The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act requires schools to conduct a manifestation determination (MD) meeting when suspending students with disabilities for more than 10 days. The MD procedure is intended to safeguard educational access by providing a process to determine if a student's disability is related to the suspending behavior. An…

This case describes dilemmas faced by a second-year principal whose urban school received a major grant to encourage teacher leadership, expand decision making, and promote school-based autonomy. This case focuses on the principal's efforts to negotiate his work with multiple stakeholders, including the coach, teachers, and district leadership.…

In many educational jurisdictions, the responses to student disengagement and behaviour problems have been restrictive or punitive; they include on-site police officers, locker searches, metal detectors, and zero tolerance policies. There is little evidence that such strategies are effective in changing behaviour, attitudes, or achievement.…

Autonomy is a basic human need having influence on motivation. Facilitating student autonomy is an essential ingredient of effective programs for maximizing internalized change and increasing motivation in troubled and troubling youth. This article examines the theoretical concepts of autonomy and control related to choices and considers their…

Rule-breaking behaviour of students is a common disciplinary problem in schools. Employing the constitutive perspective, which posits that every social phenomenon is co-produced by several constitutive units in a COREL (constitutive interrelational) set, this article presents the findings of a qualitative study of the phenomenon. Eleven…

Describes one teachers' system of democratic discipline in which the children deliberate and construct the list of rules for the classroom. Addresses: (1) introducing democratic discipline; (2) daily routine; (3) typical problems, typical solutions; (4) novel solutions; (5) recurring problems; (6) unintended results; (7) context for children's…

Discussion of burnout among library personnel includes a susceptibility profile, indicators of burnout, and administrative contributors. Techniques by which administrators can reduce stress are suggested, including participative management; improved communications; staff development; informal staff gatherings; staff meetings; flexible work…

This program manual describes the Communication Center at Joseph Kerr Junior High School in Sacramento County, California, which was established in 1975 to prevent student high risk behavior and to encourage positive attitudes in the school community. The philosophy of the Center, which is based on the theories of Rudolf Dreikurs, is described,…

Presents a strategically designed plan of moral education that was incorporated into a physical education curriculum. The plan enhanced the social skill development of elementary school students identified as at risk for dysfunctional behavior. The program helped improve communication skills and increase cooperation and sharing among students. (SM)