l s y s te m ( l o c a l ) w as "on t h e
s p o t " b e c a u s e a t one o f h i s f o r m e r s c h o o l s a
p ro v o k e d t e a c h e r h a d h i t h im , and h i s f a t h e r
h a d t h r e a t e n e d s u i t . The boy w as t h e r e f o r e
p r o b a b l y h a r d e r t o h a n d l e t h a n u s u a l .
When t h i s y o u n g s t e r c a u s e d a s i t u a t i o n i n
o u r e l e v e n t h g r a d e h i s t o r y c l a s s (he i s m ak in g
up h i s t o r y ) I s k e t c h e d t h e c a s e t o t h e v i c e
p r i n c i p a l . I m m e d ia te ly h e t e l e p h o n e d t h e f a t h e r
a t h i s o f f i c e , p u t t h e c a s e t o h im , and a r r a n g e d
f o r me t o t e l e p h o n e t h e f a t h e r t h e n e x t d a y ,
w h ic h I d i d .
R e s u l t (1 ) t h e f a t h e r saw t h e s i t u a t i o n fro m
t h e s c h o o l ' s p o i n t o f v ie w , " r o d e h e r d " on h i s s o n ,
261
a s k e d f o r f o l l o w - u p t e l e p h o n e r e p o r t , (2 ) so n
p i c k e d u p , n o b lo w s w e re e x c h a n g e d , f a t h e r becam e
p r a c t i c a l l y o u r a l l y w i t h o u t f o r f e i t i n g s o n ' s
f r i e n d s h i p , (3) so n i s a p p a r e n t l y g o i n g t o g r a d u a t e
a f t e r a l l , h a s " p u l l e d i n h i s h o r n s " and a p p a r e n t l y
r e a l i z e s t h a t t e a c h e r s and p u p i l s c a n b e f r i e n d l y .
The O klahom a i n c i d e n t i s a s f o l l o w s :
T h is p a r t i c u l a r i n c i d e n t i n v o l v e d a h i g h
s c h o o l boy who d i s t u r b e d c l a s s by t a l k i n g and
m a k in g q u e e r n o i s e s w i t h h i s m o u th . When h e w as
a s k e d t o im p ro v e h i s c o n d u c t , h e becam e im p u d e n t
a n d s a s s y . He was t h e n s e n t t o t h e c o u n s e l o r ' s
o f f i c e .
The c o u n s e l o r who i s v e r y t a c t f u l i n h a n d l i n g
s u c h c a s e s , f i r s t t a l k e d t o t h e s t u d e n t an d t r i e d
t o a d v i s e h im . A f t e r some t i m e , t h e boy a d m i t t e d
h e w as w ro n g w h ic h w as one p o i n t i n h i s f a v o r .
The n e x t t h i n g t h e c o u n s e l o r d i d w as t o c o n
t a c t t h e b o y ' s m o th e r by t e l e p h o n e . He r e l a t e d
t o h e r t h e s o n ' s a t t i t u d e , an d e x p l a i n e d h i s
m e th o d o f p r o c e d u r e i n s u c h i n s t a n c e s .
The f o l l o w i n g d a y t h e b o y r e t u r n e d t o c l a s s
a c c o m p a n ie d by h i s a d v i s e r who a s s u r e d h im t h a t ,
i f h e f a i l e d t o c o o p e r a t e , h e w o u ld b e e x p e l l e d
u n t i l h e c o u l d g i v e a s s u r a n c e o f p r o p e r c o n d u c t .
The s t u d e n t re s u m e d h i s c l a s s w o rk and h a s had
a n i c e a t t i t u d e s i n c e .
S e v e r a l d a y s l a t e r , t h e boy r e m a r k e d a b o u t
how much b e t t e r t h e c l a s s was w o r k i n g . He a l s o
a d d e d , " I g u e s s I do h a v e some i n f l u e n c e , and
fro m now o n , i t w i l l b e g o o d . "
Two i n c i d e n t s e x e m p l i f y t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f c o n
t a c t i n g p a r e n t s by v i s i t i n g h o m es. B o th w e re r e p o r t e d by
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s i n s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
262
t h r o u g h n i n e an d w i t h fe w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r ,
t h e s e c o n d by a N e b r a s k a t e a c h e r .
On a f i e l d t r i p , a boy had o p e n ed t h e window
o f t h e b u s and w as s p i t t i n g on c a r s t h a t p a s s e d
b y . I t o o k t h e boy t o t h e b o y s ' v i c e p r i n c i p a l
a n d h e i m m e d ia te l y t o o k t h e boy home t o t a l k
t o h i s p a r e n t s a b o u t t h e i n c i d e n t .
The p ro m p t a c t i o n on t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l ' s
p a r t w h ic h was w i t n e s s e d by o t h e r s t u d e n t s was
e s p e c i a l l y e f f e c t i v e in t h i s c a s e .
The i n c i d e n t fro m N e b r a s k a f o l l o w s :
In t h e f a l l s e v e r a l g i r l s i n f l u e n c e d o t h e r
g i r l s and b o y s t o c o n g r e g a t e a t an a l l e y e n t r a n c e
f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f sm ok ing a f t e r t h e i r l u n c h . T h is
was w i t h i n a h a l f b l o c k o f s c h o o l . One o f t h e
t e a c h e r s h e a r d a r e m a rk a b o u t i t and r e p o r t e d i t t o
o u r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l . She g o t i n h e r c a r s l o w l y
e n o u g h t o b e n o t i c e d . The b o y s and g i r l s s c a t t e r e d .
The n e x t day t h e y g a n g e d up a g a i n , s h e d r o v e down
t h e s t r e e t and t h e y a g a i n d i s p e r s e d .
The n e x t n i g h t t h e y g a n g e d u p a f t e r s c h o o l ,
and sh e came q u i c k l y an d to o k tw o o f t h e g i r l s
s t r a i g h t home. By t h i s tim e s h e was p r e t t y s u r e
who t h e l e a d e r s w e r e - - g i r l s who h ad b e e n in o t h e r
p ro b le m s a t s c h o o l . As f a r a s I know t h e r e h a s
b e e n no r e p e t i t i o n o f t h i s s i t u a t i o n .
G roup C o u n s e l i n g
T h r e e i n c i d e n t s , two fro m t e a c h e r s i n C a l i f o r n i a
and o ne fro m a t e a c h e r i n M o n ta n a , d e s c r i b e t h e u s e o f
c o u n s e l i n g a w h o le g r o u p a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
t e c h n i q u e .
2 6 3
The f i r s t tw o i n c i d e n t s w e r e r e c e i v e d fro m s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l s i n tw o d i f f e r e n t C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s , b o t h
o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e a n d b o t h
e n r o l l i n g f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 s t u d e n t s :
D u r in g r e c e n t w e ek s o c c a s i o n s h a v e a r i s e n
w h e re t e e n - a g e s t u d e n t s a n d y o u n g a d u l t s h a v e
c o n f l i c t e d w i t h s o c i e t y a n d law e n f o r c e m e n t
a g e n c i e s t o s u c h an e x t e n t t h a t t h e r e p u t a t i o n
o f s c h o o l s becam e i n v o l v e d . T h e s e g r o u p s w o u ld
r a i d p r i v a t e p a r t i e s , s p o n s o r u n c h a p e r o n e d p a r t i e s
w h e re t h e r e w o u ld b e e x c e s s i v e d r i n k i n g , f i g h t
i n g , g a n g - u p on s e r v i c e men a t D r i v e - I n s , e t c . ,
r e s u l t i n g i n f i g h t s r e q u i r i n g q u i c k a c t i o n by
l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s . W h erea s t h e s e i n c i
d e n t s t o o k p l a c e o u t s i d e t h e s c h o o l , a t o ne
tim e s t u d e n t s becam e i n v o l v e d i n an i n c i d e n t
l e a d i n g t o a r r e s t s on t h e s c h o o l c a m p u s. S t u
d e n t s f a i l e d t o k e e p t h e s i t u a t i o n u n d e r c o n t r o l
an d becam e a b u s i v e an d d i s r e s p e c t f u l to w a r d l o c a l
p o l i c e . The i n c i d e n t , h a v i n g o c c u r r e d on t h e
s c h o o l c a m p u s, b r o u g h t im m e d ia te a c t i o n on t h e
p a r t o f t h e p r i n c i p a l . An a s s e m b ly w as c a l l e d
and t h e s t u d e n t s w e r e t o l d i n a v e r y n i c e b u t
f i r m way e x a c t l y w h a t s u c h a c t i o n an d c o n d u c t
c o u l d l e a d t o .
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f b e t t e r c o n t r o l o f
s t u d e n t a c t i o n s i n s u c h c a s e s w as p l a c e d d i r e c t l y
upon t h e s t u d e n t b o d y . F a i l u r e on t h e i r p a r t t o
s o l v e t h e s e p r o b le m s w o u ld mean t h a t t h e t e a c h e r s
a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w o u ld h a v e t o s t e p i n . As a
r e s u l t t h e s t u d e n t b o d y a c c e p t e d i t s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
and t o o k n e c e s s a r y a c t i o n t o p r e v e n t f u r t h e r
i n c i d e n t s . The p o l i c y b e i n g , o f c o u r s e , t h a t
s t u d e n t s m u st a c c e p t t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e i r
own b e h a v i o r a n d c o n d u c t .
The s e c o n d C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t w as a s f o l l o w s :
I am a p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n t e a c h e r . In a
c l a s s o f f o r t y - f i v e g i r l s I h a d f o u r t e e n N eg ro
264
g i r l s who w e re a b i g p ro b le m b e c a u s e o f p o o r
s p o r t s m a n s h i p . They u s e d p r o f a n i t y a n d w e re
lo u d and n o i s y . I h a d t h e Dean o f G i r l s come
o u t t o t h e c l a s s and s p e a k t o t h e g r o u p a l o n e .
She sp o k e f i r m l y an d v e r y s t r o n g l y t o t h e p o i n t .
She t o l d them t h e n e x t tim e an y o f them w e re
r e p o r t e d t o h e r t h a t t h e y w e re t o b e s u s p e n d e d
fro m s c h o o l .
I h a d no f u r t h e r t r o u b l e w i t h th em . In f a c t ,
f o u r o f t h e g ro u p becam e f i n e l e a d e r s in t h e
c l a s s . I f e e l t h a t s h e d i d an e x c e l l e n t j o b
in sho w in g t h e g i r l s t h a t t h e y w e re d o in g t h e
r e s t o f t h e N egro s t u d e n t s in t h e s c h o o l a l o t
o f harm by a c t i n g c r u d e an d u n l a d y l i k e .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t , r e p o r t e d by a M ontana
t e a c h e r , d e s c r i b e d t h e u s e o f many e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s , i n c l u d i n g c o u n s e l i n g a w h o le g ro u p on t h e
p ro b le m o f h a z i n g .
One o f t h e m ost e f f e c t i v e and p r a i s e w o r t h y
a c h i e v e m e n t s in t h e f i e l d o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e
w h ic h h a s b e en a c c o m p l i s h e d in o u r h i g h s c h o o l
was t h e e n d in g o f fre s h m a n h a z i n g .
At t h e tim e o u r p r i n c i p a l assu m ed o f f i c e
i t h a d b e en t h e c u s to m f o r u p p e r c l a s s s t u d e n t s
t o a c c o s t a l l fre s h m e n and o t h e r new s t u d e n t s
on t h e f i r s t d ay o f s c h o o l e a c h y e a r and daub
t h e i r f a c e s w i t h l i p s t i c k . W h ile t h i s c u sto m
h a d s t a r t e d by p r i n t i n g t h e w ord " F r o s h " o r some
o t h e r s u c h w ord on t h e f o r e h e a d o f e a c h new
f r e s h m a n , i t h a d grown t o su c h p r o p o r t i o n s t h a t
s t u d e n t s w e re sm e a re d o v e r t h e i r e n t i r e f a c e s
fro m t h e i r h a i r l i n e s t o t h e i r d r e s s o r s h i r t
c o l l a r s - - e v e n t h e i r h a i r was d a u b e d , a s w e l l a s
t h e i r h a n d s and a rm s . N e e d l e s s t o s a y , t h e
r e s u l t was t h a t e v e r y t h i n g t h e y to u c h e d o r came
i n c o n t a c t w i t h was s m e a r e d - - d o o r s and d o o r k n o b s ,
w oodw ork, c a s i n g s , w a s h b o w ls , d r i n k i n g f o u n t a i n s ,
2 65
e t c . , t o s a y n o t h i n g o f t h e i r c l o t h i n g . The
u p p e r - c l a s s s t u d e n t s , o f c o u r s e , h a d l i p s t i c k
a l l o v e r t h e i r h a n d s fro m t h e h a n d l i n g o f i t ,
and t h e f l o o r s w e re b a d l y m ark e d w h e re p i e c e s
o f t h e l i p s t i c k h ad b e en d r o p p e d a n d w a lk e d o n .
Much o f t h e d a u b in g a c t i v i t y w o u ld o c c u r on t h e
way t o s c h o o l o r o u t s i d e t h e b u i l d i n g b e f o r e
c l a s s e s c o n v e n e d , b u t i t a l s o t o o k p l a c e i n t h e
h a l l s , l a v a t o r i e s , a n d t o some e x t e n t ev en i n t h e
c l a s s r o o m s . In many i n s t a n c e s , t h e fr e s h m e n
w o u ld sm ear t h e m s e l v e s and n o t w a i t f o r some o f
t h e o l d e r s t u d e n t s t o do i t f o r th em . I s u p p o s e
t h i s was done p a r t l y in a s p i r i t o f d a r i n g and
p a r t l y o u t o f t h e u r g e t o p ro v e t h e m s e l v e s "o n e
o f t h e c r o w d ." E v ery b o d y r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e c u s
tom was d e p l o r a b l e , b u t n e a r l y e v e r y o n e had t h e
f e e l i n g t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e was o f su c h l o n g
s t a n d i n g t h a t n o t h i n g c o u l d b e do ne a b o u t i t .
When o u r p r e s e n t p r i n c i p a l assu m ed o f f i c e , h e
d e t e r m i n e d t h a t s o m e th in g s h o u l d b e , an d w o u ld b e ,
don e a b o u t p u t t i n g a s t o p t o t h i s p r a c t i c e . Each
s p r i n g h e g o e s a r o u n d t o v i s i t t h e e i g h t e e n e l e
m e n ta r y s c h o o l s i n t h e d i s t r i c t , t a l k i n g t o t h e
m em bers o f t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s e s who w i l l be
e n t e r i n g h i g h s c h o o l t h e n e x t f a l l , e x p l a i n i n g
t h e c o u r s e s o f f e r e d , e t c . On t h e s e v i s i t s h e
t a l k e d t o them a b o u t t h e h a z i n g c u s to m , a t t e m p t i n g
t o show them t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e was o u t d a t e d and
t h a t t h e y w ould be w elco m ed , n o t h a r a s s e d , by t h e
o l d e r s t u d e n t s , m aking i t p l a i n t h a t t h e y s h o u ld
n o t e x p e c t n o r d e s i r e t h e h a z i n g e x p e r i e n c e .
D u rin g t h e summer h e s e n t p e r s o n a l l e t t e r s t o t h e
p a r e n t s o f e v e r y yo ung s t u d e n t who w o u ld b e
e n t e r i n g h i g h s c h o o l in t h e f a l l , an d t h e s e
l e t t e r s - - a l o n g w i t h o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a l m a t e
r i a l - - s t r e s s i n g t h e same f a c t . In l a t e A u g u s t,
b e f o r e t h e o p e n in g o f s c h o o l , h e h e l d an " o r i e n t a
t i o n " d ay f o r a l l new s t u d e n t s , and a t t h i s tim e
a l s o h e t a l k e d t o them a b o u t t h e u n d e s i r a b i l i t y
o f h a z i n g . S h o r t l y b e f o r e s c h o o l o p e n e d h e s e c u r e d
t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e n e w s p a p e r s a n d had them
p r i n t a s e r i e s o f a r t i c l e s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e com ing
s c h o o l s e s s i o n , and i n e a c h o f t h e s e h e made an
2 6 6
i n d i r e c t a p p e a l t o t h e u p p e r - g r a d e s t u d e n t s t o
c o o p e r a t e and t o r e f r a i n fro m t h e p r a c t i c e o f
d a u b in g l i p s t i c k o r any o t h e r fo rm o f h a z i n g ,
s t r e s s i n g t h e f a c t t h a t h a z i n g was o u tm o d e d , o u t -
o f - d a t e , p a s s e , e t c . , a n d t h a t m odern p r a c t i c e
w as t o w elcom e and a s s i s t new s t u d e n t s . In
v a r i o u s s u b t l e w ays h e p r a i s e d them ( f o r t h e
c o n d u c t h e h o p e d f o r ) . T h e n ,o n t h e f i r s t day o f
s c h o o l , t e a c h e r s w e re a s s i g n e d t o d e f i n i t e p o s i
t i o n s i n and a r o u n d t h e s c h o o l b u i l d i n g f o r t h e
h a l f h o u r b e f o r e s t u d e n t s h a d t o r e p o r t t o t h e i r
c l a s s r o o m s - - s o m e w e re a s s i g n e d t o e a c h e n t r a n c e ,
some t o t h e g ro u n d s and t h e s t r e e t s a d j a c e n t t o
t h e s c h o o l , some t o t h e l a v a t o r i e s and o t h e r
s t r a t e g i c p l a c e s , an d o t h e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e
h a l l s . E v ery t e a c h e r was g i v e n a j o b an d a
d e f i n i t e p l a c e i n w h ic h t o w o rk , a n d we w e re t o l d
t h a t i t was o u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o do e v e r y t h i n g
p o s s i b l e t o s t o p t h e h a z i n g and t o c a l l t h e
o f f i c e i f we n e e d e d a s s i s t a n c e . We w e re i n s t r u c t e d
t o c o n f i s c a t e a l l l i p s t i c k s w h ic h w e re b e i n g u s e d
f o r h a z i n g , and t o t a k e an y fre s h m e n who w e re
a l r e a d y d a u b ed u p t o t h e w ashroom s a n d h a v e them
c l e a n t h e m s e l v e s u p , t h u s a v o i d i n g t h e i n c e n t i v e
t o o t h e r s t o e n g a g e i n h a z i n g i f t h e y saw some
s t u d e n t s a l r e a d y m ark ed u p .
The r e s u l t s e x c e e d e d a l l e x p e c t a t i o n s . The
f i r s t y e a r t h e r e w e re p e r h a p s a h a l f d o z en s t u d e n t s
who w e re m arked up an d t h r e e o r f o u r o f t h e u p p e r -
g r a d e s t u d e n t s w e re fo u n d g u i l t y o f d o in g t h e
h a z i n g . In t h e two y e a r s s i n c e t h a t t i m e , we h a v e
n o t fo u n d m ore t h a n one o r two s t u d e n t s who h ad
b e e n h a z e d - - a s co m p a red w i t h f o u r o r f i v e h u n d r e d
i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s .
C o n f e r e n c e w i t h P u p i l , T e a c h e r , and P a r e n t
Two i n c i d e n t s , b o t h fro m s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
t e a c h e r s in C a l i f o r n i a , w e re s e l e c t e d t o show t h e p u p i l -
t e a c h e r - p a r e n t - a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e a s an e f f e c t i v e
267
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e t e c h n i q u e . Two s t a t e m e n t s o f p o l i c y from
o t h e r t e a c h e r s r e g a r d i n g t h e u s e o f t h e t e c h n i q u e a r e
a l s o i n c l u d e d .
A C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r i n a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l ,
o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s se v e n t h r o u g h tw e lv e an d e n r o l l i n g
1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s , r e p o r t e d t h i s i n c i d e n t and
s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n tio n e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g :
I c a n c e r t a i n l y r e c a l l an i n c i d e n t t h a t
e a r n e d p r a i s e f o r my p r i n c i p a l from me. I t
h a p p e n e d when I o p e n ly c r i t i c i z e d o n e o f my
s t u d e n t s f o r h e r c o n d u c t w h ic h h a d b e e n t o s u b
v e r t t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e t e a c h e r . You know t h e
k i n d o f s t u f f I m ean: t h e m um bling t o g i r l
f r i e n d s i n t h e b a c k o f t h e room , t h e r e s e n t f u l
l o o k s , t h e f a c e - m a k in g b e h in d t h e t e a c h e r ' s b a c k ,
t h e w h i s p e r i n g and t h e a t t e m p t s t o d i s s u a d e t h e
godd y o u n g s t e r fro m p e r f o r m i n g h i s o r h e r d u t i e s .
To make a , l o n g s t o r y s h o r t , I h a d t h e g i r l l e a v e .
Her b e h a v i o r , an d t h a t o f h e r m o th e r r a n som e
t h i n g l i k e t h i s : h y s t e r i c a l p hone c a l l s t o my
h o u s e , r a n t i n g and r a v i n g f o r t e n m in u t e s on t h e
p h o n e . I f i n a l l y , a f t e r t a k i n g so much, hung
u p . H y s t e r i c a l m o th e r and d a u g h t e r c h a r g e d i n t o
s c h o o l t h e n e x t d a y . C o n f e r e n c e w i t h them and
p r i n c i p a l f o l lo w e d f o r me. The p r i n c i p a l b a c k e d
up t h e t e a c h e r t o t h e f u l l e s t , e x p l a i n i n g in
p a t i e n t b u t i n s i s t e n t t e r m s , t h a t t h e d a u g h t e r
was in t h e w ro n g , and t h a t t h e t e a c h e r was in
t h e r i g h t , and t h a t was t h a t . E v ery tim e t h e
m o th e r a t t e m p t e d t o i r t j e c t e i t h e r an e m o t i o n a l
a r g u m e n t, o r d i g r e s s t o some o t h e r i s s u e , t h e
p r i n c i p a l w o u ld b r i n g h e r b a c k t o t h e m ain p o i n t :
t h a t h e r d a u g h t e r had n o t a c t e d p r o p e r l y and
t h a t t h e t e a c h e r was e x c e e d i n g l y p a t i e n t in n o t
h a v in g s e n t t h e d a u g h t e r o u t o f t h e room e a r l i e r .
T h is ty p e o f b a c k i n g by an a d m i n i s t r a t o r i s t h e
t y p e t h a t e a r n s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t h e r e s p e c t
2 6 8
o f t h e f a c u l t y a t l a r g e , and t h e i n d i v i d u a l
t e a c h e r in p a r t i c u l a r .
A Wyoming j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d t h e
f o l l o w i n g s c h o o l - w i d e p o l i c y a b o u t t h e c o n f e r e n c e t e c h
n i q u e . The s c h o o l was o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h
n i n e and h a d an e n r o l l m e n t o f f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
Our s e v e n t h g r a d e r s t h i s y e a r w e re g e n e r a l l y
i l l - m a n n e r e d and a p o o r l y d i s c i p l i n e d g r o u p , when
t h e y e n t e r e d o u r s c h o o l l a s t f a l l . O rd e r was
f i n a l l y a t t a i n e d when s t u d e n t s w e re t o l d by o u r
p r i n c i p a l t h a t a s e c o n d o f f e n s e in an y m is c o n d u c t
w o u ld r e s u l t in a p a r e n t - s t u d e n t - t e a c h e r c o n
f e r e n c e . In o t h e r w o r d s , p a r e n t s w o u ld be c a l l e d
in t o r e - i n s t a t e t h e i r c h i l d r e n . I b e l i e v e t h i s
was e f f e c t i v e b e c a u s e m o st o f t h e p a r e n t s w ork
( m o th e rs t o o ) and t h e c h i l d r e n knew t h e i n c o n
v e n i e n c e an d a n g e r t h a t m ig h t r e s u l t on t h e p a r t
o f t h e p a r e n t s . I t w o rk e d !
A s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in C a l i f o r n i a r e p o r t e d
t h e f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t sh o w in g t h e p u p i l - t e a c h e r - p a r e n t -
a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
t e c h n i q u e . The s c h o o l i n c l u d e d g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e lv e
and e n r o l l e d 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
As a t e a c h e r in a t h r e e t r a c k m ath p ro g ra m
i n h i g h s c h o o l w h e re in c o m in g fre s h m e n a r e s c h e d
u l e d i n t o e i t h e r a l g e b r a , m ath I , o r r e m e d i a l
m a t h e m a t i c s , I t e a c h t h e m id d le g r o u p g e n e r a l
m a t h e m a t i c s . E a r l y i n t h e y e a r I was p l a g u e d by
t h e c o n s t a n t t a l k i n g an d d i s t u r b a n c e c a u s e d by
one s m a ll fre s h m a n boy (who, i n c i d e n t a l l y , u l t i
m a t e l y was e l e c t e d p r e s i d e n t o f h i s fre s h m a n
c l a s s ) . A f t e r f r u i t l e s s l y t r y i n g t h e u s u a l
t e c h n i q u e s - - p l e a d i n g , t h r e a t e n i n g , e n t i c i n g , e t c .
- - t o r e f o r m t h e boy I f i n a l l y s e n t a d i s c i p l i n a r y
n o t i c e t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l r e l a t i n g t h e
2 6 9
u n h e a l t h y s i t u a t i o n . T h e r e u p o n , t h e v i c e p r i n
c i p a l c a l l e d f o r a p u p i l , p a r e n t , t e a c h e r , v i c e
p r i n c i p a l c o n f e r e n c e t o t a l k o v e r t h e s i t u a t i o n .
