Describes a high school principal's efforts to establish strict dress and behavior codes for commencement participants, particularly graduates. Highlights the importance of an adequate budget, faculty preparation, guest and student speakers, personalized diplomas, music, seating, and other elements of a meaningful, decorous commencement ceremony.…

Examines interview responses of 28 school principals concerning informal interaction with peers. Responses indicate norms and beliefs prohibiting negatism, pessimism, discussion of small issues, disloyalty, boasting, or gossiping. Findings suggest that humor and social support systems in the administrative subculture are consistent with…

The article suggests and describes several ways in which social validation procedures can be employed by researchers and educators to help them select when and how much to modify target behaviors of students. (DLS)

This article presents a practical approach to resolving difficulties experienced by classroom teachers. Areas discussed include student rights, techniques for correcting behavior, the value of conferences, the establishment of standards for behavior, and punishment. (CT)

As complaints about the lack of discipline in schools increase, more educators are turning to student conduct codes as one component of a discipline program. In setting up an effective conduct code, the top priority should be clear communication of rules. To ensure this, all relevant parties--administrators, teachers, parents, and students--should…

Problems arising from ineffective personnel discipline are examined and a progressive approach designed to remediate bad practices is outlined. The progressive process provides for oral warnings, written warnings, suspensions, and then terminations. A checklist to take managers through the disciplinary process is included. (MSE)

The article presents a working definition of rule-governed behavior, describes research regarding the insensitivity of rule-governed behavior to contingency changes, and provides guidelines for the effective use of academic and conduct rules and for preventing problems associated with insensitivity to changed contingencies. (Author/JDD)

Counselors must make sound ethical decisions but, often, determining the appropriate course to take when confronted with a difficult ethical dilemma can be a challenge. This guide assists counselors in ethical decision making; it is presented as a supplement, and is to be used in conjunction with, the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of…

Six steps are provided for addressing the problem of student misconduct: (1) developing a well-publicized districtwide program, (2) creating a task force to develop a misconduct management handbook for teachers, (3) soliciting reactions, (4) field testing the draft, (5) revising the handbook, and (6) followup. (TE)

This book is designed to provide the basis for a teaching/learning process by which building administrators provide school-age youth with the appropriate social skills necessary for student success. Administrative intervention, an effective method for dealing with discipline problems, is comprised of a sequential set of instructional components…

The disciplinary policy at Chapelle Elementary School in Ypsilanti (Michigan), developed with staff participation, classifies some student behavior as "unacceptable" or "inappropriate." Either behavior requires the teacher to fill out a pink slip and send it with the student to the principal's office, but only unacceptable…

Describes a kindergarten class for students with hearing impairments that uses a strategy that supports positive student behavior. Steps include working with children to establish classroom rules, reviewing the rules by asking children to role play each one, and conducting individual and class evaluations each day. (CR)

One of a series of practitioner-oriented newsletters, the document provides elementary school principals with strategies for developing a school discipline code. The article recommends: (1) developing a written statement of school discipline policy; (2) launching the discipline policy at the beginning of the school year; (3) ensuring that…

Deals with types of behavior that cannot be allowed among staff or campers in the camp community--use of drugs or alcohol, personal abuse, crime, violence, and sexual activity. Urges camp directors to develop a written policy spelling out standards, expectations, and sanctions. Suggests staff orientation strategies. (JHZ)

This article describes the following steps for developing and implementing system-wide behavior support: establishing a foundation for collaboration; building faculty involvement; establishing a data-based decision-making system, brainstorming and selecting strategies within an action planning process; implementing a school-wide program through an…