The b o y 's m o th e r was q u i t e b e l l i g e r e n t a n d t h e
f a t h e r m o s t l y p a s s i v e t h r o u g h t h e f i r s t p a r t
o f t h e c o n f a b . The m o th e r m ade many r a t h e r
r i d i c u l o u s s t a t e m e n t s c o n c e r n i n g t h e p a s t c o n
d u c t a n d a c h i e v e m e n t o f h e r s o n , h e r i m p r e s s i o n
o f h i s I n t e l l e c t u a l l e v e l , h i s p r o g r e s s and
r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o t h e r t e a c h e r s c u r r e n t l y and
my p e r s i s t e n c e i n s i n g l i n g o u t h e r so n a s a
t a r g e t f o r p u n i s h m e n t . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l
l i s t e n e d p o l i t e l y , m ade a few i n c o n s p i c u o u s
n o t e s , an d t h e n w i t h r e c o r d s a t h a n d an d i n a
v e r y d i p l o m a t i c m an n e r p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e
o b j e c t o f o u r d i s c u s s i o n h a d g r a d e s r e c o r d e d in
h i s r e c o r d much lo w e r t h a n t h o s e s h e h a d q u o t e d ,
i n f o r m e d t h e m o th e r t h a t h i s a c h i e v e m e n t l e v e l
w as n o t h i g h en o u g h t o q u a l i f y him f o r a l g e b r a ,
an d d i s p l a y e d com m uniques fro m o t h e r t e a c h e r s
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t h i s d e p o r t m e n t w as n o t a l l t h a t
i t c o u l d b e . T h is m i l d b a r r a g e " t o o k some
o f t h e w in d o u t " o f t h e i r a t e m o t h e r ' s s a i l s
an d s h e a p p e a r e d t o b e g i n e n t e r t a i n i n g t h e i d e a
t h a t h e r so n p o s s i b l y c o u l d b e a t f a u l t . We
t h e n s e t a b o u t t o d e c i d e how we c o u l d b e s t c a u s e
an im p ro v e m e n t i n h i s b e h a v i o r . I t w as d e c i d e d
t h a t t h e p a r e n t s w o u ld k e e p t a b a n d t h e l i n e s
o f c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n t h e t e a c h e r , c o u n s e l o r ,
an d v i c e p r i n c i p a l b r k e p t o p e n . The s t u d e n t ' s
b e h a v i o r d i d im p r o v e , p r o b a b l y p a r t l y a s a r e s u l t
o f l o s i n g t h e sy m p a th y an d s u p p o r t o f h i s m o th e r
i n h i s r e v o l t a g a i n s t a u t h o r i t y .
A s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in C a l i f o r n i a r e p o r t e d
t h e f o l l o w i n g s c h o o l p o l i c y r e g a r d i n g h a n d l i n g c a s e s o f
c h e a t i n g t h r o u g h c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h p u p i l , t e a c h e r , p a r e n t ,
an d a d m i n i s t r a t o r . The s c h o o l h a s g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e l v e a n d 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s .
2 7 0
C h e a t i n g on t e s t s i s h a n d l e d m o s t a d e q u a t e l y
by o u r d e a n o f g i r l s . I n s t e a d o f g i v i n g t h e
g i r l an " F ” on t h e t e s t a n d l e t t i n g t h e i n c i d e n t
d r o p , t h e g i r l i s n o t p e r m i t t e d t o t a k e a n o t h e r
t e s t i n t h e c l a s s u n t i l b o t h p a r e n t s come t o
t h e s c h o o l an d a c o n f e r e n c e i s h e l d b e tw e e n t h e
g i r l , b o t h p a r e n t s , t h e d e a n , a n d t h e t e a c h e r .
I f t h e s t u d e n t i s n o t p ro m p t in g e t t i n g h e r
p a r e n t s t o come t o s c h o o l , s h e w i l l u l t i m a t e l y
f a i l t h e c o u r s e . T h u s , t h e s i t u a t i o n b ecom es
a r e a l l e a r n i n g s i t u a t i o n f o r t h e s t u d e n t .
C h e a t i n g h a s b e e n e l i m i n a t e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y
a s a r e s u l t . T h is p o l i c y i s now b e i n g f o r m u
l a t e d .
E x p u l s i o n fro m S c h o o l
The f o l l o w i n g f o u r i n c i d e n t s , t h r e e fro m s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s an d o n e fro m a s c h o o l , t h e o r g a n i z a
t i o n o f w h ic h w as n o t d e s i g n a t e d , m e n tio n t h e p r o c e d u r e
o f ’’e x p e l l i n g o r d r o p p i n g t h e p u p i l fro m s c h o o l ” a s h a v i n g
b e e n e f f e c t i v e l y u s e d by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
From N e v a d a , t h e f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t r e c o u n t e d
t h e u s e o f e x p u l s i o n t o s o l v e a r a c i a l p r o b le m . I t was
r e p o r t e d by a t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e l v e and b e tw e e n 1 ,5 0 1 a n d 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
U s u a l l y d i s c i p l i n e i n o u r s c h o o l i s h a n d l e d
by t h e i n d i v i d u a l t e a c h e r s a n d s e ld o m i s t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n v o l v e d . H ow ever, l a s t f a l l w h i l e
I w as on noon y a r d d u t y , t h e r e w e r e s e v e r a l
i n c i d e n t s o f n e a r r a c e r i o t s . The l e a d e r s w e re
fro m a d e e p s o u t h b a c k g r o u n d . At t h e h e i g h t o f
t h e s e i n c i d e n t s , t h e p r i n c i p a l p e r m a n e n t l y
e x p e l l e d t h e i n d i v i d u a l s who show ed p r e j u d i c e
271
and a lm o s t i m m e d ia te ly t h e s i t u a t i o n c l e a r e d up
an d we h a v e h a d no s u c h i n c i d e n t s s i n c e .
From S o u th D a k o ta , t h i s i n c i d e n t o f t h e e f f e c t i v e
u s e o f e x p u l s i o n was r e p o r t e d by a t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l
e n r o l l i n g 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s . The t y p e o f s c h o o l
o r g a n i z a t i o n was n o t s t a t e d .
A boy fro m t h i s s c h o o l s t r u c k and i n j u r e d
a boy fro m a n o t h e r s c h o o l w h i l e s e v e r a l s c h o o l s
w e re a s s e m b le d f o r a m u sic f e s t i v a l . The boy
who d i d t h e s t r i k i n g was e x p e l l e d from s c h o o l
f o r t h e r e m a in d e r o f t h e s c h o o l y e a r .
From C a l i f o r n i a , two i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g t h e
e f f e c t i v e u s e o f e x p u l s i o n a s an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e v i c e
w e re r e p o r t e d by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s . The f i r s t
came fro m a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e and
u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 in p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t ; t h e se c o n d fro m a s c h o o l
w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e lv e and w i t h m ore t h a n 2 ,5 0 0
in p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t .
S t u d e n t a c h r o n i c c a s e w i t h a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
A lm ost 18 y e a r s o l d , i r r e g u l a r a t t e n d a n c e , f a i l
in g c o u r s e an d m ak in g no e f f o r t , i n my c l a s s o r
i n h i s o t h e r s in s p i t e o f e f f o r t s o f c o u n s e l o r s .
S i t u a t i o n a r o s e w h e re g r o u p o f b oys v i o l a t i n g
t e a c h e r s * r e q u e s t s and b e i n g " l e d " by s t u d e n t
in q u e s t i o n , who o c c a s i o n a l l y , when b o r e d b e c a u s e
n o t p a r t i c i p a t i n g , w o uld s e e k h i s own d i v e r s i o n
a t e x p e n s e o f c l a s s a c t i v i t y . O c c a s io n m e n tio n e d
i n v o l v e d " m e s s in g " up b u l l e t i n b o a r d , d u r i n g
i n f o r m a l " m i l k - b r e a k ." Went t o a s s i s t a n t p r i n
c i p a l t o i n q u i r e a b o u t h a v in g boy rem oved fro m
c l a s s b e c a u s e o f c o n s t a n t p ro b le m t o me i n
c o n d u c t i n g c l a s s . Met p r i n c i p a l i n h a l l , t o l d
2 7 2
him s t o r y ; h e a s k e d me i f I w a n te d boy o u t " r i g h t
n o w ." I s a i d n o , w a s n ' t a d e f e n s i b l e s o l u t i o n t o
my o r b o y ' s p r o b le m . P r i n c i p a l cam e t o c l a s s ,
s p o k e t o b o y s i n v o l v e d , n o t p i n n i n g " r i n g l e a d e r "
down, b u t e x t o r t i n g t o b e t t e r c o o p e r a t i o n . When
p r i n c i p a l l e f t , s t u d e n t In q u e s t i o n m ade fu n o f
p r i n c i p a l a n d h i s m e s s a g e . S e n t s t u d e n t i m m e d i a t e l y
t o p r i n c i p a l a s k i n g h i s r e m o v a l fro m my c l a s s .
P r i n c i p a l r e t u r n e d i n f i v e m i n u t e s , w i t h s t u d e n t
t o s i g n him o u t o f my c l a s s , a n d o u t o f s c h o o l .
S t u d e n t w as e x p e l l e d fro m s c h o o l . E f f e c t on
c l a s s was s i n g u l a r .
The s e c o n d C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
T h is c e r t a i n a f t e r n o o n I h a d t o a d m o n ish
a s t u d e n t . I was n o t a n g r y n o r d i d I becom e
s o . The s t u d e n t f l a r e d u p , u s e d o b s c e n e
l a n g u a g e , a n d t h e n swung a t m e . I t o o k t h e
s t u d e n t t o t h e o f f i c e w h e re I r e l a t e d t h e a b o v e
i n c i d e n t . Im m e d ia te a c t i o n w as t a k e n . I f i l l e d
o u t a n a f f i d a v i t a s t o t h e a b o v e and t h e s t u d e n t
w as e x p e l l e d fro m s c h o o l .
A rra n g e m e n t f o r E asy an d Prom pt
A p o lo g y by P u p i l
Two i n c i d e n t s , b o t h fro m C a l i f o r n i a , w e re s e l e c t e d
t o show t h e u s e o f p u p i l a p o lo g y a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e t e c h n i q u e .
The f i r s t was r e p o r t e d by a Los A n g e le s t e a c h e r
in a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h
n i n e and a p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t o f u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 .
The i n c i d e n t w h ic h I h a v e i n m ind i s w h e re
a boy becam e d i s g u s t e d w i t h a sh o p p r o j e c t an d
th r e w i t i n t h e t r a s h c a n . The t e a c h e r t o o k i t
o u t o f t h e c a n an d t r i e d t o r e a s o n w i t h t h e
273
s t u d e n t a s t o why h e s h o u l d f i n i s h t h e p r o j e c t
i n s t e a d o f d i s r u p t i n g t h e c l a s s w i t h h i s " h o r s e -
p l a y i n g " i n t h e s h o p . He becam e i n s u b o r d i n a t e
a n d r e f u s e d t o do a n y t h i n g t h e t e a c h e r a s k e d o f
h im . As a l a s t r e s o r t , h e was c a r r i e d t o t h e
v i c e p r i n c i p a l ' s o f f i c e f o r p u n i s h m e n t . The
v i c e p r i n c i p a l h a d a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h h im and
d e c i d e d t h a t r a t h e r t h a n s e n d t h e b o y home a s
h e w a n te d him t o , h e a s k e d h im t o r e t u r n t o t h e
s h o p w i t h him an d t o m ake an open a p o lo g y t o
t h e t e a c h e r an d c l a s s f o r h i s b e h a v i o r . I t h i n k
t h a t was a v e r y u n i q u e way t o h a v e s o l v e d t h e
m a t t e r b e c a u s e s i n c e t h e n t h e boy h a s b e e n v e r y
c o o p e r a t i v e an d h a s c a u s e d v e r y l i t t l e t r o u b l e .
B efo re t h i s i n c i d e n t , h e w as c o n s t a n t l y a t o d ds
w i t h o t h e r s .
A n o th e r i n c i d e n t sh o w in g t h e u s e o f p u p i l a p o lo g y
a s an e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e v i c e came fro m a t e a c h e r
i n a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e l v e , and w i t h a p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t o f 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 .
R e c e n t l y a num ber o f b o y s s t a r t e d a fo o d
t h r o w i n g c o n t e s t i n t h e s c h o o l c a f e t e r i a . B e f o r e
l o n g m o st o f t h e 600 some s t u d e n t s w e re i n v o l v e d .
I t w as s t o p p e d by t e a c h e r s , b u t t h e n e x t d ay o u r
p r i n c i p a l q u i e t l y a s k e d f o r and g o t t h e a t t e n t i o n
o f t h e s t u d e n t s d u r i n g l u n c h . He e x p l a i n e d t h a t
an u n f o r t u n a t e i n c i d e n t h a d o c c u r r e d i n w h ic h
some u n t h i n k i n g s t u d e n t s b r o u g h t d i s r e p u t e upon
t h e s t u d e n t b o d y . T h a t t h i s w o u ld f u r t h e r c a u s e
p e o p l e t o lo o k down up o n t e e n a g e r s b e c a u s e o f
t h e a c t s o f t h e few . He c a l l e d f o r t h e r i n g
l e a d e r s t o p u b l i c l y a p o l o g i z e t o t h e s t u d e n t
bod y by s t a n d i n g . A bout 20 b o y s i m m e d ia te l y
s t o o d . I t w as d o n e i n s u c h a way a s n o t t o
e m b a r r a s s a n y o n e and s t i l l b r i n g home t h e f a c t
t h a t s u c h an a c t b r o u g h t n o t h i n g b u t b a d p u b
l i c i t y . S i n c e t h e n , n o t h i n g h a s e v e r b e e n s a i d .
The a p o lo g y w as a c c e p t e d w i t h o u t com m ent. The
i n c i d e n t h a s n o t h a p p e n e d a g a i n . A m o st e f f e c
t i v e and im m e d ia te s t e p was t a k e n .
2 7 4
V I. CRITICAL INCIDENTS REVEALING INEFFECTIVE
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Among t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s w h ic h i l l u s t r a t e d
t y p i c a l l y i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s and p r o
c e d u r e s , n i n e c a t e g o r i e s w e re s e l e c t e d f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n
h e r e . The n i n e c a t e g o r i e s m e n tio n e d m o st f r e q u e n t l y
w e r e : (1) d i d n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t e a c h e r knows - - f a i l e d
t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f any a c t i o n ; (2) m e r e ly t a l k e d t o t h e
p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r w a rn e d t h e p u p i l ; (3) c h a n g e d p u p i l ' s
p ro g ra m w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ; (4)
s u s p e n d e d p u p i l f o r a few d a y s ; (5 ) d ro p p e d t h e c a s e - -
f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h and w ork w i t h t h e p u p i l ; (6)
r e p r im a n d e d a w h o le g ro u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r o f a few
p u p i l s ; (7) a s s i g n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e
o r a f t e r s c h o o l ; (8) w ith d r e w p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o
t h e m i s b e h a v i o r ; and (9) r e q u i r e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o
a p o l o g i z e . A s e p a r a t e s e c t i o n i s d e v o te d t o i n c i d e n t s
i l l u s t r a t i v e o f e a c h o f t h e s e n i n e c a t e g o r i e s .
F a i l u r e t o N o t i f y T e a c h e r o f
A c t io n T a k e n , i f Any
F o u r s e l e c t e d i n c i d e n t s p o r t r a y e d t h e a d m i n i s -
275
t r a t o r ' s f a i l u r e t o n o t i f y t h e t e a c h e r o f a n y a c t i o n t a k e n
a b o u t a r e f e r r a l .
From O re g o n , a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d
t h i s i n c i d e n t fro m a s c h o o l o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s n i n e
t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d e n r o l l i n g 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
The o n l y t im e I h a d an o c c a s i o n t o u s e t h e
s e r v i c e s o f a d e a n w as f o r a t r u a n c y fro m my
c l a s s . I r e p o r t e d t h e i n c i d e n t i n w r i t i n g t o
t h e d e a n . I h a v e n e v e r h e a r d w h a t t r a n s p i r e d
o r w h a t p u n is h m e n t w as m e te d o u t . As t h i s g i r l
was o n e o f t h e l e a d e r s i n s c h o o l I im a g in e a
f r i e n d l y r e p r i m a n d w as a l l t h a t w as g i v e n . T h e r e
i s n o t en o u g h c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n t e a c h e r s and
t h e d e a n .
Two i n c i d e n t s fro m C a l i f o r n i a h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s
w e r e r e p o r t e d a s sh o w in g i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s . The
f i r s t i n c i d e n t o r i g i n a t e d i n a s c h o o l o r g a n i z e d w i t h
g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d h a v i n g b e tw e e n 1 ,5 0 1 and
2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s ; t h e s e c o n d i n a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , g r a d e s
s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e , and fe w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
A s h o r t t im e a g o I s e n t a p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e
t o b e r e p r i m a n d e d f o r c o n s t a n t l y co m in g t o c l a s s
w i t h o u t t e x t , p a p e r , o r p e n c i l . The a d m i n i s t r a t o r
was b u s y a t t h e t im e a n d w as u n a b l e t o s e e h im .
As u s u a l , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r f a i l e d t o n o t i f y me
o f h i s a c t i o n . I , t h e r e f o r e , h a d t o a s k t h e
s t u d e n t f o r t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n . The a d m i n i s t r a t o r
f a i l e d t o s e e t h i s s t u d e n t f o r an e n t i r e w eek
d e s p i t e s e v e r a l r e m i n d e r s . When h e f i n a l l y g o t
a r o u n d t o i t t h e s t u d e n t h a d a l r e a d y ( t e m p o r a r i l y
a t l e a s t ) b egu n b r i n g i n g m a t e r i a l s and d e s e r v e d
a f a v o r a b l e c o n n e n t on im p ro v e m e n t r a t h e r t h a n
an a d m o n i t i o n .
2 7 6
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t fro m C a l i f o r n i a f o l l o w s :
S i t u a t i o n : F i f t h p e r i o d t e a c h e r h a d o ne boy
who w as a c o n s i s t e n t d i s c i p l i n e p r o b le m .
T e a c h e r ' s m e th o d o f a t t a c k :
1. A sked c o u n s e l o r t o s e n d a c h e c k s h e e t
on t h e b o y t o h i s o t h e r t e a c h e r s .
2 . T e a c h e r a n a l y z e d r e p o r t s a n d fo u n d t h a t
boy w e n t on an e v e n k e e l t i l l 5 t h an d 6 t h
p e r i o d s when h e h a d t h e h a r d e s t s u b j e c t s - -
G n g l i s h an d L a t i n .
3 . T e a c h e r recom m ended t o c o u n s e l o r t h a t
a p o s s i b l e c h a n g e o f p ro g ram m in g m ig h t
rem o v e t h e c h i l d fro m b e i n g a d i s c i p l i n e
p r o b le m . She recom m ended t h a t h e b e
g i v e n tw o o f h i s e a s i e r s u b j e c t s a t
t h a t t i m e o f d a y .
C o u n s e l o r 's m e t h o d :
1. No a t t e m p t w as m ade t o c h a n g e b o y ' s
p r o g r a m .
2 . No c o n f e r e n c e w as h e l d w i t h boy t o s e e
i f h e c o u l d b e s t r a i g h t e n e d o u t .
3 . Nor was a n y r e p o r t made b a c k t o t h e
t e a c h e r on c a s e p r o g r e s s .
F o l l o w - u p : The l a t e s t d e v e lo p m e n t i n t h i s
c a s e i s t h a t t h e boy w as k i c k e d o u t o f h i s 6 t h
p e r i o d c l a s s an d a g a i n r e f e r r e d t o t h e o f f i c e .
The t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d f e e l t h i s l a s t c o u l d h a v e
p o s s i b l y b e e n a v o i d e d w i t h e a r l i e r p r e v e n t a t i v e
m e a s u r e s by c o u n s e l o r .
A C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d
t h e f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t w h ic h show ed f a i l u r e t o r e p o r t
b a c k t o t h e t e a c h e r :
On o ne o c c a s i o n r e c e n t l y o n e o f t h e t e a c h e r s
s e n t a boy t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l w i t h a l i s t o f
c u m u l a t i v e o f f e n s e s a g a i n s t s c h o o l room r e g u l a t i o n s
w h ic h t h e boy h a d b e e n c o m m i t t i n g . The v i c e
2 7 7
p r i n c i p a l r e a d t h e l i s t t o t h e b o y . The boy
d e n i e d t h e c h a r g e s a n d w as s e n t b a c k t o t h e c l a s s
w h e r e h e t o o k an a r r o g a n t " I g o t o u t o f t h a t "
a t t i t u d e d u e t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l
h a d a c c e p t e d h i s d e n i a l s . A l l t h i s t r a n s p i r e d
a n d t h e t e a c h e r i n v o l v e d w as n o t c a l l e d i n t o t h e
c o n f e r e n c e o r o t h e r w i s e c o n t a c t e d .
I n e f f e c t u a l W arn in g t o P u p i l in
C a s e s o f S e r i o u s M i s b e h a v io r
In s e v e r a l i n c i d e n t s t e a c h e r s r e p o r t e d t h a t
a d m o n is h in g o r w a r n in g a p u p i l w as i n e f f e c t i v e , u s u a l l y
s t a t i n g t h a t a s t r o n g p u n is h m e n t was w a r r a n t e d .
Two i n c i d e n t s w e re f u r n i s h e d by t e a c h e r s in
C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s . The f i r s t o c c u r r e d i n a
s c h o o l o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e and
w i t h u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 e n r o l l m e n t , an d t h e s e c o n d i n a s c h o o l
w i t h g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e a n d an e n r o l l m e n t o f 1 ,5 0 1
t o 2 ,5 0 0 .
A s t u d e n t w as c a u g h t sm oking i n a s c h o o l
l a v a t o r y and s e n t t o t h e p r i n c i p a l . He w as g i v e n
a l e c t u r e on t h e e v i l s o f sm o k in g , fro m a h e a l t h
s t a n d p o i n t , an d a s h o r t e r l e c t u r e on t h e s a f e t y
a n g l e . He w as t h e n r e t u r n e d t o c l a s s w i t h a
w a r n i n g , “ Do n o t l e t t h i s h a p p e n a g a i n . "
T h is m i l d e r a c t i o n t e n d e d t o b r e a k down a
v e r y s t r i c t p o l i c y t h a t h a d e x i s t e d , a n d s u p p o s e d l y
s t i l l d i d . I t o p e n e d t h e d o o r t o many i n c i d e n t s
o f s i m i l a r an d d i f f e r e n t n a t u r e " j u s t t o s e e w h a t
w o u ld h a p p e n . " T h e r e w as n o c o n s i s t e n t t r e a t m e n t .
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t fro m a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
278
f o l l o w s :
The s t u d e n t was r e f e r r e d t o d i s c i p l i n a r y
a u t h o r i t y f o r m a t c h i n g c o i n s i n c l a s s . I t was
i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e a u t h o r i t y t o i n t e r v i e w t h e
s t u d e n t a t t h e m om ent. Any a c t i o n w as p o s t p o n e d
f o r s e v e r a l d a y s w h i l e s t u d e n t s i m p ly s a t i n an
o u t e r o f f i c e d o i n g n o t h i n g . When a c t i o n w as
f i n a l l y t a k e n t h e i n c i d e n t h a d seem ed t o a ssu m e
s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n s . S t u d e n t w as r e - a d m i t t e d t o
c l a s s w i t h a m e re a d m o n i t i o n n o t t o r e p e a t o f f e n s e .
He r e t u r n e d t o c l a s s w i t h t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t
t h e t e a c h e r h a d d i s m i s s e d him f o r an i n c o n s e
q u e n t i a l a c t and h a d c a u s e d him t o m is s some d a y s
o f c l a s s w o rk .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t , o n e o f t h o s e t h a t s p e
c i f i c a l l y m e n t i o n s l a c k o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g , was
r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in a
s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e a n d f e w e r t h a n
1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s :
Tom h a d b e e n l a t e f o r c l a s s f o u r t i m e s in
a row and was s e n t by me t o t h e V ic e P r i n c i p a l
b e c a u s e h e n e v e r show ed up when I a s k e d him
n u m ero u s t i m e s t o s t a y a f t e r s c h o o l . (O ur r u l e
i s t h a t a t a r d y m eans s t a y i n g 15 m i n u t e s a f t e r
s c h o o l . ) The V ic e P r i n c i p a l s e n t h im b a c k w i t h
a n o t e t h a t "He i s t o make u p one h o u r a f t e r
s c h o o l . " Tom d i d n o t show u p . I s e n t h im t o
t h e V ic e P r i n c i p a l a g a i n , an d h e r e t u r n e d w i t h
a n o t e s a y i n g t h a t " T o m 's t i m e s h o u l d b e d o u b le d
u n t i l h e s t a y e d . " B e in g a boy who w as g o i n g t o
g e t v e r y low c i t i z e n s h i p a n d s c h o l a r s h i p g r a d e s
anyw ay on h i s n e x t r e p o r t c a r d , Tom d i d n ' t c a r e
i f h i s t r o u b l e d o u b l e d , a n d a l t h o u g h h e d i d
come i n a few d a y s f o r s h o r t t i m e s , s i n c e h e
c o n t i n u e d t o b e t a r d y e v e r y so o f t e n , h e was
a lw a y s " i n d e b t " f o r t a r d i n e s s . The two v i s i t s
t o t h e V ic e P r i n c i p a l h a d n o t d o n e o r s u g g e s t e d
a n y t h i n g I h a d n o t a l r e a d y t r i e d . T h a t " e x t r a
2 7 9
a u t h o r i t a t i v e b a c k i n g " I n e e d e d ( o r I w o u ld
h a v e h a n d l e d i t m y s e l f , o f c o u r s e ) w as n o t f o r t h
c o m in g . The boy knew i t t o o !
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t , r e p o r t e d by a W a s h in g to n
t e a c h e r , show s t h a t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t r i e d s e v e r a l p r o
c e d u r e s . The t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d , t h o u g h , t h a t t h e "g o o d
t a l k i n g t o an d l i t t l e e l s e " w as an i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a
t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
A f i f t e e n y e a r o l d g i r l p u p i l i s s e n t t o
t h e o f f i c e f o r f a i l i n g t o a p p e a r a f t e r s c h o o l
t o make u p w o rk m i s s e d b e c a u s e o f p o o r u s e o f
c l a s s t i m e , f r e q u e n t a b s e n c e f o r n o n - v a l i d
r e a s o n s , a n d g e n e r a l n o n - c o o p e r a t i v e a t t i t u d e .
A woman v i c e p r i n c i p a l d i s c u s s e s t h e s i t u a t i o n
w i t h h e r , t h e c o u n s e l o r d e l v e d a g a i n i n t o h e r
r e c o r d . P r o m is e s o f im p ro v e m e n t w e re e x a c t e d and
t h e c h i l d r e p o r t e d a f t e r s c h o o l a s d i r e c t e d .
B a c k g r o u n d :
1. G i r l h a s l o n g r e c o r d o f r e f e r r a l .
2 . P a r e n t s h a v e b e e n i n t e r v i e w e d an d a d m it
l i t t l e i n f l u e n c e w i t h g i r l .
3. G i r l knows w h a t t o e x p e c t - - a good t a l k i n g
t o an d l i t t l e e l s e .
4 . A f t e r a d a y o r tw o t h e s i t u a t i o n h a s
n o t c h a n g e d .
C o n c l u s i o n :
A l th o u g h c o u n s e l o r s o f t e n h a v e b i g p r o b le m s
w i t h s e e m i n g ly i n c u r a b l e d e l i n q u e n t b e h a v i o r on
t h e p a r t o f b o t h s t u d e n t a n d p a r e n t , t h e p r o b le m
becom es m a g n i f i e d w i t h e v e r y su c h c a s e a s t h e
a b o v e .
K id s n e e d t o know how f a r t h e y c a n g o . I f
t h e y know t h e y ' l l g e t away w i t h m u r d e r , t h e y
w i l l . T h e r e f o r e , d e f i n i t e r o u t i n e m u st b e
e v i d e n t t o p u p i l s .
2 8 0
Change i n P u p i l ' s P rogram W ith o u t
C o n s u l t i n g T e a c h e r s I n v o lv e d
T h re e o f t h e i n c i d e n t s a n d a t e a c h e r ' s comment
t h a t showed t h e c h a n g in g o f p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m w i t h o u t c o n
s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d a s an i n e f f e c t i v e d e v i c e
a r e p r e s e n t e d .
The t e a c h e r ' s comment i s a s f o l l o w s :
R e c e n t l y I h a v e h e a r d c o m p l a i n t s fro m s e v e r a l
t e a c h e r s a b o u t t h e f o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e s . C e r t a i n
t e a c h e r s who a r e n o t s t r o n g d i s c i p l i n a r i a n s o r
who do n o t e s t a b l i s h good f e e l i n g i n t h e i r c l a s s e s
e v i c t t h e s e r i o u s d i s c i p l i n a r y s t u d e n t s and r e f u s e
t o a c c e p t them b a c k .
O th e r t e a c h e r s who a r e m ore p a t i e n t r e c e i v e
a d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e num ber o f p r o b le m s t u d e n t s .
Thus t h e s t r o n g , c o n s c i e n t i o u s t e a c h e r i s
p e n a l i z e d and t h e w eak t e a c h e r i s r e w a r d e d .
T h ese p ro g ra m c h a n g e s , a l t h o u g h made by t h e
c o u n s e l o r s , o f t e n c a r r y a p p r o v a l o f t h e a p p r o
p r i a t e v i c e p r i n c i p a l . Some o t h e r m ethod s h o u l d
be u s e d t o e s t a b l i s h b e t t e r human r e l a t i o n s a s
w e l l a s m ore j u s t r e w a r d s .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e
t h r o u g h tw e lv e and w i t h a p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t o f 1 ,5 0 1 t o
2 ,5 0 0 :
A s t u d e n t i n a b u s i n e s s m ath c l a s s h a d good
a b i l i t y t o do h i s w ork w e l l b u t c o n s i s t e n t l y
r e f u s e d t o do h i s home w o r k . A f t e r a num ber o f
" c l a s h e s " w i t h t h e t e a c h e r in f r o n t o f t h e c l a s s
in w h ic h h e a r g u e d t h e v a l u e o f t h e home w ork
2 8 1
and a s s e r t e d t h a t h e d i d n o t I n t e n d t o do i t , t h e
t e a c h e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t on o n e s u c h o c c a s i o n h e
m ig h t a s w e l l sp e n d t h e r e s t o f t h e p e r i o d i n t h e
c o u n s e l o r ' s o f f i c e . The t e a c h e r i n t e n d e d t o t a l k
w i t h him a n d w i t h t h e c o u n s e l o r l a t e r t o r e a c h
some a g re e m e n t on t h i s . A bout t e n m i n u t e s l a t e r
t h e s t u d e n t m a rc h e d d e f i a n t l y b a c k i n t o c l a s s ,
i n t e r r u p t e d t h e c l a s s d i s c u s s i o n , a n n o u n c in g
l o u d l y t h a t h e was d r o p p i n g t h e c o u r s e b e c a u s e
i t w as no good an d h e d i d n ' t n e e d i t - - a n d h e
s l a p p e d on t h e d e s k a " d r o p s l i p " made o u t by
t h e c o u n s e l o r . O b v io u s ly t h i s p u t t h e t e a c h e r
a t a g r e a t d i s a d v a n t a g e i n r e l a t i o n t o o t h e r
s t u d e n t s i n t h e c l a s s . W h ile b u s i n e s s m a th i s
n o t a b s o l u t e l y r e q u i r e d o f a l l b u s i n e s s m a j o r s ,
i t i s h i g h l y recom m ended, and c o u n s e l o r s u s u a l l y
t r y t o i n s i s t t h a t s t u d e n t s t a k e i t . The c o u n
s e l o r ' s a c t i n t h i s c a s e c r e a t e d a v e r y b a d
s i t u a t i o n f o r t h e t e a c h e r - - a n d a l s o w a s n ' t good
f o r t h e b o y , who was e a s i l y c a p a b l e t o h a n d l e t h e
w ork o f t h e c o u r s e .
The s e c o n d i n c i d e n t sh o w in g c h a n g i n g p u p i l ' s p r o
gram a s an i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e i s fro m a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l o r g a n i z e d w i t h
g r a d e s t e n t h r o u g h t w e l v e and e n r o l l i n g 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s :
Bob c o m p la in e d t o h i s c o u n s e l o r a b o u t h i s
E n g l i s h t e a c h e r , s a i d s h e was " m e a n ," " u n f a i r . "
No c h e c k b a c k was made w i t h t e a c h e r t o s e e w h a t
was t h e b a s i s o f t h e c o m p l a i n t . The boy was g iv e n
a c h a n g e o f p ro g ra m t o a n o t h e r E n g l i s h c l a s s .
Soon h e was c o m p l a i n i n g o f t h i s s e c o n d t e a c h e r ,
and was g i v e n s t i l l a n o t h e r c h a n g e o f p ro g ra m .
By now w ord was b e i n g p a s s e d among t h e t e a c h e r s
t h e m s e l v e s . R e s e n tm e n t g rew among them t h a t t h e y
w e r e b e i n g i g n o r e d , t h a t t h e y h a d n o c h a n c e t o
make a s t u d e n t f a c e up t o s c h o l a r s h i p o r b e h a v i o r
d e f i c i e n c i e s .
2 8 2
Word g o t a r o u n d among t h e s t u d e n t s t o o . O t h e r
m a l c o n t e n t s i n t h e i r c l a s s e s b e g a n a s k i n g f o r
c h a n g e s o f p r o g r a m s ; t h e s e c h a n g e s becam e a game
f o r th em .
The s e m e s t e r d r i f t e d on w i t h some o f t h e
t e a c h e r s a lm o s t i n r e b e l l i o n , t h e t r a n s f e r r i n g
b o y s b e c o m in g d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s r e a l l y g o t o u t
o f h a n d .
The c o u n s e l o r a t l a s t r e a l i z e d u n w i l l i n g l y
t h a t h e w a s n ' t s a v i n g " t i m e an d t r o u b l e " by h i s
m eth o d o f a v o i d i n g i s s u e s .
The n e x t i n c i d e n t w as r e p o r t e d by an Iowa s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e l v e and an e n r o l l m e n t o f 1 ,1 0 0 p u p i l s :
ROTC i s a r e q u i r e d a c t i v i t y f o r a l l b o y s
t h a t g r a d u a t e fro m o u r s c h o o l . An i n c i d e n t
o c c u r r e d w h e r e a bo y w as a s s i g n e d t h e d u t y o f
c l e a n i n g gum o f f o f s e a t s ( d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n ) .
He r e f u s e d t h e s e r g e a n t i n c h a r g e . The boy w as
s u s p e n d e d f o r t h r e e d a y s f o r r e f u s i n g t o t a k e
ROTC. H is p a r e n t s t r i e d t o f i l e s u i t a g a i n s t
t h e s c h o o l and t o o k t h e m a t t e r t o t h e S u p e r
i n t e n d e n t o f S c h o o l s . The a s s i g n e d l a w y e r w o u l d n 't
t a k e t h e c a s e a f t e r h e fo u n d o u t t h e d e t a i l s . The
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t recom m ended t h a t t h e boy b e
d r o p p e d fro m ROTC an d p u t i n P h y s i c a l E d u c a t i o n .
T h i s w as n o t a h a r d t a s k b u t t h e t e a c h e r s c o n
c e r n e d t h o u g h t i t l e t t h e boy w in a b a t t l e .
H ow ever, t h e boy h a s t o o u t l i n e t h e ROTC m a n u a l
an d p a s s a w r i t t e n t e s t .
B r i e f S u s p e n s io n o f P u p i l
S u s p e n s io n f o r a b r i e f t im e a s an i n e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e i s shown i n t h e f o l l o w i n g i n c i
d e n t s , r e p o r t e d by tw o C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
283
t e a c h e r s i n s c h o o l s i n w i d e l y s e p a r a t e d c i t i e s . B o th
s c h o o l s h a v e g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e a n d 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s :
A s t u d e n t , a so p h o m o re , w as d r i n k i n g on
cam pus an d p a s s e d o u t i n c l a s s . H is p a r e n t s came
t o p i c k t h e b oy u p t h e n e x t p e r i o d . He w as s u s
p e n d e d f o r o n e w eek a n d now i s b a c k i n s c h o o l
i n go o d s t a n d i n g . The a t t i t u d e o f s t u d e n t s on
cam pus i s why n o t smoke o r d r i n k on c a m p u s, yo u
c a n g e t a w e e k 's v a c a t i o n fro m s c h o o l , a n d come
b a c k i n good s t a n d i n g .
The s e c o n d s u s p e n s i o n i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
A d e a n s u s p e n d e d a p u p i l f o r t e n d a y s w i t h
n o p r i v i l e g e o f m a k in g u p t h e w o rk m i s s e d b e c a u s e
t h e s t u d e n t , a f t e r a l o n g r e c o r d o f o f f e n s e s ,
u s e d e s p e c i a l l y o b s c e n e l a n g u a g e i n d e f y i n g a
t e a c h e r . The f a t h e r cam e t o s c h o o l , p l e a d i n g
a w eak h e a r t , a n d p e r s u a d e d t h e p r i n c i p a l t o
c u t t h e s e n t e n c e t o f i v e d a y s w i t h p e r m i s s i o n
t o m ake u p w o r k . S i n c e t h i s k i n d o f b e h a v i o r
i s f r e q u e n t w i t h t h e p r i n c i p a l , t h e s t a f f was
th ro w n i n t o a f u r o r a n d d i s c i p l i n e becam e
g e n e r a l l y w e a k e r .
F a i l u r e t o F o llo w T h ro u g h an d
Work w i t h P u p i l
F o u r s e l e c t e d i n c i d e n t s show i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
i n d r o p p i n g a c a s e t o o q u i c k l y a n d f a i l i n g t o f o l l o w
t h r o u g h w i t h a p u p i l o r p u p i l s .
T h r e e i n c i d e n t s w e re f u r n i s h e d by t e a c h e r s i n
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s i n t h r e e d i f f e r e n t C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s ,
284
a l l s c h o o l s w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d e n r o l l i n g
1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s . The l a s t i n c i d e n t s p e c i f i c a l l y
m e n t i o n s l a c k o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s u p p o r t o r b a c k i n g .
C o u n s e l o r a l l o w e d a b o y t o b e r e p r i m a n d e d
b u t n o t c o r r e c t e d f o r many t a r d i e s t o c l a s s .
C o u n s e l o r t o l d me h e w o u ld c h e c k i n t o c h a n g e o f
c l a s s b e c a u s e t h e bo y w as t a r d y so much a f t e r h e
w as t o l d " o n l y o n c e m o re a n d you a r e o u t . "
C o u n s e l o r n e v e r f o l l o w e d t h r o u g h t o f i n d new
c l a s s - s t u d e n t m a rk e d a b s e n t s i x d a y s w i t h o u t
b e i n g o f f i c i a l l y c h e c k e d o u t .
The n e x t C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
The c a s e i n q u e s t i o n i s t h a t o f a b oy who
h a s a j u v e n i l e h a l l r e c o r d , I u n d e r s t a n d . M i s
c o n d u c t s l i p s t o t h e d e a n mean l i t t l e t o h im .
Y et h i s c o n d u c t i s c l e v e r l y d i s g u i s e d s o a s t o
g i v e h i m s e l f many c o v e r - u p s f o r t h e t h i n g s h e
d o e s . He h a s m ade u n c o u t h r e m a r k s i n c l a s s ,
c a u s e d a c o n t i n u a l c om m otion w h ic h i s n e v e r
a p p a r e n t when h e i s a b s e n t , a n d h a s l e f t l i t t e r
a r o u n d h i s d e s k ( p a p e r s , gum, c a n d y w r a p p e r s ,
e t c . ) . When I c o n f r o n t e d t h e c o u n s e l o r who i s
s u p p o s e d t o w o rk w i t h t h i s b o y , h i s r e m a r k w a s ,
"Now t h i s i s i n t e r e s t i n g . D o n 't you know t h e
b o y ' s b a c k g r o u n d ? T ry w o r k i n g w i t h h im t h r o u g h
h i s p a r e n t s . I f I p u t him i n a n o t h e r t e a c h e r ' s
c l a s s , t h a t w o u ld o v e r l o a d t h o s e c l a s s e s . "
As a t e a c h e r t h i s b o i l s down t o o n e m a j o r
p r o b le m t h a t a l l t e a c h e r s h a v e t o f a c e . How
c a n we h a n d l e a d e f i n i t e c o u n s e l i n g j o b s u c h a s
t h i s boy c o n t i n u a l l y n e e d s ( y e s , an d a r e a l
s y m p a t h e t i c o n e , t o o ) an d y e t h a v e a n y t h i n g s h o r t
o f c h a o s w i t h t h e t h i r t y o r f o r t y o t h e r s i n t h e
c l a s s who a r e b e i n g s h o r t - c h a n g e d w h i l e we a r e
d o i n g i t ?
The n e x t C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
" J o h n n y " w as s e n t t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l ' s
285
o f f i c e b e c a u s e h e w as som ewhat i n t o x i c a t e d an d
was d i s c o v e r e d c o n su m in g a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e d u r i n g
c l a s s . B e in g a c o n t i n u a l h a z a r d by h i s c a r e l e s s
n e s s was a l s o n o t e d on t h e r e p o r t s e n t t o t h e
o f f i c e , and a r e q u e s t t h a t h e b e rem oved fro m
c l a s s was f o r w a r d e d . " J o h n n y " w as r e t u r n e d t o
c l a s s t h e n e x t d a y w i t h a n o t e fro m t h e o f f i c e
a s k i n g me t o " t r y t o u n d e r s t a n d " t h e s i t u a t i o n .
T h is t e a c h e r was fro m t h a t moment on d e f e a t e d
by l a c k o f s u p p o r t fro m t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , and
d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s becam e w o r s e b e c a u s e o f t h e
g e n e r a l a t t i t u d e o f t h e s t u d e n t s who f e l t t h a t
t h e t e a c h e r c o u l d n ' t do a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t , i f
t h e y d i d c h o o s e t o a c t a s t h e y f e l t l i k e i t !
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d fro m a j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in New Y o rk , in a s c h o o l o r g a n i z e d
w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and e n r o l l i n g u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0
p u p i l s :
S i t u a t i o n : T h re e s h i f t s a t l u n c h , n a m e ly ,
A, B, a n d C. T h ose w a i t i n g f o r C l u n c h a r e
e x i s t i n g t h r o u g h a c l a s s r e c i t a t i o n d u r i n g A
and B l u n c h e s . T h is m eans t h a t p u p i l s a t
l o c k e r s , an d t h o s e r e t u r n i n g fro m e a c h lu n c h
c a u s e c o n s i d e r a b l e n o i s e and d i s t u r b a n c e o u t
s i d e o f C lu n c h c l a s s r o o m s .
T h is becam e so u n c o n t r o l l a b l e t h a t t h e " o f f i c e "
r e q u e s t e d s t u d e n t s t o s t a y away fro m t h e c l a s s r o o m
w in g u n l e s s i t was n e c e s s a r y t o g e t a lu n c h fro m
a l o c k e r .
R e s u l t : No f o l l o w - u p o r c h e c k i n g so s i t u a
t i o n h a s becom e p r o g r e s s i v e l y w o r s e , t h u s m ak in g
t h e 4 t h t e a c h i n g p e r i o d f o r C lu n c h s t u d e n t s
an d f a c u l t y s o m e th in g o f a h u n g ry n i g h t m a r e .
R e p rim a n d in g o f W hole G roup f o r t h e
2 8 6
M i s b e h a v io r o f One o r a Few P u p i l s
One i n c i d e n t and o ne com m ent, b o t h fro m C a l i f o r n i a ,
i l l u s t r a t e t h e i n e f f e c t i v e t e c h n i q u e o f " r e p r i m a n d i n g a
w h o le g r o u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r o f a few p u p i l s . "
The i n c i d e n t came fro m a t e a c h e r i n a s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h t w e l v e an d w i t h 1 ,5 0 1
t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
As t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r w a lk e d down t h e h a l l a
f i r e c r a c k e r w as s e t o f f . He s t o p p e d among
s e v e r a l ( a b o u t 25) s t u d e n t s an d a s k e d who had
d o n e i t . He d i d n ' t know an y o f t h e s t u d e n t s . No
o n e w o u ld a d m it i t an d a s h e t u r n e d t o l e a v e
a n o t h e r f i r e c r a c k e r w as s e t o f f . He r e t u r n e d
an d r e a d them t h e r i o t a c t r i g h t t h e r e . The k i d s
m e r e l y g r i n n e d and show ed t h a t t h e y knew t h e y
h a d made a f o o l o f him s i n c e t h e y c o u l d s e e t h a t
h e was v i o l e n t l y a n g r y b u t d i d n ' t seem t o know
w h a t t o do a b o u t t h e s i t u a t i o n .
T h is co nm ent was made b y a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
t e a c h e r in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s se v e n t h r o u g h n i n e and
u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 i n p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t :
We h a d a d e an who l o s t h i s te m p e r v e r y
q u i c k l y - - v e r y o f t e n . Many t i m e s a t t h e b e g i n i n g
o r t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f an a s s e m b ly p r o g ra m , h e
t o o k o c c a s i o n t o b e r a t e t h e e n t i r e a u d i e n c e f o r
t h e a c t i o n s o f a fe w . T h is b e r a t i n g w as l o n g ,
l o u d , an d e m b a r r a s s i n g . I h a v e o f t e n w a n te d
t o s i n k lo w e r and lo w e r i n t o my s e a t b e c a u s e
o f a f e e l i n g o f sham e. . . . T h is p a r t i c u l a r
t r e a t m e n t w as n e e d l e s s an d i n e f f e c t i v e . The
w ro ng d o e r s c o u l d h a v e b e e n rem oved q u i e t l y and
d e n i e d t h e p r i v i l e g e o f f u t u r e a t t e n d a n c e .
287
B r i e f D e t e n t i o n P e r i o d s B e f o r e o r A f t e r S c h o o l
T h re e i n c i d e n t s fro m C a l i f o r n i a t e a c h e r s show
t h a t a s s i g n i n g b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e o r a f t e r
s c h o o l i s an i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e t e c h n i q u e .
Two i n c i d e n t s w e re g i v e n by j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
t e a c h e r s i n s c h o o l s w i t h fe w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t o c c u r r e d in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h n i n e , and t h e s e c o n d in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h t e n .
F i r e w o r k s a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d . S t u d e n t
p o s s e s s i n g f i r e w o r k s was s e n t t o t h e v i c e p r i n
c i p a l . S t u d e n t r e t u r n e d in f i v e m in u t e s w i t h
s l i p s a y i n g h e was g i v e n f i v e n i g h t s d e t e n t i o n .
G r e a t e s t c o m p l a i n t - - t e a c h e r i s n o t in f o r m e d
o f t h e a c t i o n t a k e n . S econd g r e a t e s t c o m p l a i n t
- - a c t i o n t a k e n n o t s e v e s enou gh t o d e t e r o t h e r
s t u d e n t s fro m same b r e a c h o f d i s c i p l i n e .
The o t h e r j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t f o l l o w s :
A s e v e n t h g r a d e boy was s e n t t o t h e d ean
f o r u s i n g p r o f a n i t y in c l a s s . He was a s s i g n e d
a c o u p l e o f h o u r s d e t e n t i o n a f t e r s c h o o l . T h is
was n o t t o o e f f e c t i v e w i t h t h i s boy a s h e j u s t
c o m p l e t e d homework a s s i g n m e n t .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t a l s o shows t h a t a s s i g n i n g
b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n a f t e r s c h o o l i s an i n e f f e c t i v e
t e c h n i q u e . The i n c i d e n t , r e p o r t e d by a Los A n g e le s s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r , shows t h a t s e v e r a l o t h e r t e c h n i q u e s
2 8 8
w e r e t r i e d i n a d d i t i o n t o d e t e n t i o n . The i n c i d e n t i s
fro m a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , o r g a n i z e d w i t h g r a d e s t e n
t h r o u g h t w e l v e , an d h a v i n g 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d .
T h is g i r l came t o h i g h s c h o o l w i t h a v e r y p o o r
r e c o r d i n j u n i o r h i g h . H ow ever, s h e s a i d t h a t
s h e d i d w a n t t o c h a n g e an d t o im p ro v e h e r r e c o r d .
She h a d n o t b e en in s c h o o l l o n g e r t h a n a w eek o r
so and s h e b e g an t o c u t h e r c l a s s e s . As t h e w eek s
r o l l e d b y , sh e c u t m ore and m o re . The v i c e
p r i n c i p a l c o n t a c t e d h e r m o th e r and r e c e i v e d
a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e g i r l w o u ld mend h e r w a y s. By
way o f p u n is h m e n t s h e w as a s s i g n e d d e t e n t i o n s .
T h e s e sh e r e f u s e d t o s e r v e . F i n a l l y t h e m o th e r
came t o s c h o o l and t a l k e d t o t h e g i r l s ' v i c e
p r i n c i p a l a n d a g a i n a s s u r a n c e was g i v e n t h a t t h e
g i r l w o uld a t t e n d h e r c l a s s e s and w o uld mend
h e r w a y s .
C o n d i t i o n s c o n t i n u e d t o grow no b e t t e r :
(Q u o te s fro m g i r l ' s r e c o r d ) "C u t P e r i o d 3 , t h r e e
d e t e n t i o n s a s s i g n e d ; Cut R o l l C a l l , h a s n o t
f i n i s h e d p ro g ra m , h a s b e e n i n Quad i n s t e a d ;
T r u a n t 8 p e r i o d s on W ednesday and T h u rs d a y and
a l l day F r i d a y , I n d e f i n i t e d e t e n t i o n s . "
D e s p i t e t h e m o u n tin g p r e s s u r e and i n c r e a s i n g
d e t e n t i o n s , t h e g i r l s t i l l c o n t i n u e d t o c u t and
in no way seem ed t o be im p r e s s e d by t h e t h r e a t s
and d e t e n t i o n s . She was c o m p l e t e l y i n d i f f e r e n t
and r e f u s e d t o s e r v e an y o f t h e d e t e n t i o n s s a y i n g
t h a t s h e w a s n 't a b l e t o s p a r e t h e t i m e .
F i n a l l y on May 10 s h e was s u s p e n d e d fro m
s c h o o l . Then on Monday h e r m o th e r an d t h e g i r l
came t o s c h o o l t o s e e i f t h e g i r l c o u l d b e
r e i n s t a t e d . She i s now on p r o b a t i o n w i t h t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t s h e w i l l b e c h e c k e d o u t o f
s c h o o l t o t h e c u s t o d y o f h e r m o th e r i f s h e f a i l s
t o s e r v e d e t e n t i o n s one n i g h t o r i s u n n e c e s
s a r i l y a b s e n t o r b r e a k s a n y o t h e r i m p o r t a n t
s c h o o l r u l e .
289
P e r s o n n a l l y I d o n * t t h i n k t h a t t h e g i r l i s
i n t h e l e a s t im p r e s s e d e v en i n l i g h t o f t h i s
t h r e a t , and I w o u ld w a g e r t h a t d ie w i l l end up
c h e c k e d o u t o f s c h o o l .
W ith d r a w a l o f P r i v i l e g e s Not C o n n e c te d
w i t h t h e M i s b e h a v io r
Two o f t h e i n c i d e n t s i l l u s t r a t e d an i n e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e v i c e , w i t h d r a w i n g p r i v i l e g e s n o t c o n n e c t e d
w i t h t h e m i s b e h a v i o r .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t i s fro m a t e a c h e r i n a C a l i
f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l , w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n t h r o u g h n i n e
and u n d e r 1 ,5 0 0 in p u p i l e n r o l l m e n t :
F a i l u r e t o c o o p e r a t e by d o in g c l a s s w ork
n e c e s s i t a t e d an a f t e r s c h o o l a p p o in t m e n t f o r t h e
s t u d e n t w i t h t h e t e a c h e r o f t h i s c l a s s . The s t u d e n t
f a i l e d t o k e e p t h e s c h e d u l e d a p p o i n t m e n t . As a
r e s u l t t h e s t u d e n t w as n o t p e r m i t t e d t o r e p r e s e n t
t h e s c h o o l i n an a t h l e t i c e v e n t . T h is i n c i d e n t
r e c e i v e d c r i t i c i s m fro m a num ber o f t h e s t a f f .
The o t h e r i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a t e a c h e r in
a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s n i n e t h r o u g h
t w e l v e and w i t h 1 ,5 0 1 t o 2 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d :
In a sh o p c l a s s , d u r i n g t h e c l e a n - u p p e r i o d ,
when some s t u d e n t s w e re a l r e a d y a t t h e i r s e a t s
w a i t i n g f o r t h e p a s s i n g b e l l t o r i n g , an d some
o t h e r s w e re m o ving a b o u t , p u t t i n g away t h e i r w o rk ,
e t c . , one boy k i c k e d open t h e h a l l d o o r w i t h h i s
f o o t m ak in g a g r e a t n o i s e . The p r i n c i p a l , who
w as j u s t o u t s i d e t h e d o o r , e n t e r e d t h e room t o
a s k t h e boy w h a t w as t h e r e a s o n f o r d o in g t h i s .
2 9 0
He n o t i c e d s e v e r a l b o y s a t t h e o p p o s i t e en d o f
t h e room l i s t e n i n g w i t h g r e a t am usem ent t o a boy
whom I s h a l l c a l l " F r e d . " The p r i n c i p a l s e n s e d
t h a t F r e d w as t e l l i n g an o f f - c o l o r j o k e an d h e
r e p r i m a n d e d F r e d f o r t h i s . F r e d h a d a lw a y s
b e e n a f i n e , p o l i t e , o b e d i e n t , i n d u s t r i o u s b o y .
He t o o k t h e r e p r i m a n d a l l r i g h t , a n d a c t e d a s
th o u g h h e d e s e r v e d t o b e s c o l d e d . A few d a y s
l a t e r , t h e p r i n c i p a l r e f u s e d t o a l l o w F r e d t o
r e c e i v e a c a s h a w a rd p u b l i c l y i n t h e a s s e m b ly
b e c a u s e h e d i d n ' t t h i n k h e s h o u l d b e p u b l i c l y
h o n o r e d . F r e d h a d a l r e a d y won a l o c a l a w a rd f o r
t h e p r o j e c t h e h a d made an d t h i s h a d a l r e a d y b e e n
p r e s e n t e d t o h im i n t h e a s s e m b ly a m o n th o r so
b e f o r e t h i s . The money a w ard w as a n a t i o n a l a w ard
f o r t h e same p r o j e c t . The p r i n c i p a l t h o u g h t t h e
o n e p u b l i c p r e s e n t a t i o n w as e n o u g h s i n c e t im e
was l i m i t e d on t h e p r o g r a m . T h is l a s t r e a s o n
f o r n o t m a k in g t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n w as r e a s o n a b l e .
I t h o u g h t t h a t t h e o t h e r r e a s o n w as u n f a i r . The
p u n is h m e n t w as n o t c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e o f f e n s e
i n a n y w a y .
R e q u ir e m e n t t h a t P u p i l A p o l o g i z e
Two i n c i d e n t s d e a l t w i t h r e q u i r i n g o r f o r c i n g
p u p i l s t o a p o l o g i z e f o r t h e i r m i s b e h a v i o r , sh o w in g
i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e .
The f i r s t i n c i d e n t was r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r , i n a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s s e v e n
t h r o u g h t e n a n d w i t h f e w e r t h a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s i n e n r o l l m e n t .
D u r in g c l a s s d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e l e s s o n , a
n i n t h - g r a d e boy came t o t h e f r o n t o f t h e room a n d
s a i d t h a t h e w a n te d t o l e a v e t h e c l a s s . He d i d
n o t seem t o b e i n d i s t r e s s o f a n y k i n d , b u t h e
w o u ld g i v e n o r e a s o n f o r h i s d e s i r e t o l e a v e ,
n o r c o u l d h e s a y w h e r e h e w a n te d t o g o . I d i d n o t
291
g i v e him p e r m i s s i o n t o l e a v e , b u t h e w en t anyway.
I t d e v e lo p e d t h a t h e h a d gone t o h i s c o u n
s e l o r , who s e n t him t o s e e me l a t e r , so t h a t h e
c o u ld a p o l o g i z e . T h is h e d i d e a s i l y e n o u g h , b u t
h e g a v e no e x p l a n a t i o n o f h i s l e a v i n g t h e c l a s s .
He h a s n o t l e f t t h e c l a s s a g a i n , b u t h e h a s
become m ore c a r e l e s s a b o u t h i s a t t e n t i o n and
c o n d u c t .
I do n o t c o n s i d e r a p o l o g i e s t o be e f f e c t i v e .
The s t u d e n t a p o l o g i z e s so t h a t h e c a n r e t u r n t o
c l a s s , b u t r a r e l y d o e s h e r e a l l y mean w h at he
s a y s in m aking t h e a p o lo g y .
He h a s t h e f e e l i n g t h a t f u r t h e r o f f e n s e s may
be s t r a i g h t e n e d o u t by m akin g f u r t h e r a p o l o g i e s .
The a p o lo g y d o e s n o t a f f e c t h i s c o n d u c t in any way.
The se c o n d i n c i d e n t was s e n t i n by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r in a s c h o o l w i t h g r a d e s t e n
t h r o u g h tw e lv e an d b e tw e e n 1 ,5 0 1 and 2 ,5 0 0 in e n r o l l m e n t .
Boy j u s t r e t u r n e d t o h i g h s c h o o l fro m " P r e s t o n , "
s e n t t o p r i n c i p a l ' s o f f i c e b e c a u s e h e was p u t t i n g
h a n d s on g i r l . P r i n c i p a l t a l k e d t o b o y , s e n t
boy b a c k t o c l a s s . Next d a y , same t h i n g h a p p e n e d ,
w i t h same r e s u l t s ; boy s e n t b a c k t o c l a s s and
t o l d t o a p o l o g i z e . T h ir d d a y - b o y d i d same t h i n g
in f r o n t o f t e a c h e r - - d a r e d t e a c h e r t o se n d him
t o p r i n c i p a l - - t e a c h e r d i d n ' t se n d p u p i l t o p r i n
c i p a l , i n s t e a d t e a c h e r v i s i t e d p r i n c i p a l and
a s k e d w hat t h e s t o r y w a s - - t w i c e t h e boy was
s e n t t o p r i n c i p a l on two c o n s e c u t i v e d a y s and
t w i c e boy s e n t b a c k t o c l a s s . T h ir d t i m e , p r i n
c i p a l s e n t boy t o g e t g u a r d i a n and h a d boy
a p o l o g i z e t o t e a c h e r w i t h g u a r d i a n p r e s e n t .
( D i f f i c u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d why a p o lo g y was made
t o t e a c h e r when g i r l s t u d e n t s w e re o f f e n d e d
p a r t i e s .)
2 9 2
In t h e i r com m ents s e v e r a l t e a c h e r s p o i n t e d o u t
t h a t when t h e p u p i l ' s a p o lo g y i s w r i t t e n , an a d d e d a p o lo g y
fro m t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i s e s p e c i a l l y i n e f f e c t i v e . One
t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d i n h i s co m n en t r e g a r d i n g a n a p o lo g y :
"T h e m o st i n e f f e c t i v e fo rm o f d i s c i p l i n e i s t o r e t u r n
a s t u d e n t t c c l a s s w i t h t h e n o t i c e ' H e ' l l be a good boy
n e x t t i m e , 1 o r 'He w o n 't do t h a t a g a i n . ' "
V I I . CHAPTER SUMMARY
In t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , r e s p o n d e n t c l a s s r o o m
t e a c h e r s w e r e s e l e c t e d a t ran d o m . When a s k e d t o r e p o r t
o n e i n c i d e n t sh o w in g o u t s t a n d i n g l y e f f e c t i v e and one
i n c i d e n t sh o w in g o u t s t a n d i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
h a n d l i n g o f t h e i r p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l s , t e a c h e r s
d e s c r i b e d t w i c e a s many e f f e c t i v e a s i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s .
1. S t a t e s r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e s t u d y . Most o f t h e
i n c i d e n t s w e re fro m C a l i f o r n i a , w i t h some s e c u r e d
fro m t h i r t y - f i v e o t h e r s t a t e s and t h e D i s t r i c t o f
C o lu m b ia f o r p u r p o s e s o f c o m p a r i s o n .
2 . S c h o o l s i z e and o r g a n i z a t i o n . Most o f t h e i n c i
d e n t s w e re fro m l a r g e h i g h s c h o o l s w h ic h e n r o l l e d
m ore th a n 1 ,5 0 0 p u p i l s . A lm ost tw o t h i r d s o f t h e
293
i n c i d e n t s w ere from s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s , and
a lm o s t one t h i r d w e re from j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .
The t y p e o f h i g h s c h o o l o r g a n i z a t i o n fro m w h ic h
t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e i n c i d e n t s w e r e s e n t c o u l d
n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d .
3 . P e r s o n n e l t o whom r e f e r r a l s w e re m ad e. V ic e o r
a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s h a n d l e d a l m o s t h a l f o f t h e
r e p o r t e d c a s e s . D e a n s , c o u n s e l o r s , a n d p r i n c i p a l s
h a n d l e d t h e r e s t o f t h e c a s e s . P r i n c i p a l s h a n d l e d
a l a r g e r p e r c e n t a g e o f c a s e s e f f e c t i v e l y t h a n
d i d d e a n s , c o u n s e l o r s , o r a s s i s t a n t an d v i c e
p r i n c i p a l s .
4 . L o c a t i o n o f m i s b e h a v i o r . A lm o st h a l f o f t h e
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r r e d i n r e g u l a r c l a s s r o o m s ,
i . e . , E n g l i s h , s o c i a l s t u d i e s , m a t h e m a t i c s ,
f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s , t h e f i n e a r t s , a n d b u s i n e s s
e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s . The o t h e r m i s b e h a v i o r s w e re
r e p o r t e d fro m s h o p o r hom em aking c l a s s e s , t h e
p l a y g r o u n d , p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s , t h e h a l l s ,
t h e s c h o o l a s s e m b l y , a n d t h e s t u d y h a l l .
5 . Sex o f p u p i l i n v o l v e d . More t h a n t h r e e t i m e s a s
many b o y s a s g i r l s w e r e r e p o r t e d a s b e i n g i n v o l v e d
i n m i s b e h a v i o r .
2 9 4
6 . Type o f m i s b e h a v i o r . A c c o r d in g t o f r e q u e n c y o f
m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s , t h e h i g h e s t t e n p u p i l m i s
b e h a v i o r s a r e t h e s e : c a u s i n g d i s o r d e r o r d i s
t u r b a n c e i n a g r o u p , d e f i a n c e o f an d d i s r e s p e c t
f o r a t e a c h e r , d r e s s i n g i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l ,
f i g h t i n g , p e t t y t h e f t , o b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y ,
t r u a n c y and c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s , t a r d i n e s s , sm o k in g ,
and t h r o w in g l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s o r on s c h o o l
g r o u n d s .
7 . J u n i o r v e r s u s s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l c a s e s . T h e re
w e re no d i f f e r e n c e s in t y p e s o f m i s b e h a v i o r s when
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w e re co m p ared t o s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s .
8 . G e o g r a p h ic d i f f e r e n c e s . Among t h e e i g h t m i s
b e h a v i o r s l i s t e d m o st f r e q u e n t l y by t e a c h e r s , t h e r e
w e re no d i f f e r e n c e s in t y p e o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
when t h o s e in C a l i f o r n i a w e re co m p a red t o t h o s e
in t h e o t h e r s t a t e s .
9 . Most e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s . The t e n
m ost e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , a c c o r d i n g
t o t e a c h e r s , w e re (a ) g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h
p u p i l ; (b ) s u s p e n d e d p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t
295
c o n f e r e n c e ; ( c ) c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s ; (d)
c h a n g e i n p u p i l ’ s p ro g ra m a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h
t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ; ( e ) w i t h d r a w a l o f p r i v i l e g e s
r e l a t e d t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r ; ( f ) c o n t a c t w i t h
p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r , o r home v i s i t ; (g)
g r o u p c o u n s e l i n g ; (h) c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l ,
p a r e n t , and t e a c h e r ; ( i ) e x p u l s i o n fro m s c h o o l ;
a n d ( j ) a r r a n g e m e n t f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y
a n d p r o m p t l y .
10. Most i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s . The
n i n e l e a s t e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
f r e q u e n c y o f m e n tio n by t e a c h e r s w e r e : ( a ) d o in g
n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t e a c h e r k n o w s - - f a i l i n g t o n o t i f y
t e a c h e r o f a n y a c t i o n ; (b ) t a l k i n g t o p u p i l “ - m e r e l y
a d m o n is h in g o r w a r n i n g h im ; (c ) c h a n g i n g p u p i l ' s
p ro g ra m w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d ;
(d) s u s p e n d i n g p u p i l f o r a few d a y s ; (e ) d r o p p i n g
t h e c a s e , a n d f a i l i n g t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h a n d w ork
w i t h p u p i l ; ( f ) r e p r i m a n d i n g a w h o le g r o u p f o r t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r o f a few p u p i l s ; (g) a s s i g n i n g b r i e f
p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e o r a f t e r s c h o o l ; (h )
w i t h d r a w a l o f p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e m i s
b e h a v i o r ; an d ( i ) f o r c i n g t h e p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e .
296
1 1 . The c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s . B e c a u s e much v a l u e o f
t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t s w o u ld b e l o s t i n m e re
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n an d t a b u l a t i o n , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
i n c i d e n t s w e re r e p o r t e d f o r t h e i r r e v e l a t i o n s
o f m o st e f f e c t i v e a n d l e a s t e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p r o c e d u r e s a s r e p o r t e d by t e a c h e r s . T hey a l s o
r e v e a l e d t h a t g e o g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n , t y p e o f s c h o o l
o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d s i z e o f s c h o o l h a d l i t t l e i f
a n y r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o r i n e f f e c
t i v e n e s s o f r e p o r t e d i n c i d e n t s o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a
t i v e h a n d l i n g o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r .
CHAPTER VI
DELINEATION OF RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHER
AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR HIGH SCHOOL
PUPIL DISCIPLINE
T h is c h a p t e r i s d e v o t e d t o a f u r t h e r a n a l y s i s o f
t h e f i n d i n g s r e p o r t e d in C h a p t e r IV a n d V a s r e p o r t e d by
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n d e l i n e a t i n g
t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n h a n d l i n g p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
As s t a t e d in C h a p t e r I , t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n w as c o n
c e r n e d s o l e l y w i t h p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s t h a t w e re r e f e r r e d
by t e a c h e r s t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . No a t t e m p t was made t o
s t u d y l o c a l - s c h o o l o r s y s te m - w i d e p ro g ra m s f o r b u i l d i n g
s c h o o l m o r a l e , d e v e l o p i n g t h e i d e a l o f s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e ,
o r p r e v e n t i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r . No a t t e m p t w as made t o
s t u d y d i s c i p l i n e p h i l o s o p h i e s o r d i s c i p l i n e c o d e s . The
q u e s t i o n s i n v e s t i g a t e d w e r e : (1 ) What a r e t h e r e f e r r a l
p r a c t i c e s o f t e a c h e r s who r e f e r c a s e s f o r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
h a n d l i n g ? (2 ) What d o e s t h e l o c a l s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r
do i n h a n d l i n g t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s t h a t a r e r e f e r r e d
298
t o him ?
I . RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CLASSROOM TEACHER
IN HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL DISCIPLINE
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e r e p o r t s o f h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s
an d h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , m o st p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
w e re r e f e r r e d fro m t h e c l a s s r o o m , w h e re p u p i l s a r e i n
r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l g r o u p s an d a lw a y s u n d e r t h e d i r e c t s u p e r
v i s i o n o f t h e t e a c h e r .
The t e a c h e r s ' i n c i d e n t s show ed t h a t 6 4 .8 p e r c e n t
o f t h e t o t a l n um b er o f r e f e r r e d m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r r e d in
t h e c l a s s r o o m : 2 . 3 p e r c e n t i n s t u d y h a l l ; 5 . 9 p e r c e n t
i n p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n ; 6 . 9 p e r c e n t i n sh o p o r hom em aking
c l a s s e s ; and 4 9 . 7 p e r c e n t i n o t h e r c l a s s e s .
The a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ' i n c i d e n t s showed t h a t 8 4 . 6 p e r
c e n t o f t h e t o t a l n um ber o f r e f e r r e d m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r r e d
i n t h e c l a s s r o o m : 2 .9 p e r c e n t i n s t u d y h a l l ; 8 . 4 p e r
c e n t i n p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n ; 1 1 .2 p e r c e n t i n s h o p o r
hom em aking c l a s s e s ; and 6 2 .1 p e r c e n t i n o t h e r c l a s s e s .
S i n c e m o st o f t h e r e f e r r e d m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r r e d
i n c l a s s r o o m s , t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : What a r e t h e r e s p o n
s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e t e a c h e r f o r p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e ? I t i s
299
t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e r e m a in d e r o f t h i s s e c t i o n t o a t t e m p t
t o d e l i n e a t e , fro m t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e d a t a g a t h e r e d
f o r t h i s s t u d y , t h e s p e c i f i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e
t e a c h e r f o r p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
P r o v i s i o n o f V i t a l , W e ll P l a n n e d ,
W ell O r g a n iz e d I n s t r u c t i o n
The i n c i d e n t s showed t h e r e c o g n i t i o n by b o t h
t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f t h e n e e d f o r v i t a l , w e l l
p l a n n e d , w e l l o r g a n i z e d i n s t r u c t i o n . Of t h e r e f e r r a l s
r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 119, o r 5 5 .1 p e r c e n t o f
t h e t o t a l , w e re c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e s , b e s t h a n d le d
by good t e a c h i n g .
The t e a c h e r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r m a i n t a i n i n g a
w o r k in g a tm o s p h e r e and good c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l h a s lo n g
b e en r e c o g n i z e d by w r i t e r s in t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n . In
1928, H a r r i s showed t h a t i n s t r u c t i o n and c o n t r o l w e re
" p a r t and p a r c e l " o f e a c h o t h e r ( 1 7 : 3 2 8 ) . D u rin g W orld
War I I , S h e v ia k o v l i s t e d t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l f a c t o r s w h ic h
w e re e s s e n t i a l in c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l - - a l l o f them t h e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r ( 9 6 : 4 4 ) . More
r e c e n t l y , H e n n in g , a f t e r s u r v e y i n g many s c h o o l s i n t h e
M id d le W est, c o n c lu d e d t h a t t h e m ain f a c t o r i n c l a s s r o o m
300
c o n t r o l w as t h e t e a c h e r ( 5 8 : 2 6 6 ) ; and C e l l e r , a f t e r e x t e n
s i v e r e s e a r c h i n one l a r g e c i t y s c h o o l s y s te m , fo u n d t h a t
d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m s a r e b e s t m et by good t e a c h i n g (4 3 :
3 3 3 ) . M cC all s t a t e d p o s i t i v e l y t h a t many d i s c i p l i n e
p ro b le m s w e r e t e a c h e r made ( 6 6 : 3 6 ) .
In a c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t a S o u th D a k o ta s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r r e p o r t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e g a r d i n g t h e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e t e a c h e r f o r v i t a l t e a c h i n g :
T h is p a r t i c u l a r t e a c h e r i s u n a b l e t o m o t i v a t e
h i s s t u d e n t s t o do t h e i r b e s t w ork and r e l i e s
on t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n f o r s u p p o r t . He i s c o n
s t a n t l y s e n d i n g p u p i l s t o t h e o f f i c e n o t a l o n e
b e c a u s e t h e y do n o t do t h e i r w o rk , b u t s i n c e
t h e y a r e i d l e t h e y a r e d i s c i p l i n e p r o b l e m s .
I t i s p a r t i a l l y d u e t o h i s p o o r p e r s o n a l i t y
t h a t h e i s u n a b l e t o a p p e a l t o t h e b o y s . I
t h i n k a t e a c h e r s h o u l d a t t e m p t t o f i n d m e th o d s
o f w o r k in g c o o p e r a t i v e l y w i t h s t u d e n t s .
Use o f Ju d g m e n t i n T im in g o f R e f e r r a l
M elbo h a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t i t i s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
o f a l l s c h o o l e m p lo y e e s t o p a r t i c i p a t e in d i s c i p l i n e ; h e
a l s o c a u t i o n e d a b o u t t h e d a n g e r s o f " a u t o m a t i c r e f e r r a l "
t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r , i . e . , o v e r - u s e o f t h e d i s c i p l i n e
r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e ( 1 0 9 : 1 8 2 ) .
The i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s show ed
t h a t t h e t e a c h e r m u st u s e good ju d g m e n t i n t i m i n g t h e
r e f e r r a l . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e i n c i d e n t s r e v e a l e d (1 ) t h e
301
n e c e s s i t y o f p ro m p t r e f e r r a l by t h e t e a c h e r i n s e r i o u s
e m e rg e n c y c a s e s , (2 ) t h e n e c e s s i t y o f t h e t e a c h e r ' s u s e
o f h i s own r e s o u r c e s p r i o r t o r e f e r r a l i n a l l o t h e r c a s e s ,
a n d (3 ) t h e n e c e s s i t y o f s e e k i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e l p
b e f o r e t h e c r i s i s s t a g e i s r e a c h e d .
S i x t y - s i x c a s e s , o r 3 9 .5 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
num ber r e p o r t e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a s e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s ,
w e re s e r i o u s e m e rg e n c y c a s e s ; t h e s e i n c l u d e d f i g h t i n g ,
r a c i a l t e n s i o n s , a r s o n , f o r g e r y , p e t t y t h e f t , v u l g a r i t y ,
and a b n o rm a l e m o t i o n a l p r o b l e m s . A d m i n i s t r a t o r s e m p h a s iz e d
t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f r e f e r r i n g s u c h c a s e s p r o m p t l y , n o t o n l y
t o h e l p t h e t e a c h e r a n d p u p i l i n v o l v e d , b u t a l s o f o r t h e
w e l f a r e o f t h e e n t i r e g r o u p .
E x c e p t i n t h e s e a n d o t h e r s e r i o u s e m e r g e n c i e s ,
t h o u g h , t h e i n c i d e n t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e t e a c h e r s h o u l d
n o t make r e f e r r a l s w i t h o u t f i r s t h a v i n g w o rk e d r e s o u r c e
f u l l y on t h e c a s e s h i m s e l f . Among t h e 216 i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l s r e p o r t e d , t h e s e i n a d e q u a c i e s a p p e a r e d : (1)
t w e n t y - e i g h t c a s e s w h e r e i n t h e t e a c h e r h a d made t h e
r e f e r r a l w i t h o u t a n y p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g o f t h e
p u p i l ; (2 ) s i x t e e n c a s e s t h a t w e r e r e f e r r e d w i t h i n c o m p l e t e
o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s , an d (3 ) s i x c a s e s w h e r e i n t h e
302
p u p i l w as s e n t t o t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r w i t h o u t
a n y n o t e o r p r e v i o u s n o t i c e . T h is i s a t o t a l o f f i f t y
c a s e s , o r 2 3 .2 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , w h e r e i n t h e t e a c h e r s '
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s w e r e o b v i o u s l y m et i n an i n a d e q u a t e
m a n n e r .
The f o l l o w i n g c a s e r e p o r t e d by an a d m i n i s t r a t o r
i n a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n S o u th C a r o l i n a was s e l e c t e d
fro m t h e t w e n t y - e i g h t i n c i d e n t s t h a t r e p o r t e d r e f e r r a l
w i t h o u t any p r e v i o u s c o u n s e l i n g o r o t h e r t e a c h e r a c t i o n :
S t u d e n t r e f e r r e d t o t h e o f f i c e - - t a r d y t w e n t y -
t h r e e t i m e s i n two m o n th s . R e f e r r a l a s k e d , "What
a r e YOU g o i n g t o do w i t h a s t u d e n t who h a s b e e n
t a r d y t w e n t y - t h r e e t i m e s ? "
My i n v e s t i g a t i o n show ed t h a t n o t h i n g was
s a i d t o t h e p u p i l a t any t i m e c o n c e r n i n g t h e
t a r d i e s o r d o n e by t h e t e a c h e r . " I t w as j u s t
an o v e r s i g h t , " h e s a i d .
Among t h e t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s t h a t m ig h t b e t a p p e d
b e f o r e r e f e r r a l s a r e m ade, t h e f o l l o w i n g w e r e m e n tio n e d
i n t h e i n c i d e n t s : c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e p u p i l , c o n s u l t i n g
a t t e n d a n c e and g u i d a n c e r e c o r d s and s c h o o l a t t e n d a n c e
and g u i d a n c e l e a d e r s , an d home c o n t a c t . S e l e c t i o n s fro m
an i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l
a d m i n i s t r a t o r show t h e w i s e u s e o f t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s :
In t h i s c a s e t h e t e a c h e r h a d h e l d s e v e r a l
c o n f e r e n c e s w i t h t h e d e a n r e g a r d i n g t h e c o n d u c t
o f p u p i l " G ." He h a d made o n e c a l l hom e, a n d h a d
303
t a l k e d s e v e r a l t i m e s w i t h t h e s t u d e n t . He h a d
p o i n t e d o u t t h e n e e d f o r im p ro v e d b e h a v i o r a n d
h a d c a r e f u l l y o u t l i n e d t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s i f t h e
p u p i l f a i l e d t o c o n f o r m . I n f r a c t i o n s i n c l u d e d
t a r d i n e s s , e x c e s s i v e t a l k i n g , r u d e n e s s , and
i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . "G" a r r i v e d i n my o f f i c e w i t h
a p r o p e r r e f e r r a l fo r m . A c t i o n t a k e n by me
i n c l u d e d o f f i c e d e t e n t i o n ; a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h
t e a c h e r , p u p i l , a n d me; a n d a d e a n / p a r e n t / p u p i l
c o n f e r e n c e . D e f i n i t e im p ro v e m e n t h a s b e e n n o t e d .
A l t h o u g h many i n c i d e n t s r e v e a l e d t h e n e e d f o r t h e
t e a c h e r t o u s e h i s own r e s o u r c e s b e f o r e r e f e r r a l , t h e y
a l s o show ed t h e w isd om o f s e e k i n g h e l p b e f o r e a c r i s i s i s
r e a c h e d . In t e n o f t h e 216 i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s , o r 4 . 6
p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l , t h e t e a c h e r o b v i o u s l y s o u g h t h e l p
t o o l a t e . The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t fro m a C a l i f o r n i a s e n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r d e p i c t s t h e t e a c h e r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
i n s e e k i n g h e l p b e f o r e t h e c r i s i s s t a g e :
One o f o u r t e a c h e r s a l l o w e d a s i t u a t i o n t o
p r o g r e s s t o a p o i n t w h ic h was d a n g e r o u s n o t
o n l y t o h i m s e l f b u t t o t h e e n t i r e c l a s s r o o m
s t r u c t u r e .
T h is s i t u a t i o n becam e so s e r i o u s m e r e l y
b e c a u s e t h e t e a c h e r w as r e l u c t a n t t o a d v i s e t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h a t h e c o u l d n o t h a n d l e a s t u d y
h a l l c a p a b l y . He a l l o w e d t h e s t u d e n t s t o s e a t
t h e m s e l v e s w h e r e v e r t h e y w i s h e d (e v e n th o u g h
m o st o f th em c h a n g e d t h e i r s e a t i n g e v e r y d a y ) ;
d i d n o t DEMAND t h a t t h e y b r i n g s t u d y m a t e r i a l s ;
c o n t i n u e d t o THREATEN t o s e n d th em t o t h e o f f i c e
( b u t r a r e l y c a r r i e d o u t t h o s e t h r e a t s ) ; and
a l l o w e d th em t o do t h i n g s h e knew w e r e n o t
r i g h t ( m a tc h in g p e n n i e s , e t c . ) b e c a u s e " i t
k e p t th em q u i e t . "
304
I n s t e a d o f h e a r i n g a b o u t t h e p o o r c o n t r o l
fro m t h e t e a c h e r , w e, o f c o u r s e , h e a r d o f i t
fro m t h e s t u d e n t s t h e m s e l v e s a s w e l l a s fro m
t h e o t h e r t e a c h e r s . A d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e l p IN
TIME c o u l d h a v e s a v e d t h e t e a c h e r .
D e l e g a t i o n o f F i n a l D e c i s i o n s t o
t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r
As K y te h a s n o t e d , t h e t e a c h e r f o r f e i t s t h e r i g h t
t o f u r t h e r d e c i s i o n when h e r e f e r s t h e c a s e t o t h e a d m in
i s t r a t o r ( 2 0 : 4 1 7 ) . In 22 o f t h e 216 i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s
( 1 0 .2 p e r c e n t ) , t h e c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r u n w i s e l y g a v e
i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r a s t o how t o h a n d l e t h e
c a s e : 17 n o t i f i e d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t h a t t h e p u p i l s h o u l d
b e d r o p p e d , o r r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e p u p i l be d r o p p e d fro m
t h e c l a s s ; an d 5 a d v i s e d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e
t h e c a s e . O b v i o u s l y , t h e t e a c h e r s h o u l d n o t i n s t r u c t t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r on how t o h a n d l e a g i v e n r e f e r r a l .
A w a re n e s s o f O u t s i d e - o f - C l a s s P ro b le m s
B o th t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t
o n l y a s m a l l p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r a l s
o c c u r r e d o u t s i d e o f t h e c l a s s r o o m : i n t h e h a l l s , on t h e
p l a y g r o u n d , an d i n t h e a s s e m b l y , w h e r e p u p i l s a r e u s u a l l y
i n l a r g e g r o u p s .
The t e a c h e r s ' i n c i d e n t s show ed t h a t 1 4 .3 p e r c e n t
305
o f t h e t o t a l num ber o f m i s b e h a v i o r s w h ic h t h e y r e f e r r e d
o c c u r r e d o u t s i d e t h e c l a s s r o o m : 6 . 7 p e r c e n t on t h e
p l a y g r o u n d ; 5 .8 p e r c e n t i n t h e h a l l s ; a n d 2 . 9 p e r c e n t
i n t h e a s s e m b l y . The a d m i n i s t r a t o r s r e p o r t e d t h a t o n l y
5 . 5 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e f e r r a l s came fro m o u t s i d e t h e c l a s s
room , a s f o l l o w s : 3 . 4 p e r c e n t fro m m i s b e h a v i o r s t h a t
o c c u r r e d i n t h e h a l l s ; 2 . 1 p e r c e n t fro m t h e p l a y g r o u n d ;
a n d 0 . 3 p e r c e n t fro m t h e a s s e m b l y .
In t h i r t e e n i n c i d e n t s , o r 7 . 8 p e r c e n t o f t h e
e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t i t
was t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r t o r e f e r
o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p r o b le m s f o r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a c t i o n .
I I . RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR IN
HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL DISCIPLINE
W r i t e r s on e d u c a t i o n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a v e s t r e s s e d
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o p u b l i c i z e t h e
s c h o o l ' s p h i l o s o p h y o f d i s c i p l i n e ( 1 7 : 3 2 8 ) ; t o a c h i e v e
s t a f f u n d e r s t a n d i n g s r e g a r d i n g c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l ( 1 2 : 2 0 4 ) ;
t o a s s i s t t e a c h e r s i n a r r i v i n g a t p r a c t i c a l , w o r k a b l e
d i s c i p l i n e s t a n d a r d s ( 1 1 : 2 9 7 ) ; t o s u p p o r t t e a c h e r s and
s t i f f e n w eak w i l l s ( 2 3 : 3 0 2 ) ; and t o h e l p t e a c h e r s u n d e r
s t a n d t h e d y n a m ic s o f human b e h a v i o r ( 3 8 : 1 3 4 - 1 4 3 ) . T h is
306
s t u d y r e c o g n i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f a l l t h e s e r e s p o n s i b i l
i t i e s , b u t w as c o n c e r n e d w i t h an a d d i t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y :
t h a t o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n h a n d l i n g p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
r e f e r r e d t o him by c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r s .
I t i s t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s s e c t i o n t o a t t e m p t t o
d e l i n e a t e fro m t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e d a t a g a t h e r e d f o r
t h i s s t u d y , t h e s p e c i f i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r f o r p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s w h ic h t e a c h e r s r e f e r t o h im .
A d e q u a te C o n m u n ic a tio n w i t h C la s s r o o m
A lth o u g h i t was fo u n d t h a t t h e t e a c h e r m ust l e a v e
t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n i n a l l c a s e s
r e f e r r e d t o h im , t h e n e e d f o r good c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n
t e a c h e r a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r w as c l e a r l y e v i d e n t in t h e
i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by t e a c h e r s .
In an a c c o u n t o f an e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t , a C a l i
f o r n i a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g
co m m en t:
T h e re i s a b re a k d o w n in c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n
t h e c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r an d t h e d e c i s i o n s o f t h e
d e a n s . A s t u d e n t i s s e n t t o t h e d e an f o r d i s
c i p l i n e . A c t io n i s t a k e n . The t e a c h e r i s n o t
in f o r m e d a s t o w h a t h a s t a k e n p l a c e .
The s t u d e n t , i n an a t t e m p t a t b r a v a d o , som e
t i m e s b o a s t s t h a t n o t h i n g h a s b e e n d o n e t o c o r r e c t
h i s b e h a v i o r . T h is i s b a d i n t h a t i t e n c o u r a g e s
t h e b o r d e r l i n e s t u d e n t t o f o l l o w t h e l e a d o f
307
t h e m a l a d j u s t e d s t u d e n t . I t a l s o u n d e r m i n e s t h e
a s s u r a n c e o f t h e t e a c h e r i n h i s r o l e .
W h ile i t i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e t h a t c e r t a i n c o n
f i d e n c e s s h o u l d r e m a in c o n f i d e n t i a l , n o s t u d e n t
s h o u l d b e r e t u r n e d t o c l a s s w i t h o u t a v e r b a l
o r w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t b ^ t h e d e a n o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s
u n d e r w h ic h t h e s t u d e n t i s t o b e g i v e n a n o t h e r
o p p o r t u n i t y .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t f ro m a n o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r w as s e l e c t e d t o show t h e
i m p o r t a n c e o f good c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n t e a c h e r and
a d m i n i s t r a t o r :
A y o u n g l a d y w as s e n t fro m t h e room f o r
c o n s t a n t t a l k i n g an d c o n t i n u e d d i s r e s p e c t . T h is
y o u n g l a d y was a s k e d by t h e Dean t o n o t come t o
c l a s s f o r t h r e e d a y s . T h is g i r l ' s m o th e r h a p p e n s
t o b e t h e PTA p r e s i d e n t . The g i r l i s a c o n s t a n t
a n d h a b i t u a l t r o u b l e m a k e r ; h o w e v e r , i n my c l a s s ,
s h e s e e m i n g l y d i s p l a y s m ore o f h e r t r o u b l e d
n a t u r e .
The y o u n g l a d y was r e a d m i t t e d t o c l a s s . Her
b e h a v i o r was n o t im p r o v e d , n o r h a s t h e r e l a t i o n
s h i p b e tw e e n t h i s s t u d e n t and me b e e n i m p r o v e d .
She l i s t e n s o n l y b e c a u s e s h e knows I w i l l se n d
h e r t o t h e D ean . She i s s t i l l c o n s t a n t l y c h a l
l e n g i n g me w i t h a l l t y p e s o f e x c u s e s f o r g e t t i n g
o u t o f c l a s s , e t c . No f o l l o w - u p n o t e w as s e n t
t o me by t h e D e a n .
In 123 c a s e s , o r 4 0 . 3 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l o f
305 i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l i n c i d e n t s , t e a c h e r s r e p o r t e d t h a t
t h e i r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s f a i l e d t o n o t i f y th em o f a n y a c t i o n
t a k e n , an d t h a t t h e y h a d n o way o f l e a r n i n g w h e t h e r any
308
a c t i o n h a d b e e n t a k e n a t a l l . T y p i c a l o f t e a c h e r s ' com
m e n ts was t h e f o l l o w i n g , w h ic h a c c o m p a n ie d an e f f e c t i v e
i n c i d e n t :
In o u r s c h o o l we a r e f o r t u n a t e i n h a v i n g a
man i n c h a r g e o f s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e ( f o r b o y s )
who n e v e r b r i n g s w i d e s p r e a d c r i t i c i s m f o r h i s
a c t i o n s . Comments a r e p a s s e d a b o u t , h o w e v e r,
a b o u t h i s f a i l u r e t o i n f o r m a t e a c h e r a s t o t h e
a c t i o n t a k e n on a d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o b le m . O th e r
t h a n t h i s , t h e f a c u l t y i s e n t i r e l y s a t i s f i e d .
T e a c h e r s i n d i c a t e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f good com m uni
c a t i o n when p u p i l s ' p ro g ra m s a r e c h a n g e d a s a d i s c i p l i n e
p r o c e d u r e . " C h a n g in g p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d " was r e p o r t e d a s an e f f e c t i v e
t e c h n i q u e i n 37 i n c i d e n t s , o r 6 . 2 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
o f 595 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d by t e a c h e r s . C on
v e r s e l y , " C h a n g in g p u p i l s ' p ro g ra m s w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d " was r e p o r t e d a s an i n e f f e c t i v e
t e c h n i q u e i n 18 i n c i d e n t s , o r 5 .9 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
o f 305 i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d fro m t e a c h e r s . The
f o l l o w i n g e x c e r p t i s fro m an i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d by a j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n t h e s t a t e o f W a sh in g to n and
i l l u s t r a t e s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f good t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o o r d i n a t i o n :
T h is p a r t i c u l a r c a s e i n v o l v e s a s t u d e n t who
was a d i s c i p l i n e p ro b le m i n a n o t h e r c l a s s . In
309
t h i s i n c i d e n t t h e s t u d e n t r e f u s e d t o c o o p e r a t e
w i t h h i s t e a c h e r , s o h e w as t r a n s f e r r e d t o my
room t o s o l v e t h e p r o b l e m .
The e n t i r e t e a c h i n g s t a f f f e l t t h a t t h i s
was a v e r y p o o r p o l i c y on t h e p a r t o f t h e a d
m i n i s t r a t i o n . Our r e a s o n s a r e b a s e d on t h e f a c t
t h a t a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g w as d o n e f o r t h e s t u d e n t .
I t o n l y a g g r a v a t e d t h e p r o b le m s i n c e t h e s t u
d e n t a c t u a l l y won o u t . O b v i o u s l y , t h e r e was
n o t a d e q u a t e c o m n u n i c a t i o n b e tw e e n t h e t e a c h e r s
an d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
Use o f G u id a n c e T e c h n iq u e s
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o u s e
g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s w as i n d i c a t e d i n t h e f i n d i n g s . Among
t h e g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n t i o n e d w e r e t h e s e :
1. Have g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e .
2 . T ake a d v a n t a g e o f o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r g r o u p
g u i d a n c e .
3 . C o n f e r w i t h co m m u n ity a g e n c i e s .
4 . Make p u p i l a p o lo g y e a s y .
5 . F o llo w t h r o u g h a n d w o rk w i t h c a s e s .
6 . A v o id u s e o f t h r e a t s .
7 . P e r m it " c o o l i n g o f f " p e r i o d .
S e v e r a l t y p e s o f g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w e r e m e n t i o n e d
i n i n c i d e n t s . T h e s e i n c l u d e d p u p i l - a d m i n i s t r a t o r , p u p i l -
t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r , a n d p u p i l - p a r e n t - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s -
t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e s . The l a t t e r tw o t y p e s a r e c o n s i d e r e d
310
l a t e r in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a n o t h e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r : t h a t o f s e c u r i n g p a r e n t c o o p e r a t i o n . The
f o l l o w i n g e x c e r p t fro m an i n c i d e n t r e p o r t e d by a j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n Los A n g e le s was s e l e c t e d t o
i l l u s t r a t e t h e e f f e c t i v e u s e o f t h e p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s -
t r a t o r c o n f e r e n c e :
A t e a c h e r h a d b e e n h a v in g d i f f i c u l t y w i t h
a s t u d e n t , a n d r e q u e s t e d a i d in t h e m a t t e r fro m
t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l c o n f e r
r e d w i t h t h e t e a c h e r a b o u t t h e s t u d e n t . He
s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e s t u d e n t and t h e t e a c h e r h a v e
a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h him and i t was a r r a n g e d .
At t h e c o n f e r e n c e no t h r e a t s w e re made
n o r a c c u s a t i o n s . I n s t e a d , b o t h p u p i l a n d t e a c h e r
sp o k e q u i t e f r a n k l y an d f r e e l y . They w o rk e d o u t
t h e i r own p r o b le m . Each f e l t t h e s o l u t i o n was
j u s t a n d f a i r , e a c h s a v i n g f a c e o r r a t h e r n o t
l o s i n g a n y . The s t r e n g t h o f t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l
was f e l t in h i s p r e s e n c e and h e d i d l i t t l e
p a r t i c i p a t i n g , b u t i t was h i s a r r a n g i n g and
c o n d i t i o n i n g t h a t I f e e l i n s u r e d t h e s u c c e s s o f
t h e o utcom e o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e .
T e a c h e r s r e p o r t e d e f f e c t i v e u s e o f t h e g u i d a n c e
c o n f e r e n c e i n a t o t a l o f 89 i n c i d e n t s . In 74 o f t h e s e ,
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r h e l d a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e p u p i l , and
in 15 t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r h e l d a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h b o t h
t e a c h e r and p u p i l . Among t h e 595 e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s ,
1 5 .0 p e r c e n t m e n tio n e d t h e g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e a s a
t e c h n i q u e e f f e c t i v e l y u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
311
O th e r good g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s d e s c r i b e d a s h a v in g
b e e n u s e d e f f e c t i v e l y by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e : c o n f e r r i n g
w i t h com m unity a g e n c i e s ; m ak ing a p o lo g y e a s y , b u t n o t
f o r c i n g an a p o lo g y ; f o l l o w i n g t h r o u g h and w o r k in g w i t h
c a s e s a t l e n g t h ; a v o i d i n g t h e u s e o f t h r e a t s ; a n d p e r
m i t t i n g a " c o o l i n g o f f " p e r i o d .
E f f o r t s t o S e c u re H om e-School C o o p e r a t io n
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r
s e c u r i n g h o tn e -s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n was i n d i c a t e d i n t h e
f i n d i n g s . In 147, o r 2 4 .7 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l o f 395
e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s , p a r e n t c o o p e r a t i o n was m e n tio n e d a s
a s u c c e s s f u l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e . P a r e n t c o o p e r a t i o n
was s e c u r e d in t h e f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t s : s u s p e n s i o n o f
p u p i l r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e , 64 c a s e s ; had c o n f e r e n c e
w i t h p a r e n t s , 43 c a s e s ; had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l - p a r e n t -
t e a c h e r , 15 c a s e s ; and c o n t a c t e d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e ,
l e t t e r , o r home v i s i t , 25 c a s e s .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t , r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r , i l l u s t r a t e s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o s e c u r e h o m e -s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n :
Our Dean o f Boys su s p e n d e d a boy f o r s w e a r in g
a t a t e a c h e r . The p a r e n t r e t u r n e d w i t h t h e b o y ,
v e r y h o s t i l e to w a rd t h e s c h o o l and t e a c h e r c o n
c e r n e d . The Dean " c o o l e d him o f f " ( t h e p a r e n t )
312
by s a y i n g , "We e x p e c t t h e same b e h a v i o r a n d
s t a n d a r d s a t s c h o o l a s y o u do a t hom e. We
r e p r e s e n t you h e r e . I know you w o u l d n 't w a n t
y o u r boy t o s w e a r a t you u n d e r a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s
and s i n c e we r e p r e s e n t y o u , we know you w o u ld
d i s c i p l i n e y o u r boy f o r d o i n g t h i s , a n d s o m u st
w e . " P a r e n t becam e c o o p e r a t i v e i n a t t i t u d e .
U se o f A u t h o r i t a r i a n M e a s u re s
In many o f t h e r e p o r t e d i n c i d e n t s t e a c h e r s show ed
t h e n e e d f o r t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o u s e a u t h o r i
t a r i a n m e a s u r e s , e s p e c i a l l y (1 ) when a d e q u a t e u s e o f
g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s a n d h o m e - s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n p r o v e
i n e f f e c t i v e a n d (2 ) when t h e o f f e n s e i s o f s u c h a s e r i o u s
n a t u r e t h a t t h e w e l f a r e o r l i f e o f p u p i l s a n d / o r t e a c h e r s
i s i n j e o p a r d y . Among t h e m ore s e r i o u s p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
m e n t i o n e d i n t h e i n c i d e n t s w e r e a s s a u l t s on t e a c h e r s ,
d r i n k i n g i n t o x i c a n t s on c a m p u s, s e t t i n g f i r e s , bombs an d
bomb s c a r e s , a n d e x tr e m e d e f i a n c e o f t e a c h e r s .
In a comment a c c o m p a n y in g an e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t ,
a Los A n g e le s j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s p o l i c y o f u s i n g p u n is h m e n t o n l y a f t e r
a d e q u a t e g u i d a n c e h a d b e e n p r o v i d e d .
T h e r e i s r a r e l y a n y s p e c t a c u l a r i n c i d e n t t h a t
o c c u r s h e r e . I f a n y t h i n g i s s p e c t a c u l a r , i t
w o u ld b e t h e s t e a d y d a y - t o - d a y f i r m n e s s o f d i s
c i p l i n e i n t h i s s c h o o l , w h e r e i n a n y p a r t i c u l a r
c a s e i s a p p r o a c h e d w i t h t h e t i m e - p r o v e n f o r m u la
o f c o n f e r e n c e p l u s f o l l o w - u p . P u n is h m e n t fro m
313
t h e m il d t o t h e v e r y s e v e r e i s im p o sed a s
n e e d e d . . . .
P o l i c y * w o r k in g w i t h t h e t e a c h e r s
a n d p u p i l s
A c t io n * (1 ) c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e
y o u n g s t e r
(2 ) i m m e d ia te , w e l l e x p l a i n e d
p u n is h m e n t
S p e c t a c u l a r ? - No.
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t , r e p o r t e d by a Los A n g e le s
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r , i l l u s t r a t e s t h e n e c e s s i t y o f
u s i n g a u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s in a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g
o f s e r i o u s p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s :
On D ecem ber 5 , 195 6 , d u r i n g P e r i o d 6 c l a s s
on t h e lo w e r f l o o r o f t h e A cadem ic B u i l d i n g a t
_______________ H igh S c h o o l , tw o b o y s e n t e r e d t h e
h a l l by an end d o o r , My c l a s s r o o m d o o r w as open
b e c a u s e i t w as a warm d a y . One o f t h e s e b o y s
c r o s s e d t h e t h r e s h o l d o f my d o o r and made a
r e m a rk t o one o f t h e g i r l s n e a r t h e d o o r . She
a n d I w e re s t a r t l e d , a s was t h e e n t i r e c l a s s .
I c h a l l e n g e d h im on i t and h e was q u i t e d e f i a n t .
To a v o id t r o u b l e , I i n v i t e d t h e tw o b o y s i n t o
t h e room , an d t h e n s e n t f o r t h e B o y s' V ic e
P r i n c i p a l . As so on a s t h e tw o b o y s saw t h i s ,
t h e y d e c i d e d t o l e a v e . I t r i e d t o d e t a i n t h e
one who p a s s e d my d e s k , b u t he p u l l e d me i n t o
t h e h a l l , my r i g h t h a n d b e i n g on h i s s h i r t
c o l l a r . He t w i s t e d my arm i n h i s a t t e m p t s t o
w re n c h f r e e o f my g r a s p , hfy s h o u l d e r a n d h a n d
( r i g h t ) w e r e i n j u r e d . Mr. ___________ a r r i v e d i n
j u s t a m i n u t e o r tw o on t h e s c e n e , t o o k t h e
b o y s i n t o h i s o f f i c e , and b e c a u s e o f t h e i r
b e l l i g e r e n t n a t u r e , t u r n e d th em o v e r t o t h e
p o l i c e . W it h i n t e n m i n u t e s o f t h e i r o f f e n s e
t h e y w e re i n c h a r g e o f t h e o f f i c e r s . Mr. ________
and P r i n c i p a l ________ f o u g h t t h e c a s e t o t h e
h i g h e s t l e v e l , in a s m u c h a s b o t h b o y s w e re n o t
______________ H igh S c h o o l s t u d e n t s , o ne b e i n g
314
on p r o b a t i o n fro m a C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y
cam p, and t h e o t h e r AWOL fro m a n o t h e r h i g h
s c h o o l . Mr. __________ e v en g a v e up t h e e n t i r e
a f t e r n o o n p r e v i o u s t o C h r i s t m a s v a c a t i o n t o
a t t e n d t h e o f f i c i a l h e a r i n g .
At ________ H igh S c h o o l d i s c i p l i n a r y m a t t e r s
r e c e i v e p ro m p t a n d e f f i c i e n t b a c k i n g by o u r
A d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
A u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s m e n tio n e d a s p a r t i c u l a r l y
e f f e c t i v e w e r e : p h y s i c a l p u n i s h m e n t , 8 c a s e s ; e x p u l s i o n ,
13 c a s e s ; t r a n s f e r t o a n o t h e r s c h o o l , 2 c a s e s ; r e p a r a t i o n
a n d r e s t i t u t i o n , 9 c a s e s .
In t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , r e f e r r a l t o law e n f o r c e m e n t
a g e n c i e s was m e n tio n e d in s e v e r a l c a s e s h e r e i n c l a s s i f i e d
a s " r e f e r r a l t o o u t s i d e - o f - s c h o o l a g e n c i e s . " A s t a t e m e n t
o f p o l i c y fro m a s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r i n Wyoming
r e p o r t e d t h a t p u p i l s who u s e f i r e c r a c k e r s a t s c h o o l a r e
r e f e r r e d t o t h e f i r e d e p a r t m e n t ; an i n c i d e n t fro m a C a l i
f o r n i a j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r r e p o r t e d t h a t a p u p i l
who p u t a homemade bomb i n t h e t r a s h c an was im m e d ia te l y
r e f e r r e d t o j u v e n i l e a u t h o r i t i e s .
The f o l l o w i n g i n c i d e n t , r e p o r t e d by a C a l i f o r n i a
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r , i l l u s t r a t e s e f f e c t i v e u s e o f
a u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s :
R e c e n t l y , t h e d e an o f b o y s r e c e i v e d w ord o f
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a gang f i g h t d e v e l o p i n g a t one
o f t h e s c h o o l ' s n i g h t d a n c e s . I m m e d ia t e l y , t h e
315
f o l l o w i n g s t e p s w e re t a k e n : (1 ) t h e p r i n c i p a l
was t h o r o u g h l y in f o rm e d o f t h e s i t u a t i o n , (2 )
t h e t e a c h e r in c h a r g e o f t h e d a n c e was made
a w a re o f t h e s i t u a t i o n , (3) t h e p o l i c e w e re
c o n t a c t e d and b r i e f e d .
At t h e d a n c e e v e r y t h i n g p r o g r e s s e d n o r m a l l y
u n t i l a p p r o x i m a t e l y 9 :3 0 p.m . T h e re w as no i n d i
c a t i o n o f p o s s i b l e t r o u b l e u n t i l one boy was
s t r u c k v i o l e n t l y on t h e ja w . The crow d b e g an
t o grow r e s t l e s s a s s m a l l g r o u p s o f b o y s b e g an
f o r m i n g .
The d e an im m e d ia te l y a r r i v e d on t h e s c e n e
and s t a r t e d s e g r e g a t i n g t h e known t r o u b l e - m a k e r s
fro m t h e c ro w d . S u p e r v i s i n g t e a c h e r s w e re d i r e c t e d
t o k e e p t h e i r a t t e n t i o n on o t h e r s t u d e n t s who w e re
known t o b e p o t e n t i a l t r o u b l e - m a k e r s . The p o l i c e
w e re a l e r t e d , and w i t h i n m i n u t e s a r r i v e d a t t h e
s c e n e .
The d e an t a l k e d t o t h o s e p e o p l e who a p p e a r e d
t o b e t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e g a n g s and w i t h i n a
s h o r t tim e h a d them o r d e r i n g t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e
g r o u p s t o r e f r a i n fro m v i o l e n c e .
From su c h o u t s t a n d i n g q u a l i t i e s o f l e a d e r
s h i p , t h e f o l l o w i n g r e s u l t s w e re a c h i e v e d : (1)
u n f a v o r a b l e p u b l i c i t y a b o u t t h e s c h o o l was a v e r t e d ,
(2) t h e s a f e t y o f a l l was e f f e c t e d , (3) a l l in
a t t e n d a n c e a t t h e d a n c e r e a l i z e d t h e d e g r e e o f
c o n t r o l w h ic h c o u l d b e e x e r c i s e d when e m e r g e n c ie s
a r i s e .
I I I . CHAPTER SUMMARY
Most o f t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s r e f e r r e d by t e a c h e r s
t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o c c u r r e d in t h e c l a s s r o o m ,
w h e re p u p i l s a r e in r e l a t i v e l y s m a ll g r o u p s an d a lw a y s
u n d e r t h e d i r e c t s u p e r v i s i o n o f t e a c h e r s . Only a s m a ll
316
p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e m i s b e h a v i o r s t h a t w e re r e f e r r e d o c c u r r e d
i n t h e h a l l s , on t h e p l a y g r o u n d , o r in t h e a s s e m b l y .
In h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , t h e t e a c h e r ' s
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a r e t o :
1. P r o v i d e w e l l p l a n n e d , w e l l o r g a n i z e d , v i t a l
c l a s s r o o m i n s t r u c t i o n .
2. E x e r c i s e good ju d g m e n t a b o u t when t o r e f e r
c a s e s .
3. L eav e f i n a l d e c i s i o n s w i t h t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
4 . Be a l e r t t o o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p r o b l e m s .
The a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , i n h a n d l i n g
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s r e f e r r e d t o h im , a r e t o :
1. M a i n t a i n a d e q u a t e c o n m u n i c a t i o n w i t h c l a s s r o o m
t e a c h e r s .
2 . Use g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s .
3 . Work t o s e c u r e h o m e - s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n .
4 . Use a u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s .
CHAPTER V II
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS,
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
I . INTRODUCTION
The p u r p o s e o f t h i s f i n a l c h a p t e r i s t o p r e s e n t
a summary o f t h e f i n d i n g s , a lo n g w i t h c e r t a i n c o n c l u s i o n s
and re c o x m ie n d a tio n s b a s e d on t h e f i n d i n g s .
The P ro b le m
T h is i n v e s t i g a t i o n was u n d e r t a k e n in an e f f o r t t o
d e t e r m i n e t h e p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s b e in g u s e d by h i g h
s c h o o l t e a c h e r s in m ak in g d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l s t o a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s , and t h o s e b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in h a n d l i n g
d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l s fro m t e a c h e r s . No a t t e m p t was made
t o s t u d y l o c a l - s c h o o l o r c i t y - w i d e p ro g ra m s f o r m o r a le
b u i l d i n g and t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f m i s b e h a v i o r ; no s t u d y was
made o f d i s c i p l i n e c o d e s . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e s t u d y s o u g h t
a n s w e r s t o t h e s e q u e s t i o n s :
1. What t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r a r e b e i n g
318
r e f e r r e d t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ?
2. When t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r b e i n g
r e f e r r e d t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n Los
A n g e le s a r e co m p a red w i t h t h o s e b e i n g r e f e r r e d
i n o t h e r c i t i e s in C a l i f o r n i a and in s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , w h a t d i f f e r e n c e s c an
be o b s e r v e d ?
3 . When t h e t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r b e i n g
r e f e r r e d t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a r e c o m p a re d w i t h t h o s e
b e i n g r e f e r r e d in s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , w h at
d i f f e r e n c e s c a n b e o b s e r v e d ?
4 . What p r o c e d u r e s a r e t e a c h e r s u s i n g i n r e f e r r i n g
c a s e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ?
5. What t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s a r e e f f e c t i v e ?
6 . What t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s a r e
i n e f f e c t i v e ?
7. When t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d
in Los A n g e le s a r e c o m p a re d w i t h t h o s e b e i n g
u s e d in o t h e r c i t i e s i n C a l i f o r n i a and in
s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , w h a t d i f f e r e n c e s
c an b e o b s e r v e d ?
319
8. When t e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d
in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a r e co m p ared w i t h t h o s e
b e i n g u s e d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , w h at d i f f e r
e n c e s c an b e o b s e r v e d ?
9 . What p r o c e d u r e s a r e b e i n g u s e d by h i g h s c h o o l
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n h a n d l i n g p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e ?
10. What p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
a r e e f f e c t i v e ?
11 . What p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
a r e i n e f f e c t i v e ?
12. When p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
in Los A n g e le s a r e co m p ared w i t h t h o s e b e i n g
u s e d i n o t h e r c i t i e s i n C a l i f o r n i a and in
s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , w h a t d i f f e r e n c e s
c a n b e o b s e r v e d ?
13. When p r o c e d u r e s b e i n g u s e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
in j u n i c r h i g h s c h o o l s a r e com pared w i t h t h o s e
b e i n g u s e d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , w hat
d i f f e r e n c e s c an b e o b s e r v e d ?
14. What i s t h e r e l a t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e
c l a s s r o o m t e a c h e r and t h e h i g h s c h o o l d i s
c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in h a n d l i n g c a s e s o f
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r ?
320
The P r o c e d u r e
In c a r r y i n g o u t t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n
a n d f i n d i n g a n s w e r s t o t h e s e q u e s t i o n s , u s e w as made o f
t h e c r i t i c a l i n c i d e n t t e c h n i q u e , a s d e v e l o p e d a n d p e r f e c t e d
by F l a n a g a n .
R e s p o n d e n ts w e re a s k e d t o d e s c r i b e i n c i d e n t s o r
s p e c i f i c d i s c i p l i n e e p i s o d e s , r a t h e r t h a n e s t i m a t e s o r
o p i n i o n s o r r a t i n g s . I n c i d e n t s w e r e c o l l e c t e d fro m c l a s s
room t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n Los A n g e l e s , i n o t h e r
C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s , and in s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .
C la s s r o o m t e a c h e r s r e p o r t e d a c t u a l i n c i d e n t s In w h ic h
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s h a n d l e d p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r
r e f e r r a l s i n w ays w h ic h che t e a c h e r j u d g e d t o e i t h e r o u t
s t a n d i n g l y e f f e c t i v e o r o u t s t a n d i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e . A l t e r
n a t e l y , d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s r e p o r t e d a c t u a l i n c i d e n t s
in w h ic h t e a c h e r s r e f e r r e d c a s e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r in
w ays w h ic h t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s j u d g e d t o b e e i t h e r o u t -
s t a n d l i n g l y e f f e c t i v e o r o u t s t a n d i n g l y i n e f f e c t i v e .
A g r o u p o f s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
s e r v e d a s a j u r y t o c h e c k t h e p l a u s i b i l i t y o f t h e i n c i d e n t s
and t o a d v i s e c o n c e r n i n g a l l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f i n c i d e n t s
m ade by t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r . S t a t i s t i c a l f a c t s , e x t r a c t e d
321
fro m t h e i n c i d e n t s , w e re c l a s s i f i e d , m a c h in e t a b u l a t e d ,
and a n a l y z e d . The a n e c d o t a l m a t e r i a l s w e re f u r t h e r s t u d i e d
t o g e t i n f o r m a t i o n n o t s u b j e c t t o s t a t i s t i c a l t a b u l a t i o n .
A nsw ers t o t h e f o u r t e e n q u e s t i o n s w e re o b t a i n e d fro m t h e
s t a t i s t i c s and from t h e a n e c d o t a l i n f o r m a t i o n .
I I . SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FROM
ADMINISTRATORS* RESPONSES
T ypes o f P u p i l M is b e h a v io r
The t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r e d m ost f r e -
q u e n t l y by t e a c h e r s t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e :
1 . C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e i n a g r o u p .
2. D e f ia n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
3. F i g h t i n g .
4 . F a i l u r e t o b r i n g n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s
5. O b s c e n it y and p r o f a n i t y .
6 . T a r d i n e s s .
7. T ru a n c y and c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
8. Chewing gum.
9. C u t t i n g a s s i g n e d s c h o o l d e t e n t i o n .
10. E a t i n g i n c l a s s .
11. D e s t r o y i n g s c h o o l m a t e r i a l s and p r o p e r t y .
322
When p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s w h ic h w e re r e f e r r e d t o
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in one g e o g r a p h i c a r e a w e re co m p ared w i t h
t h o s e i n o t h e r g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s , few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re
f o u n d .
When p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s w h ic h w e re r e f e r r e d t o
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w e re
co m p ared t o t h o s e r e f e r r e d in s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , few
d i f f e r e n c e s w e re f o u n d .
The p l a c e s in s c h o o l w h e re t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
o c c u r r e d w e re s t u d i e d . A lm ost two t h i r d s o c c u r r e d in
a c a d e m ic , f i n e a r t s , and b u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s , w h e re
p u p i l s a r e in r e l a t i v e l y s m a ll g r o u p s and a lw a y s u n d e r t h e
d i r e c t s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e t e a c h e r . A bout 10 p e r c e n t o f
t h e r e f e r r a l s w e re made from sh op and hom em aking c l a s s e s ,
a n o t h e r 10 p e r c e n t b e i n g made fro m p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n .
The r e m a i n d e r o f t h e r e f e r r e d m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r r e d in
t h e h a l l s , on t h e p l a y g r o u n d , and in t h e a s s e m b ly .
E f f e c t i v e T e a c h e r R e f e r r a l P r o c e d u r e s
P r o c e d u r e s u s e d by t e a c h e r s in m ak in g e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r c a s e s t o d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r s w e r e :
1. R e f e r r e d im m e d ia te ly a s e r i o u s e m e rg en c y c a s e .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e a f t e r u s i n g many t e a c h e r
r e s o u r c e s .
3 . R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h c o m p l e t e , a c c u r a t e
i n f o r m a t i o n .
4 . R e f e r r e d p r o p e r l y an o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p ro b le m
5. C o n s u l t e d t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
a d v a n c e o f r e f e r r a l .
6 . B ro u g h t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e .
7 . A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r
c o n f e r e n c e .
8. R e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p w h ic h t e a c h e r
c o u l d n o t p r o v i d e .
9 . R e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y " p r o b l e m " p a r e n t s .
10. Had p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l
himself.
The effective referral procedures were compared
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e f o l l o w i n g g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s : Los A n g e le s
o t h e r c i t i e s in C a l i f o r n i a , a n d s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i
f o r n i a .
W ith r e s p e c t t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ' r e s p o n s e s , t h e
e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e m e n tio n e d m o st o f t e n , r e g a r d l e s s o f
g e o g r a p h i c a r e a , was " r e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s
324
e m e r g e n c y ." One p r o c e d u r e , " r e f e r r e d p u p i l f o r h e l p t h e
t e a c h e r c o u l d n o t p r o v i d e , " was n o t m e n t i o n e d i n t h e i n c i
d e n t s r e p o r t e d b y Los A n g e le s a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , b u t w as
m e n t i o n e d i n i n c i d e n t s fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s and
a l s o fro m c i t i e s i n s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . One
p r o c e d u r e , " r e f e r r e d i m m e d i a t e l y p r o b le m p a r e n t s , " was
n o t m e n t i o n e d by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s fro m t h e Los A n g e le s a r e a
o r fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , b u t was m e n tio n e d
b y a d m i n i s t r a t o r s fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s . One
p r o c e d u r e , " h a d p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l
h i m s e l f , " w as m e n t i o n e d i n t h e i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d fro m
Los A n g e l e s and i n t h o s e fro m C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s o t h e r
t h a n Los A n g e l e s , b u t w as n o t m e n t i o n e d in t h e i n c i d e n t s
fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .
Among g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s s t u d i e d i n a n a l y z i n g a d m in
i s t r a t o r s ' r e s p o n s e s , t h e r e a r e few d i f f e r e n c e s in t h e
t y p e o f e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s m e n t i o n e d m o st f r e
q u e n t l y . The d i f f e r e n c e s o c c u r r e d l a r g e l y among p r o c e d u r e s
o f low r a n k i n o r d e r o f f r e q u e n c y o f m e n t i o n by s c h o o l
d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
T e a c h e r r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s u s e d in j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s w e re c o m p a re d t o t h o s e u s e d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .
The t h r e e e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s m e n t i o n e d m o st o f t e n by
325
r e s p o n d e n t s w e re e x a c t l y t h e same a s t h o s e m e n t i o n e d m o st
o f t e n by r e s p o n d e n t s fro m t h e s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , i . e . :
(1 ) r e f e r r e d i m m e d ia te l y a s e r i o u s e m e r g e n c y ^ (2 ) r e f e r r e d
c a s e a f t e r u s i n g t e a c h e r r e s o u r c e s , an d (3) r e f e r r e d c a s e
w i t h c o m p l e t e and a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n . In j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l i n c i d e n t s , t h e r e w as no m e n tio n o f t h e p r o c e d u r e ,
" h a d p u p i l w r i t e t h e f a c t s o f t h e r e f e r r a l h i m s e l f , " w h i l e
tw o s u c h c a s e s w e re m e n t i o n e d i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i
d e n t s . In s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t s , no m e n t i o n was
made o f t h e p r o c e d u r e , " r e f e r r e d i m m e d i a t e l y p r o b le m
p a r e n t s , " a l t h o u g h t h e r e was one s u c h c a s e i n a j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l an d one i n a s c h o o l w h o se o r g a n i z a t i o n was n o t
s t a t e d . The r e m a i n i n g f i v e p r o c e d u r e s f e l l i n t o d i f f e r e n t
r a n k o r d e r s i n t h e j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l and s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l l i s t i n g o f i n c i d e n t s .
F i n d i n g s P e r t a i n i n g t o I n e f f e c t i v e
T e a c h e r R e f e r r a l s
P r o c e d u r e s u s e d by t e a c h e r s i n m a k in g i n e f f e c t i v e
r e f e r r a l s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r c a s e s w e r e :
1. R e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t
h a n d l e d by good t e a c h i n g .
2 . R e f e r r e d c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l
326
c o u n s e l i n g .
3 . R e f e r r e d w i t h n o t i f i c a t i o n o r r e q u e s t t h a t
p u p i l b e d r o p p e d fro m t h e c l a s s .
4 . Made i n c o m p l e t e o r i n a c c u r a t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l .
5 . L e t s e r i o u s c a s e s go t o t h e c r i s i s s t a g e
b e f o r e r e f e r r i n g .
6 . S e n t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h no n o t e o r
o t h e r n o t i c e .
7 . A d v is e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how t o h a n d l e
r e f e r r e d c a s e .
The i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s w e r e s t u d i e d
i n te r m s o f t h e g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s r e p r e s e n t e d , i . e . , Los
A n g e l e s , o t h e r c i t i e s in C a l i f o r n i a , an d s t a t e s o t h e r
t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . I t w as fo u n d t h a t , r e g a r d l e s s o f g e o
g r a p h i c a r e a , t h e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e m e n t i o n e d m ost
o f t e n w as " r e f e r r e d a c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e c a s e , b e s t
h a n d l e d by good t e a c h i n g . " The o t h e r p r o c e d u r e s w e re
m e n t i o n e d w i t h s i m i l a r f r e q u e n c y b u t In d i f f e r e n t r a n k
o r d e r s by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n Los A n g e le s an d i n o t h e r c i t i e s
i n C a l i f o r n i a . T h r e e i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w e re n o t
m e n t i o n e d i n i n c i d e n t s r e p o r t e d fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n
327
C a l i f o r n i a : (1 ) made i n a c c u r a t e o r i n c o m p l e t e s t a t e m e n t s
w i t h t h e r e f e r r a l ; (2) s e n t p u p i l t o t h e o f f i c e w i t h no
n o t e o r o t h e r n o t i c e ; and (3) a d v i s e d a d m i n i s t r a t o r how
t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e r e f e r r e d .
The i n e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n j u n i o r
h i g h s c h o o l s w e re c o m p a re d t o t h o s e u s e d i n s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s . The two i n e f f e c t i v e t e a c h e r p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d l y
u s e d m o st o f t e n in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s and i n s e n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l s w e re i d e n t i c a l : (1 ) r e f e r r e d c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e
c a s e , b e s t h a n d l e d by good t e a c h i n g , and (2) r e f e r r e d t h e
c a s e w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s p e r s o n a l c o u n s e l i n g . A l l t h e o t h e r
i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w e re l i s t e d i n a d i f f e r e n t r a n k
o r d e r i n j u n i o r a n d s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .
The T e a c h e r 's R e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n
H ig h S c h o o l P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e
The t e a c h e r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s in h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e w e re fo u n d t o b e t o :
1. P r o v i d e v i t a l , w e l l o r g a n i z e d , e f f i c i e n t
i n s t r u c t i o n .
2. U se ju d g m e n t a s t o when t o make r e f e r r a l s .
3 . O b s e rv e and r e f e r o u t s i d e - o f - c l a s s p r o b l e m s .
4 . L eave w i t h t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r f i n a l d e c i s i o n s
328
r e g a r d in g r e f e r r e d c a s e s .
I I I . SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FROM
TEACHERS1 RESPONSES
T ypes o f P u p i l M is b e h a v io r
The t e n t y p e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r w h ic h t e a c h e r s
r e p o r t e d m o st o f t e n a s b e in g r e f e r r e d by them t o d i s c i -
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e :
1 . C a u s in g d i s o r d e r o r d i s t u r b a n c e in a g r o u p .
2. D e f i a n c e o f and d i s r e s p e c t f o r a t e a c h e r .
3. D r e s s i n g i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y f o r s c h o o l .
A. F i g h t i n g .
5. P e t t y t h e f t .
6 . O b s c e n i t y and p r o f a n i t y .
7. T ru a n c y an d c u t t i n g o f c l a s s e s .
8. T a r d i n e s s .
9. S m o k in g .
10. T h ro w in g l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s o r on g r o u n d s .
P u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s w e re c o m p a red a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
f o l l o w i n g g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s : Los A n g e l e s , o t h e r c i t i e s in
C a l i f o r n i a , and c i t i e s in s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .
When m i s b e h a v i o r s r e p o r t e d i n i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d fro m one
329
a r e a w e re c o m p a red t o t h o s e r e c e i v e d from o t h e r a r e a s , few
d i f f e r e n c e s w e re f o u n d . Among t h e t e n t y p e s o f m i s b e h a v i o r
m e n tio n e d m o st o f t e n by b o t h Los A n g e le s r e s p o n d e n t s and
t h o s e fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s , e i g h t m i s b e h a v i o r
t y p e s w e re a l s o m e n tio n e d among t h e t o p t e n r e c e i v e d from
s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . Two m i s b e h a v i o r s - - d r i n k i n g
i n t o x i c a n t s and l o i t e r i n g - - w e r e among t h e t o p t e n on t h e
l i s t fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . D r i n k i n g a p p e a r e d
on t h e C a l i f o r n i a l i s t , b u t was n o t h i g h on t h e " t o p - t e n "
l i s t . L o i t e r i n g a p p e a r e d on b o t h t h e Los A n g e le s l i s t
and t h a t fro m o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s , b u t was n o t h ig h
on e i t h e r l i s t . Not l i s t e d among t h e t o p t e n m i s b e h a v i o r s
fro m s t a t e s o t h e r th a n C a l i f o r n i a w e re two w h ic h a p p e a r e d
on b o t h t h e Los A n g e le s l i s t and t h a t from o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a
c i t i e s : t a r d i n e s s and t h r o w in g l i t t e r in b u i l d i n g s and on
g r o u n d s .
When p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s r e f e r r e d t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w e re com pared t o t h o s e r e f e r r e d in
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re f o u n d . The t e n
p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s r e p o r t e d m o st o f t e n by j u n i o r h i g h
s c h o o l t e a c h e r s w e re e x a c t l y t h e same a s t h o s e r e p o r t e d
m o st o f t e n by s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h e r s , b u t i n d i f f e r e n t
r a n k o r d e r .
330
The p l a c e s i n s c h o o l w h e re t h e p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r s
o c c u r r e d w e re s t u d i e d . H a l f o f t h e c a s e s o c c u r r e d i n
a c a d e m ic , f i n e a r t s , a n d b u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n c l a s s e s .
F ew er t h a n one f i f t h w e re r e f e r r e d fro m s h o p o r h o m em aking,
p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n , an d s t u d y h a l l c l a s s e s . The r e m a i n d e r
o f t h e m i s b e h a v i o r s o c c u r r e d i n t h e h a l l s , on t h e p l a y
g r o u n d , and i n t h e s c h o o l a s s e m b l y .
R e f e r r a l p e r s o n n e l who h a n d l e d t h e c a s e s i n c l u d e d
c o u n s e l o r s , d e a n s , v i c e o r a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l s , and
p r i n c i p a l s . C o u n s e l o r s , a l t h o u g h n o t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ,
h a n d l e d a l m o s t 10 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e f e r r e d d i s c i p l i n e
c a s e s .
E f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
The a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s u s e d m o st f r e q u e n t l y
i n t h e e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s w e r e :
1. Had g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l .
2. S u s p e n d e d p u p i l and r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e .
3 . Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p a r e n t s .
A. C hanged p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g t h e
t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
5. W ith d re w p r i v i l e g e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e m i s b e h a v i o r .
6 . C o n t a c t e d p a r e n t s by t e l e p h o n e , l e t t e r , o r
331
home v i s i t .
7 . C o u n s e le d a g r o u p o f p u p i l s .
8 . Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l , p a r e n t , and
t e a c h e r .
9 . E x p e l l e d - - d r o p p e d fro m s c h o o l .
1 0 . A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y and
p r o m p t l y .
E f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w e r e c o m p a re d
by g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s , i . e . , Los A n g e l e s , o t h e r c i t i e s i n
C a l i f o r n i a , and s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . The two
p r o c e d u r e s m e n t i o n e d m o st f r e q u e n t l y w e r e i d e n t i c a l i n a l l
t h r e e g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s :
1. Had g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l .
2 . S u s p e n d e d p u p i l an d r e q u i r e d p a r e n t c o n f e r e n c e .
One e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e m e n tio n e d
o f t e n i n C a l i f o r n i a i n c i d e n t s , "h a d c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l ,
p a r e n t , an d t e a c h e r , " was n o t r e p o r t e d i n an i n c i d e n t
fro m a s t a t e o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a . A l l o t h e r e f f e c t i v e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s w h ic h a p p e a r e d h i g h on t h e l i s t s
o f t o p - r a n k e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s fro m Los A n g e le s
a n d c i t i e s o t h e r t h a n Los A n g e le s w e r e r e p o r t e d a l s o fro m
s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a .
Sev en p r o c e d u r e s a p p e a r e d among t h e t e n m o st
332
e f f e c t i v e o n e s r e p o r t e d i n i n c i d e n t s fro m b o t h j u n i o r and
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s . T h r e e p r o c e d u r e s m e n t i o n e d i n i n c i
d e n t s fro m t h e j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a p p e a r e d i n lo w e r r a n k
o r d e r among s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t s , a s f o l l o w s :
1. A r r a n g e d f o r p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e e a s i l y and
p r o m p t l y .
2. U sed p h y s i c a l p u n is h m e n t i n t h e p r i v a c y
o f t h e o f f i c e .
3. R e f e r r e d p u p i l t o o u t s i d e - o f - s c h o o l a g e n c i e s .
T h re e p r o c e d u r e s m e n t i o n e d i n i n c i d e n t s fro m t h e
s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s a p p e a r e d i n lo w e r r a n k o r d e r among
j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l i n c i d e n t s , a s f o l l o w s :
1. C o u n s e le d a w h o le g r o u p .
2. E x p e l l e d - - d r o p p e d fro m s c h o o l .
3. Had c o n f e r e n c e w i t h p u p i l and t e a c h e r .
I n e f f e c t i v e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P r o c e d u r e s
The a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s d e s c r i b e d m o st o f t e n
i n t h e i n e f f e c t i v e i n c i d e n t s n a r r a t e d by t e a c h e r s w e r e :
1 . D id n o t h i n g a s f a r a s t h e t e a c h e r know s;
f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t e a c h e r o f a n y a c t i o n .
2 . M e re ly t a l k e d t o t h e p u p i l ; a d m o n ish e d o r
w a rn e d t h e p u p i l .
333
3 . C hanged p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g t h e
t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
4 . S u sp en d e d p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
5. D ropped t h e c a s e ; f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h
and w ork w i t h t h e p u p i l .
6 . R e p rim an d e d a w h o le g r o u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r
o f one o r a few p u p i l s .
7 . A s s ig n e d b r i e f p e r i o d s o f d e t e n t i o n b e f o r e
o r a f t e r s c h o o l .
8 . W ith d rew p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o t h e
m i s b e h a v i o r .
9 . R e q u ir e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e .
10 . R e tu r n e d p u p i l t o c l a s s t h e same p e r i o d ,
h a v i n g d e t a i n e d p u p i l f o r a s h o r t t i m e .
11. A cceded t o w i s h e s o r t h r e a t s o f p a r e n t s .
I n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s r e p o r t e d by
t e a c h e r s w e re co m p ared on t h e b a s i s o f g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s ,
and few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re n o t e d . The i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e
r e p o r t e d m o st o f t e n i n a l l a r e a s w a s , " d i d n o t h i n g a s f a r
a s t h e t e a c h e r k n o w s - - f a i l e d t o n o t i f y t h e t e a c h e r o f an y
a c t i o n . " One i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e , " m e r e ly t a l k e d t o t h e
p u p i l , " was s e c o n d i n r a n k o r d e r among i n c i d e n t s r e c e i v e d
fro m t e a c h e r s in Los A n g e l e s , o t h e r C a l i f o r n i a c i t i e s , and
334
C a l i f o r n i a i n c l u d i n g Los A n g e l e s ; and i t was in t i e f o r
t h i r d p l a c e among t h o s e r e c e i v e d fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n
C a l i f o r n i a . One p r o c e d u r e , " c h a n g e d p u p i l ' s p ro g ra m w i t h
o u t c o n s u l t i n g t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d , " was among t h e f i v e
m o st f r e q u e n t l y m e n tio n e d i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e s i n a l l
g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s . One i n e f f e c t i v e p r o c e d u r e , " d ro p p e d
t h e c a s e ; f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h an d w ork w i t h t h e
p u p i l , " was i n t h i r d p l a c e among Los A n g e le s r e s p o n s e s
and i n s e c o n d p l a c e among t h o s e fro m s t a t e s o t h e r t h a n
C a l i f o r n i a ; and t h i s p r o c e d u r e was m e n tio n e d i n C a l i f o r n i a
i n c i d e n t s a s w e l l . The f o l l o w i n g f o u r i n e f f e c t i v e p r o
c e d u r e s d i d n o t a p p e a r among t h o s e r e p o r t e d in s t a t e s
o t h e r t h a n C a l i f o r n i a , p e r h a p s b e c a u s e o f t h e s m a l l t o t a l
n u m ber o f c a s e s : (1) w i t h d r e w p r i v i l e g e s n o t r e l a t e d t o
t h e m i s b e h a v i o r ; (2) r e q u i r e d o r f o r c e d p u p i l t o a p o l o g i z e ;
(3) r e t u r n e d p u p i l t o c l a s s t h e same c l a s s p e r i o d , h a v in g
d e t a i n e d p u p i l f o r a s h o r t t i m e ; an d (4) a c c e d e d t o
t h e w i s h e s o r t h r e a t s o f p a r e n t s .
When t h e i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s
u s e d in j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s w e re co m p ared w i t h t h o s e u s e d
i n s e n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s , few d i f f e r e n c e s w e re f o u n d . The
h i g h e s t tw o w e re i d e n t i c a l on b o t h l i s t s :
1. F a i l e d t o r e p o r t b a c k t o t e a c h e r - - d i d n o t h i n g as
335
f a r a s t e a c h e r k n o w s.
2 . M e re ly t a l k e d t o p u p i l - - a d m o n i s h e d o r
w a rn e d p u p i l .
F o u r o t h e r p r o c e d u r e s w e r e m e n t i o n e d among t h e
" t o p t e n " l i s t s fro m b o t h t y p e s o f s c h o o l , b u t i n d i f f e r e n t
r a n k o r d e r :
1. C hanged p u p i l ' s p r o g r a m w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g
t h e t e a c h e r s i n v o l v e d .
2 . D ro p p e d c a s e - - f a i l e d t o f o l l o w t h r o u g h a n d
w o rk w i t h p u p i l .
3 . S u s p e n d e d p u p i l f o r a few d a y s .
4 . R e p rim a n d e d a w h o le g r o u p f o r t h e m i s b e h a v i o r
o f a few p u p i l s .
The A d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s R e s p o n s i b i l i t y
i n P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e
The h i g h s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
i n p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e w e r e fo u n d t o b e t o :
1. M a i n t a i n good c o m m u n ic a tio n w i t h t e a c h e r s .
2. Use g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s .
3. Work t o s e c u r e t h e s u p p o r t and c o o p e r a t i o n
o f t h e p a r e n t s .
4 . Use a u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s .
336
IV. CONCLUSIONS
1. In t h e a r e a o f h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e
t h e r e i s a l a c k o f c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n t e a c h e r s and
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y o f t e n a l a c k o f u n d e r
s t a n d i n g r e g a r d i n g c a u s e s o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r , r e f e r r a l
p r o c e d u r e s o f t e a c h e r s , and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h a n d l i n g o f
c a s e s .
2 . A d m i n i s t r a t o r s c o u l d h e l p t e a c h e r s t o a c h i e v e
b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g s o f t h e d y n a m ic s o f human b e h a v i o r ,
a n d t h u s a i d i n t h e im p ro v e m e n t o f c l a s s r o o m d i s c i p l i n e .
3 . Much p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r r e f e r r e d by t e a c h e r s
c o u l d b e p r e v e n t e d b y im p ro v e d t e a c h e r p l a n n i n g a n d m ore
v i t a l an d e f f e c t i v e c l a s s r o o m i n s t r u c t i o n .
4 . The t i m i n g o f r e f e r r a l s seem s t o b e an
i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e
s i n c e some c a s e s r e q u i r e im m e d ia te r e f e r r a l and o t h e r s
s h o u l d b e d e l a y e d . Many t e a c h e r s , f o r e x a m p le , make
r e f e r r a l s o f r e l a t i v e l y u n i m p o r t a n t c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e
c a s e s w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s c o u n s e l i n g o f t h e p u p i l s c o n c e r n e d ;
o t h e r t e a c h e r s u n w i s e l y l e t c a s e s go t o t h e s e r i o u s c r i s i s
s t a g e b e f o r e s e e k i n g h e l p .
337
5. In m a k in g r e f e r r a l s o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s
some t e a c h e r s u s e p o o r j u d g m e n t , o f t e n r e f e r r i n g p u p i l s
w i t h o u t h a v i n g g i v e n p r e v i o u s g u i d a n c e , w i t h i n c o m p l e t e
i n f o r m a t i o n , w i t h i n a c c u r a t e i n f o r m a t i o n , o r w i t h s t a t e
m e n ts a s t o e x a c t l y how t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r i s
t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e .
6 . A d m i n i s t r a t o r s f r e q u e n t l y f a i l t o i n f o r m
t e a c h e r s r e g a r d i n g t h e h a n d l i n g o f r e f e r r e d c a s e s , an d
c o n s e q u e n t l y t e a c h e r s f e e l t h a t n o t h i n g i s b e i n g d o n e o r
t h a t t h e y a r e n o t r e c e i v i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i v e b a c k i n g and
s u p p o r t .
7 . In t h e i r h a n d l i n g o f r e f e r r e d d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s ,
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f t e n f a i l t o u s e so u n d g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s .
8 . H o m e -s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n i s a v i t a l f a c t o r in
h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
9 . Such a u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s a s p h y s i c a l
p u n is h m e n t a n d e x p u l s i o n c a n b e u s e d e f f e c t i v e l y by
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r g u i d a n c e e f f o r t s and
h o m e - s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n h a v e f a i l e d t o s o l v e p r o b l e m s .
10 . W here a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and t e a c h e r s do n o t d e f i n e
c l e a r l y t h e i r r e l a t i v e r o l e s i n h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i
p l i n e , t h e y l a c k t h e m u tu a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h ic h i s e s s e n
t i a l t o e f f e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e .
338
V. RECOMMENDATIONS
R e c o n ro e n d a tio n s t o T e a c h e r s
In t h e i n t e r e s t o f d e v e l o p i n g m ore e f f e c t i v e
h a n d l i n g o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r i n h i g h s c h o o l s , i t i s
recom m ended t h a t t e a c h e r s c o o p e r a t e in t h e f o l l o w i n g w a y s:
1. R e f e r t o t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r a t o n c e
s u c h s e r i o u s e m e rg en c y c a s e s a s f i g h t i n g ,
r a c i a l t e n s i o n , t h e f t , v u l g a r i t y , an d a b n o rm a l
e m o t i o n a l r e a c t i o n s o f p u p i l s .
2. In c a s e s o f l e s s s e v e r i t y b u t o f a r e p e t i t i v e
o r p e r s i s t e n t n a t u r e , c o n s u l t t h e d i s c i p l i n e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r b e f o r e r e f e r r a l .
3. H a n d le su c h c l a s s r o o m n u i s a n c e p ro b le m s th e m
s e l v e s a s c h a n g i n g s e a t s , c h e w in g gum, f a i l u r e
t o b r i n g i n s t r u c t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s t o c l a s s ,
t a l k i n g w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n , and w a l k i n g a r o u n d
t h e room .
4 . A n a ly z e t h e c l a s s r o o m i n s t r u c t i o n c a r e f u l l y t o
d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g , v i t a l
and w e l l en o u g h o r g a n i z e d t o p r e v e n t m o st
p u p i l d i s o r d e r s .
339
5. Make u s e o f good g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s in
p u p i l - t e a c h e r r e l a t i o n s .
6 . C o n s u l t t h e d i s c i p l i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r
a d v i c e an d a s s i s t a n c e c o n c e r n i n g c l a s s r o o m
c o n t r o l s and m eth o d s o f d e a l i n g w i t h i n d i v i d u a l
p u p i l s .
7 . S t r i v e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e d y n a m ics o f human
b e h a v i o r .
8 . M a i n t a i n s e l f - c o n t r o l , a v o i d i n g a n g e r , s a r c a s m ,
t h r e a t s , and p h y s i c a l p u n is h m e n t o f p u p i l s .
9 . R eprim an d a n d / o r p u n i s h o n ly t h e w r o n g - d o e r s ,
n o t t h e w h o le g r o u p .
10 . A s s ig n p e n a l t i e s t h a t a r e j u s t , r e a s o n a b l e ,
and e a s i l y u n d e r s t o o d .
11. Keep a c c u r a t e and c o m p le te r e c o r d s , i n c l u d i n g
a n e c d o t a l m a t e r i a l s , f o r u s e in p o s s i b l e
r e f e r r a l s .
12 . L eave a l l d e c i s i o n s t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . . .
in r e f e r r e d c a s e s .
R eco m m en d atio n s t o D i s c i p l i n e A d m i n i s t r a t o r s
In t h e i n t e r e s t o f d e v e l o p i n g m ore e f f e c t i v e
h a n d l i n g o f p u p i l m i s b e h a v i o r i n h i g h s c h o o l s , i t i s
340
recom m ended t h a t a d m i n i s t r a t o r s u n d e r t a k e t h e f o l l o w i n g a t
t h e l o c a l - s c h o o l l e v e l :
1. P r e p a r e a w r i t t e n d o c u m e n t, w i t h c o n t r i b u t i o n s
fro m b o t h t e a c h e r s an d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , o u t
l i n i n g :
a . t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t e a c h e r s in h a n d l i n g
c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l s a n d i n m a k in g r e f e r r a l s
t o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , and
b . t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r in
h a n d l i n g r e f e r r a l s .
2. O r g a n i z e s c h o o l - w i d e i n s t i t u t e s an d o t h e r
i n - s e r v i c e t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m s c o n c e r n i n g p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e a n d e f f e c t i v e r e f e r r a l s .
3 . P la n f a c u l t y m e e t i n g s and f a c u l t y c o n f e r e n c e s
d e v o t e d t o s u c h t o p i c s a s g r o u p c o n t r o l s ,
u n d e r s t a n d i n g a d o l e s c e n t s , t h e d y n a m ic s o f
human b e h a v i o r , e f f e c t i v e l e s s o n p l a n n i n g ,
and e f f i c i e n t c l a s s r o o m i n s t r u c t i o n .
4 . P r o v i d e t e a c h e r s w i t h a d v i c e an d a s s i s t a n c e
i n h a n d l i n g p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s .
5. A r r a n g e f o r p u p i l - t e a c h e r - a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n
f e r e n c e s i n r e f e r r e d c a s e s .
6 . S e t u p p r o c e d u r e s f o r k e e p i n g t e a c h e r s
in f o r m e d r e g a r d i n g t h e h a n d l i n g and f i n a l
d i s p o s i t i o n o f r e f e r r e d c a s e s , t h u s g i v i n g
t e a c h e r s s e c u r i t y an d e v i d e n c e o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
b a c k i n g and s u p p o r t .
7 . Make u s e o f t h e g u i d a n c e c o n f e r e n c e and o t h e r
sou nd g u i d a n c e t e c h n i q u e s t o a c h i e v e p u p i l
a t t i t u d e s t h a t r e s u l t in im p ro v ed c l a s s r o o m
a n d cam pus c i t i z e n s h i p .
8. Work a c t i v e l y t o s e c u r e h o m e -s c h o o l c o o p e r a t i o n .
9 . R ep rim an d a n d / o r p u n i s h o n ly t h e w r o n g - d o e r s ,
n o t t h e w h o le g r o u p .
1 0 . L e a rn t o d e a l w i s e l y w i t h p r e s s u r e s fro m
p a r e n t s a n d o t h e r s in t h e com m unity r e g a r d i n g
d i s c i p l i n e c a s e s .
11. Use su c h a u t h o r i t a r i a n m e a s u r e s a s p h y s i c a l
p u n is h m e n t and e x p u l s i o n when i n d i c a t e d ,
e s p e c i a l l y i f g u i d a n c e and h o m e - s c h o o l c o o p e r a
t i o n h a v e f a i l e d t o s o l v e d i s c i p l i n e p r o b l e m s .
342
V I. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY
A num ber o f a r e a s i n w h ic h f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h w o u ld
u n d o u b t e d l y p r o v e f r u i t f u l w e r e i n d i c a t e d d u r i n g t h e
c o u r s e o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n . They a r e :
1. T e a c h e r an d a d m i n i s t r a t o r p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r s
i n h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
2. The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n l e s s o n p l a n n i n g an d
c l a s s r o o m c o n t r o l s .
3. A d m i n i s t r a t i v e s u p p o r t and b a c k i n g o f t e a c h e r s
i n h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
4 . C la s s r o o m v i s i t a t i o n by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a s a
f a c t o r in p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e .
5 . The e f f i c a c y o f h a r s h v e r s u s s o f t t e a c h e r
a n d / o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r p o l i c i e s in p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e .
6 . E s t a b l i s h i n g a d e q u a t e c o m m u n ic a tio n b e tw e e n
t e a c h e r s an d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s i n h a n d l i n g
d i s c i p l i n e r e f e r r a l s .
7 . The r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n p a r e n t c o o p e r a t i o n
and s c h o o l d i s c i p l i n e .
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A . BOOKS
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B a r o n , S a m u e l. " G u id a n c e an d D i s c i p l i n e , " H ig h
P o i n t s , 2 9 : 2 3 - 2 5 , M arch 1 9 4 7 .
B a u m g a rd n e r, C a r l . "Some E le m e n t a r y P r i n c i p l e s o f
D i s c i p l i n e , " S c h o o l R e v ie w , 6 3 : 3 4 7 - 3 4 8 , F e b r u a r y
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E f f e c t i v e A id i n S e c o n d a r y C la s s r o o m A d m i n i s t r a t i o n *'
B u l l e t i n o f t h e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a r y
S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l s , V o l. 3 8 , No. 2 0 4 , O c t o b e r
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1 9 4 7 .
M c C a ll, H. R. "A Good T e a c h e r I s a Good D i s c i p l i
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N ovem ber 1 956.
M i l l e r , R. B . , a n d J . C. F l a n a g a n . "T h e P e r f o r m a n c e
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1 7 0 , O c to b e r 1944.
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J a n u a r y 1956, p p . 1 -1 0 3 .
P a t t e r s o n , W a l t e r G. "S m oking i n H ig h S c h o o l:
R e p o rt o f Ten Y e a rs Work w i t h t h e Smoking P r o b l e m ,"
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S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l s , No. 2 2 1 , p p . 1 2 5 -1 4 1 .
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83 . S t e v e n s , L e i l a . " E d d i e , You W i l l Come w i t h Me t o
t h e P r i n c i p a l ' s O f f i c e , " S c h o o l R e v ie w , 6 3 : 2 8 4 -
2 8 9 , May 1955 .
8 4 . S t o l z , E v e ly n A. "What K eeps You So Calm ?"
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1943.
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C. PUBLICATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
F l a n a g a n , Jo h n C. "The C r i t i c a l I n c i d e n t T e c h n iq u e
in t h e S tu d y o f I n d i v i d u a l s , " Modern E d u c a t i o n a l
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N a t i o n a l E d u c a tio n A s s o c i a t i o n , T e a c h e r O p in io n on
P u p i l B e h a v i o r . W a s h in g to n , D. C .: N a t i o n a l
E d u c a ti o n A s s o c i a t i o n D e p a rtm e n t o f R e s e a r c h ,
A p r i l 1956.
S h e v ia k o v , G eorg e V ., and F r i t z R e d l . D i s c i p l i n e
f o r T o d a y 's C h i l d r e n and Y o u t h . W a s h in g to n ,
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S t r a n g , R u th . " C o n t r i b u t i o n s o f R e s e a r c h t o
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E d u c a t i o n , T h i r t y - S e v e n t h Y e a rb o o k , P a r t I I .
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D. UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS
C r o s s , G eo rg e G o rd o n , J r . "T he E f f e c t o f C la s s r o o m
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M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e l e s , 1956 .
D a v i s , B la n c h e M. B y ro n . "A C r i t i c a l A n a l y s i s o f
t h e S c h o o l D i s c i p l i n e C o n c e p ts o f t h e P a s t
Q u a r t e r C e n t u r y . " U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s ,
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los
A n g e l e s , 1945.
D e x t e r , R o l b e r t R. "A S tu d y o f t h e Modern C o n c e p tio n
o f D i s c i p l i n e i n t h e S e c o n d a ry S c h o o l . " U npub
l i s h e d M a s t e r ' s p r o j e c t , The U n i v e r s i t y o f
S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e l e s , 1 949.
D i l l o n , H e le n . " G i r l s ' D i s c i p l i n a r y P ro b le m s and
P r a c t i c e s in t h e S e c o n d a ry S c h o o ls i n San
D ie g o C o u n t y ." U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s ,
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los
A n g e l e s , 1946.
F r a z e r , F r e d T. "A P la n f o r t h e Im provem ent o f
D i s c i p l i n e i n a L a rg e H igh S c h o o l . " U n p u b lis h e d
M a s t e r ' s p r o j e c t , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e l e s , 1 94 9 .
Ja m e s , K e i t h F r a n k l i n . " C o r p o r a l P u n is h m e n t in t h e
P u b l i c S c h o o l s . " U n p u b lis h e d d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a
t i o n , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e l e s , 19 5 8 .
J a r v i s , E l l i s A. S p e e c h on " D i s c i p l i n e , " Los
A n g e le s B oard o f E d u c a ti o n M i n u t e s , November
8 , 1956.
L a u d e r b a c h , Jo h n C. " I n - S e r v i c e T r a i n i n g o f E l e
m e n ta r y S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l s . " U n p u b l i s h e d M a s t e r ' s
t h e s i s , U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a a t Los A n g e l e s ,
19 48.
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b i l i t y o f t h e E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a S e p a r a t e S c h o o l
f o r t h e S p e c i a l P ro b le m S t u d e n t s . " U n p u b l i s h e d
M a s t e r ' s p r o j e c t , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e l e s , 1 9 5 6 .
L e f f y , L e o . "T h e D e t e n t i o n Room a s a G u id a n c e Room
i n a J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l . " U n p u b l i s h e d M a s t e r ' s
p r o j e c t , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a ,
Los A n g e l e s , 1 9 5 1 .
M elb o , I r v i n g R . , D. L lo y d N e l s o n , Edward H. La
F r a n c h i , a n d o t h e r s . " R e p o r t o f t h e S u rv e y :
P h o e n ix U nion H ig h S c h o o l s an d P h o e n ix C o l l e g e
S y s t e m , " Los A n g e l e s , 19 5 4 .
M o rto n , B la n c h e F r e e l a n d . "A S tu d y o f th e M ethods
U sed by S c h o o l S y s te m s t o P r e v e n t J u v e n i l e
D e l i n q u e n c y . " U n p u b l i s h e d M a s t e r ' s p r o j e c t ,
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los
A n g e l e s , 1 9 5 6 .
O l s e n , L i o n e l R o b e r t . " D i s c i p l i n a r y P r a c t i c e s o f
S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l R e f e r r a l P e r s o n n e l a s R e p o r te d
by T e a c h e r s a n d R e f e r r a l P e r s o n n e l . " U n p u b l i s h e d
d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n , S t a n f o r d U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 5 6 .
P o w e rs , D uncan J o h n . "A S tu d y o f t h e O c c a s i o n s o f
F a i l u r e in S o c i a l C o n t r o l i n a L a rg e J u n i o r H igh
S c h o o l . " U n p u b l i s h e d M a s t e r ' s p r o j e c t , The
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e l e s ,
19 5 3 .
" R e p o r t on t h e P u p i l D i s c i p l i n e C o m m itte e : Los
A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o l s . " U n p u b l i s h e d r e p o r t
p r e p a r e d b y t h e D i v i s i o n o f S e c o n d a r y E d u c a t i o n ,
Los A n g e l e s , A p r i l 11 , 1 9 4 7 .
R o b e r t s , C l i f f o r d E. " D i s c i p l i n e T e c h n i q u e s . "
U n p u b l i s h e d M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , The U n i v e r s i t y o f
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H igh S c h o o l . " U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ' s p r o j e c t ,
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los
A n g e l e s , 1955.
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P r a c t i c e s and T h e i r R e l a t i o n t o T e a c h in g
E f f i c i e n c y . " U n p u b lis h e d d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n ,
The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los
A n g e l e s , 1954.
W e rn e r, W illia m F e l i x . "A M anual o f M ethods f o r
t h e P r e v e n t i o n and T r e a tm e n t o f S c h o o l D i s c i p l i n e
P r o b l e m s ." U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , The
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e l e s ,
193 3.
W h i t t i e r Union H igh S c h o o l D i s t r i c t , " R e p o r t on
S tu d y o f S p e c i a l S t u d e n t s . " M im eographed
r e p o r t , W h i t t i e r , C a l i f o r n i a , S e p te m b e r 1 956.
W i l k i n s o n , M o r r is H. " A d m i n i s t r a t i v e C o n t r o l o f
D i s c i p l i n e i n t h e J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l . " U n p u b lish e d
M a s t e r ' s t h e s i s , The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u th e r n
C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e l e s , 1931.
>6
A P P E N D I X E S
APPENDIX A
PILOT STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE ADDRESSED
TO TEACHERS
INCIDENT 1
Would you p l e a s e t h i n k o v e r t h e p a s t few m o n th s
an d r e c a l l a t i m e y o u r v i c e p r i n c i p a l d i d s o m e th in g o f
an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e n a t u r e in p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e w h ic h you
c o n s i d e r e s p e c i a l l y e f f e c t i v e . W r i t e a b r i e f , a c c u r a t e ,
o b j e c t i v e , c o n c r e t e d e s c r i p t i o n b e lo w . (Use b o t h s i d e s
o f t h i s s h e e t i f you w i s h . )
The i n c i d e n t w h ic h you r e l a t e s h o u l d b e o f s u c h
a n a t u r e a s t o m e r i t p r a i s e n o t o n l y fro m y ou b u t a l s o
fro m y o u r f e l l o w t e a c h e r s .
Remember i t i s NOT i m p o r t a n t t o know t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r ' s a v e r a g e o r r o u t i n e b e h a v i o r n o r t o d e s c r i b e h i s
g e n e r a l q u a l i t i e s , b u t r a t h e r t o d e s c r i b e some i n c i d e n t
w h ic h d e m o n s t r a t e d o u t s t a n d i n g l e a d e r s h i p i n f o r m u l a t i n g
a p o l i c y o r i t s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n t h e f i e l d o f p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e . ( I f y o u r i n c i d e n t i n c l u d e s t h e f o r m u l a t i o n
a s w e l l a s t h e c a r r y i n g o u t o f a p o l i c y , k i n d l y d e s c r i b e
t h e tw o s e p a r a t e l y . )
P l e a s e m a i l u n s i g n e d an d i n a p l a i n e n v e l o p e t o
T helm a B a rn e s
F re m o n t H ig h S c h o o l
359
INCIDENT 2
Now w o u ld you t h i n k o v e r t h e p a s t few m o n th s and
r e c a l l a tim e y o u r v i c e p r i n c i p a l d i d s o m e th in g o f an
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e n a t u r e i n p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e w h ic h you c o n
s i d e r e s p e c i a l l y i n e f f e c t i v e . W r i t e an a c c u r a t e ,
o b j e c t i v e , c o n c r e t e d e s c r i p t i o n b e lo w . (Use b o t h s i d e s
o f t h i s s h e e t i f you w i s h . )
The i n c i d e n t w h ic h you r e l a t e s h o u ld be o f su c h
a n a t u r e a s t o m e r i t c r i t i c i s m n o t o n ly from you b u t
a l s o from y o u r f e l l o w t e a c h e r s .
Remember i t i s NOT i m p o r t a n t t o know t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t o r ' s a v e r a g e o r r o u t i n e b e h a v i o r n o r t o d e s c r i b e h i s
g e n e r a l q u a l i t i e s b u t r a t h e r t o d e s c r i b e some i n c i d e n t
w h ic h d e m o n s t r a t e d p o o r l e a d e r s h i p in t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f
a p o l i c y o r in t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f a p o l i c y in t h e
f i e l d o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e . ( I f y o u r i n c i d e n t i n c l u d e s
t h e f o r m u l a t i o n a s w e l l a s t h e c a r r y i n g o u t o f a p o l i c y ,
k i n d l y d e s c r i b e t h e two s e p a r a t e l y . )
P l e a s e m a i l u n s i g n e d and i n a p l a i n e n v e l o p e t o
Thelm a B a rn e s
F rem o n t H igh S c h o o l
APPENDIX B
PILOT STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE ADDRESSED TO
DISCIPLINE ADMINISTRATORS
INCIDENT I
TO: A d m in is t r a t o r in Charge o f D i s c i p l i n e
W i l l you p l e a s e t h i n k o f a r e c e n t d i s c i p l i n e
c a s e t h a t was r e f e r r e d t o you by a t e a c h e r - a c a s e in
w h ic h t h e t e a c h e r made a p r o p e r r e f e r r a l t o t h e s e c o n d a r y
a d m i n i s t r a t o r and in w h ic h t h e t e a c h e r ' s p a r t in t h e
r e f e r r a l was e f f e c t i v e ? W r i t e a b r i e f , a c c u r a t e , o b j e c t i v e
d e s c r i p t i o n b e lo w . (Use b o t h s i d e s o f t h i s s h e e t i f
you w i s h . )
Remember t h a t i t i s NOT i m p o r t a n t t o know t h e
t e a c h e r ' s a v e r a g e o r r o u t i n e b e h a v i o r n o r t o d e s c r i b e
h i s g e n e r a l q u a l i t i e s , b u t r a t h e r t o d e s c r i b e some
INCIDENT i n w h ic h h e r i g h t f u l l y and e f f e c t i v e l y r e f e r r e d
a p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e c a s e t o y o u .
P l e a s e m a i l u n s i g n e d and i n a p l a i n e n v e l o p e t o
T helm a B a r n e s , P r i n c i p a l
W ilm in g to n J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l
Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls
362
INCIDENT 2
TO: A d m i n i s t r a t o r i n C h a rg e o f D i s c i p l i n e
W i l l you p l e a s e t h i n k o f a r e c e n t d i s c i p l i n e
c a s e t h a t w as r e f e r r e d t o you by a t e a c h e r - a c a s e
t h a t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n h a n d l e d by t h e TEACHER h i m s e l f
r a t h e r t h a n by an a d m i n i s t r a t o r o r a c a s e i n w h ic h t h e
t e a c h e r d i d n o t h a n d l e h i s p a r t e f f e c t i v e l y ? W r i t e a
b r i e f , a c c u r a t e , o b j e c t i v e d e s c r i p t i o n b e lo w .
Remember t h a t i t i s NOT i m p o r t a n t t o know t h e
t e a c h e r ' s a v e r a g e o r r o u t i n e b e h a v i o r n o r t o d e s c r i b e
h i s g e n e r a l q u a l i t i e s , b u t r a t h e r t o d e s c r i b e some
INCIDENT i n w h ic h t h e t e a c h e r m ig h t w e l l h a v e h a n d l e d
t h e p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e c a s e h i m s e l f i n s t e a d o f r e f e r r i n g
i t t o an a d m i n i s t r a t o r o r a c a s e in w h ic h t h e t e a c h e r
f a i l e d t o h a n d l e h i s p a r t e f f e c t i v e l y .
P l e a s e m a i l u n s i g n e d and i n a p l a i n e n v e l o p e t o
T helm a B a r n e s , P r i n c i p a l
W ilm in g to n J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l
Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls
APPENDIX C
LETTER CONFIRMING SPONSORSHIP OF THE STUDY BY
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF
SECONDARY SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS 2220 B a n c r o f t Way - B e r k e l e y 4 -
_________________________ A S h b e rry 3 -7 1 2 2 _______________________
18 F e b r u a r y 1957
M iss T helm a I . B a r n e s , P r i n c i p a l
W ilm in g to n J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l
1700 G u l f A venue
W ilm in g to n , C a l i f o r n i a
D e a r M iss B a r n e s :
D r. T. B e n t l e y E d w a rd s, C h a irm a n o f t h e CASSA
R e s e a r c h C o m m itte e , h a s in f o r m e d me t h a t t h e
c o m m itte e h a s v o t e d t o a u t h o r i z e a p p r o v a l by
CASSA o f t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f y o u r q u e s t i o n n a i r e .
We h o p e t h a t t h i s w i l l b e e f f e c t i v e i n o b t a i n
i n g a good r e s p o n s e f o r y o u . C ould we a n t i c i
p a t e a summary o f y o u r f i n d i n g s when you h a v e
c o n c l u d e d y o u r r e s e a r c h ?
V ery t r u l y y o u r s ,
W i l l i a m N. McGowan
E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y
WNM:mhp
APPENDIX D
CORRESPONDENCE REQUESTING PARTICIPATION
IN THE STUDY
March 1 5 , 1957
To: C a l i f o r n i a V i c e - P r i n c i p a l s an d D eans
From : R u th M. Adams
C h a irm a n o f t h e V i c e - P r i n c i p a l s ' an d D e a n s ' Com
m i t t e e an d D i r e c t o r a t L a rg e o f t h e C a l i f o r n i a
A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s
( A s s i s t a n t P r i n c i p a l o f B a lb o a H ig h S c h o o l ,
San F r a n c i s c o )
B e c a u s e o f t h e i r v i t a l c o n c e r n w i t h t h e s u b j e c t o f p u p i l
d i s c i p l i n e a t t h e h i g h s c h o o l l e v e l , m em bers o f t h e V ic e -
P r i n c i p a l s ’ an d D ean s' C o m m itte e o f CASSA made a s t a t e
w id e s u r v e y i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1955 o f d i s c i p l i n e fro m t h e
s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r .
S i n c e t h e r e a r e few p u b l i s h e d m a t e r i a l s r e l a t e d t o t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a s p e c t s o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , t h e r e p o r t
o f t h i s s u r v e y p u b l i s h e d i n t h e C a l i f o r n i a J o u r n a l o f
S e c o n d a r y E d u c a t i o n (N ovem ber 1955), r e c e i v e d w i d e s p r e a d
i n t e r e s t .
A n o t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t r e s e a r c h s t u d y , " A d m i n i s t r a t i v e P o l i c i e s
a n d P r o c e d u r e s i n H ig h S c h o o l D i s c i p l i n e " i s now b e i n g
made by M iss T helm a B a r n e s who t a b u l a t e d o u r 1955 s u r v e y .
M iss B a r n e s w as f o r m e r l y a v i c e - p r i n c i p a l and i s now a
p r i n c i p a l in t h e Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o l s . We c a n a s s i s t
h e r i n t h e s t u d y b y :
(1) f i l l i n g i n a q u e s t i o n n a i r e w h ic h w ou ld t a k e
e a c h a d m i n i s t r a t o r a b o u t f i f t e e n m i n u t e s
t o c o m p l e t e .
(2 ) d i s t r i b u t i n g c o p i e s o f t h i s q u e s t i o n n a i r e t o
a n y t e n (1 0 ) t e a c h e r s l i s t e d in c o n s e c u t i v e
o r d e r on y o u r s c h o o l ' s f a c u l t y l i s t . Each
t e a c h e r i s t o r e t u r n h i s own q u e s t i o n n a i r e
d i r e c t l y t o M iss B a r n e s i n a p r e - s t a m p e d ,
s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e .
No nam es o f s c h o o l s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , o r t e a c h e r s a r e t o
a p p e a r on t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e ; t h e r e f o r e , no i n f o r m a t i o n
a b o u t p e r s o n s o r s c h o o l s c o u l d e v e r b e r e l e a s e d .
367
2
W ould you b e w i l l i n g t o a s s i s t i n t h i s w o r t h - w h i l e p r o
j e c t ? I f s o , p l e a s e f i l l i n t h e e n c l o s e d s e l f - a d d r e s s e d
p o s t a l c a r d an d m a i l i t a t o n c e . C o p ie s o f t h e q u e s t i o n
n a i r e w i l l b e s e n t t o you upon r e c e i p t o f t h i s p o s t a l
c a r d .
L a t e r , c o p i e s o f t h e t a b u l a t e d r e s u l t s w i l l be m a i l e d
t o v i c e - p r i n c i p a l s who p a r t i c i p a t e in t h e s u r v e y an d t o
a l l o t h e r s who r e q u e s t them .
Los A n g e le s C it y H igh S c h o o l D i s t r i c t
WILMINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
1700 G u l f A venue
W il m in g to n , C a l i f o r n i a
E l l i s A. J a r v i s T helm a I . B a r n e s
S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f S c h o o l s P r i n c i p a l
To: J u n i o r and S e n i o r H igh S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l s o f
t h e Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls
From : T helm a B a r n e s , P r i n c i p a l o f W ilm in g to n J u n i o r
H igh S c h o o l
Would you b e w i l l i n g t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h me i n a
r e s e a r c h s t u d y on a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a s p e c t o f h i g h s c h o o l
p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e ? My r e q u e s t t o you h a s b e e n d i s c u s s e d
w i t h Mr. R o b e r t K e l l y , A s s o c i a t e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t , and
a p p r o v e d f o r y o u r a t t e n t i o n .
The C o m m itte e on R e s e a r c h S t u d i e s o f t h e Los
A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o l s (D r. H e r b e r t P o p e n o e , C h a irm a n ) h a s
a p p r o v e d my s t u d y and a s s i g n e d D r. E ugene O lso n a s my
a d v i s o r .
I f you w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e in t h e s t u d y , p l e a s e f i l l
i n and r e t u r n t h e e n c l o s e d p o s t a l c a r d a t o n c e .
You w i l l t h e n r e c e i v e by r e t u r n m a i l c o p i e s o f
tw o q u e s t i o n n a i r e s :
1. C o p ie s f o r tw o a d m i n i s t r a t o r s t o be f i l l e d
i n by v i c e - p r i n c i p a l s an d r e t u r n e d i n p r e - s t a m p e d , s e l f -
a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e s . Time r e q u i r e d f o r c o m p l e t i n g t h e
q u e s t i o n n a i r e i s a b o u t f i f t e e n m i n u t e s .
2 . C o p ie s f o r an y t e n t e a c h e r s l i s t e d i n a l p h a
b e t i c a l o r d e r on t h e s c h o o l ' s f a c u l t y l i s t . E ach t e a c h e r
i s t o r e t u r n t h e c o m p l e t e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e t o me i n a
p r e - s t a m p e d , s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e .
369
2
B o th q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w i l l r e q u e s t INCIDENTS
sh o w in g e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o l i c i e s
and p r o c e d u r e s r a t h e r th a n s t a t e m e n t s ABOUT s u c h
p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s .
No names o f s c h o o l s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , o r t e a c h e r s
a r e t o a p p e a r on t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , and no names o f p e r s o n s
o r s c h o o l s c o u ld e v e r b e r e l e a s e d .
B e c a u se o f t h e v i t a l c o n c e r n o f a l l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
w i t h t h e s u b j e c t o f p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , s u r e l y you w i l l
w is h t o p a r t i c i p a t e in t h i s s u r v e y . C o p ie s o f t h e
t a b u l a t e d r e s u l t s w i l l b e m a i l e d t o a l l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
who p a r t i c i p a t e and t o a l l o t h e r s who r e q u e s t them .
To: Thelma B arnes, P r in c ip a l
Wilmington J u n io r High School-W ilm ington, C a lif .
Regarding th e proposed re s e a rc h on a d m in is tr a tiv e
a s p e c ts of p u p il d i s c i p l i n e :
_ ______ P le a se send roe th e q u e s tio n n a ire s to be
f i l l e d in by me and te n o f my te a c h e r s .
__________ P le a se m ail me a r e p o r t o f th e f in d in g s .
Signed________ _____________________
P o s i t i o n ______________ ____________ _
School ___ ____ ___ ___________
City ______ ...____________
S ta te ____
MISS THELMA BARNES
WILMINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA
APPENDIX E
LETTER ACCOMPANYING QUESTIONNAIRES TO BE
DISTRIBUTED TO TEACHERS AND
DISCIPLINE ADMINISTRATORS
Los A n g e le s C it y High S c h o o l D i s t r i c t
WILMINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
1700 G u lf A venue
W ilm in g to n , C a l i f o r n i a
E l l i s A. J a r v i s
S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f S c h o o ls
D e ar
Your prom p t p o s t a l c a r d r e p l y , i n d i c a t i n g w i l l i n g
n e s s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e r e s e a r c h s t u d y on a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
a s p e c t o f h i g h s c h o o l p u p i l d i s c i p l i n e , i s much a p p r e
c i a t e d .
E n c l o s e d a r e two t y p e s o f q u e s t i o n n a i r e s :
1. C o p ie s f o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ( b l u e and p i n k
s h e e t s ) - - W i l l you p l e a s e f i l l i n one c o p y and r e t u r n
i t i n t h e p r e - s t a m p e d , s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e ? I f
y o u r s c h o o l h a s a n o t h e r a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n t e r e s t e d in
p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n o u r s u r v e y , w i l l you p le a s e a s k him t o
f o l l o w t h e same p r o c e d u r e ?
2. C o p ie s f o r t e a c h e r s ( y e l l o w and g r e e n s h e e t s ) - -
W i l l you p l e a s e d i s t r i b u t e t h e s e t o any t e n (1 0 ) t e a c h e r s
l i s t e d i n a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r on y o u r s c h o o l ' s f a c u l t y
l i s t ? Each t e a c h e r i s t o r e t u r n t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e i n t h e
p r e - s t a m p e d , s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e a s so on a s p o s s i b l e .
No nam es o f s c h o o l s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , o r t e a c h e r s
a r e t o a p p e a r on t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , and no nam es o f
p e r s o n s o r s c h o o l s w o u ld e v e r b e r e l e a s e d .
T helm a I . B a r n e s
P r i n c i p a l
T h an k s f o r y o u r c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h i s w o r t h - w h i l e
r e s e a r c h , b e i n g c o n d u c t e d u n d e r t h e s p o n s o r s h i p o f t h e
C a l i f o r n i a A s s o c i a t i o n o f S e c o n d a ry S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s .
373
2
C o p ie s o f t h e t a b u l a t e d r e s u l t s w i l l b e m a i l e d
t o you a s so on a s t h e s u r v e y i s c o m p l e t e d .
S i n c e r e l y y o u r s ,
T helm a B a r n e s
TB :h h
4
APPENDIX F
QUESTIONNAIRE DIRECTED TO ADMINISTRATORS REQUESTING
REPORT OF EFFECTIVE TEACHER REFERRAL
OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR
6
APPENDIX G
QUESTIONNAIRE DIRECTED TO ADMINISTRATORS REQUESTING
REPORT OF INEFFECTIVE TEACHER REFERRAL
OF PUPIL MISBEHAVIOR
INCIDENT 2
TO: ADMINISTRATOR IN CHARGE OF DISCIPLINE
W ill you p le a s e th in k o f a re c e n t d i s c i p l i n e case t h a t was
r e f e r r e d to you by a te a c h e r - a case t h a t sh o u ld have been h an d led by
th e TEACHER h im se lf r a t h e r th a n by an a d m in is tr a to r o r a case in which
th e te a c h e r d id NOT handle h is p a r t e f f e c t i v e l y ? W rite a b r i e f ,
a c c u r a te , o b je c tiv e d e s c r ip tio n below.
Remember t h a t i t is NOT im p o rtan t to know th e t e a c h e r 's average
o r r o u tin e b e h a v io r n o r to d e s c rib e h is g e n e ra l q u a l i t i e s , but r a t h e r
to d e s c rib e some INCIDENT in which th e te a c h e r m ight w e ll have handled
th e p u p il d i s c i p l i n e case h im s e lf in s te a d o f r e f e r r i n g i t to an admin
i s t r a t o r o r a case in which th e te a c h e r f a i l e d to h an d le h is p a r t
e f f e c t i v e l y .
Use b o th s id e s o f t h i s sh e e t i f you w ish.
P le a se check c o r r e c t answ er:
1. In c id e n t took p la c e in :
Study H all_______________
Shop o r Hmkg. C lass____
P h y sic a l E ducation_____
O ther C lass______________
H all______________________
Playground_______________
3. School i s o rg a n iz e d a s :
J u n io r High (g rad es 7 -9 )__
S e n io r High (g rad es 10-12)
S en io r High (g rad es 7 -1 2 )_
O ther (Name g ra d e s)________
2. School s iz e i s : P le a se r e tu r n unsigned to :
Under 1500_________________ THELMA BARNES, PRINCIPAL
1501-2500__________________ WILMINGTON JR. HIGH SCHOOL
Over 2500__________________ WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA
APPENDIX H
QUESTIONNAIRE DIRECTED TO TEACHERS REQUESTING
REPORT OF EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING
OF PUPIL DISCIPLINE CASE
APPENDIX I
QUESTIONNAIRE DIRECTED TO TEACHERS REQUESTING
REPORT OF INEFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE
HANDLING OF PUPIL DISCIPLINE CASE
INCIDENT 2
TO: TEACHER
Now w ill you th in k over th e p a s t few months and r e c a l l a time your
a d m in is tr a to r in charge o f d i s c i p l i n e (c o u n se lo r, dean, v i c e - p r i n c i p a l ,
o r p r in c ip a l) d id som ething o f an a d m in is tr a tiv e n a tu re in p u p il d i s c i
p lin e which you c o n s id e r e s p e c ia lly INEFFECTIVE. W rite an a c c u ra te ,
o b je c tiv e , c o n c re te d e s c r ip tio n below.
The in c id e n t which you r e l a t e should be of such a n a tu re as to
m e rit c r i t i c i s m not only from you but a ls o from your fe llo w te a c h e r s .
Remember i t i s NOT im portant to know th e a d m in i s t r a t o r 's average
o r ro u tin e b eh av io r nor to d e s c rib e h is g e n e ra l q u a l i t i e s but r a t h e r
to d e s c rib e some in c id e n t which dem onstrated poor le a d e rs h ip in th e
fo rm u la tio n o f a p o lic y o r in th e a d m in is tr a tio n o f a p o lic y in the
f i e l d of p u p il d i s c i p l i n e . ( I f your in c id e n t in clu d e s th e fo rm u la tio n
as w e ll as th e c a rry in g o u t o f a p o lic y , k in d ly d e s c rib e th e two
s e p a r a t e l y . )
Use both s id e s o f t h i s sh e e t i f you w ish.
P le a se check c o r re c t answer:
1. P u p il d i s c i p l i n e problem
re p o rte d above o ccu rred in:
Study H all_________________
Shop o r Hmkg. C lass_______
P h y sica l E ducation________
O ther C lass________________
H all________________________
Playground ______________
3. School is o rg an ized as:
J u n io r High (grades 7-9)___
S enior High (grades 10-12)_
S enior High (grades 7-12)_
O ther (Name g ra d e s)________
2. School s iz e
Under 1300
1501-2500_2
Over 2500
i s : P lease r e tu r n unsigned to :
THELMA BARNES, PRINCIPAL
WILMINGTON JR. HIGH SCHOOL
WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA
INCIDENT 1
TO: ADMINISTRATOR IN CHARGE OF DISCIPLINE
Will you please think of a recent discipline case that was referred
to you by a teacher - a case in which the teacher made a proper referral
to the secondary administrator and in which the teacher's part in the
referral was EFFECTIVE? Write a brief, accurate, objective description
below.
Remember that it is NOT important to know the teacher's average
or routine behavior nor to describe his general qualities, but rather
to describe some INCIDENT in which he rightfully and effectively
referred a pupil discipline case to you.
Use both sides oi this sheet if you wish.
Please check correct answer:
1. Incident took place in;
Study Ha 1 1 _ ___
Shop or Hmkg. Class____
Physical Education
Other Class ___________
Hall_______~___________
Playground ________
2. School size is:
Under 1500___
1 501-2 500 _ _
Over 2 500
3. School is organized as:
Junior High (grades 7-9)__
Senior High (grades 10-12)
Senior High (grades 7-12)_
Other (Name grades )______
Please return unsigned to:
THELMA BARNES, PRINCIPAL
WILMINGTON JR. HIGH SCHOOL
WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA
INCIDENT 1
TO: TEACHER
W ill you p le a s e chink over Che pasc few months and r e c a l l a time
your a d m in is tr a to r in charge o f d i s c i p l i n e (c o u n se lo r, dean v ic e -
p r in c ip a l, o r p r in c ip a l) d id som ething o f an a d m in is tr a tiv e n a tu re in
p u p il d i s c i p l i n e which you c o n sid e r e s p e c ia lly EFFECTIVE. W rite a
b r i e f , a c c u r a te , o b je c tiv e , c o n c re te d e s c r ip tio n below.
The in c id e n t which you r e l a t e should be o f such a n a tu re as to
m e rit p r a is e n o t only from you b u t a ls o from your fe llo w te a c h e r s .
Remember i t is NOT im p o rtan t to know th e a d m i n is tr a to r 's average
o r r o u tin e b eh av io r nor to d e s c rib e h is g en e ra l q u a l i t i e s , but r a th e r
to d e s c rib e some in c id e n t which dem onstrated o u tsta n d in g le a d e rsh ip in
fo rm u la tin g a p o lic y or i t s a d m in is tra tio n in th e f i e l d of p u p il d i s c i
p lin e . ( I f your in c id e n t in clu d es th e fo rm u latio n as w ell as the
c a rry in g out o f a p o lic y , k in d ly d e s c rib e the two s e p a r a te ly .)
Use b oth s id e s o f t h i s sh e e t i f you w ish.
Please check correct answer:
1. Pupil discipline problem reported
above occurred in:
Study Hall_______________ 3.
Shop or Hmkg. Class
P h y sic a l Education________
Other Class______________
H a l l _ _________ ____________
Playground_______________
2. School size is:
Under 1300_______________
1501-2500________________
Over 2 500
School is organized as:
Ju n io r High (grades 7 -9)__
S en io r High (grades 10-12)
S enior High (grades 7-12)_
O ther (Name g rad es)________
Please return unsigned to:
THELMA BARNES, PRINCIPAL
WILMINGTON JR. HIGH SCHOOL
WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA

Asset Metadata

Creator Barnes, Thelma Irene (author)

Core Title Administrative Policies And Procedures In High School Pupil Discipline

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Degree Doctor of Education

Degree Program Education

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag education, administration,OAI-PMH Harvest

Language English

Advisor LaFranchi, Edward H. (committee chair), Lefever, David Welty (committee member), Metheny, Eleanor (committee member), Nelson, D. Lloyd (committee member), Olson, Myron S. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-46212

Unique identifier UC11357814

Identifier 5903506.pdf (filename),usctheses-c18-46212 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 5903506.pdf

Dmrecord 46212

Document Type Dissertation

Rights Barnes, Thelma Irene

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA