Researchers have identified a civilising mission in elementary schools in the decades around the turn of the twentieth century, particularly in poor urban areas. School log books from the 14 schools in Birmingham and Leicester, supplemented by other primary and secondary sources, are examined for insights into how headteachers perceived, and acted…

Addressing the problem of children being emotionally abusive to each other in the form of heckling and the more serious "put-down," this paper suggests that this behavior can stem from a need for attention, resistance, an inability to express feelings more appropriately, or a desire to test an adult's strength. It is important to listen…

An investigation concerned with teacher styles and strategies for coping with problem students suggests that role definition may not be as important a teacher variable as originally postulated. Thirty-seven experienced elementary school teachers were observed to determine overall management skill level and actual response to problem behavior.…

This action research project implemented and evaluated a program to enhance students' prosocial behaviors. The targeted population consisted of students in two second and one third-grade classrooms in a declining urban area of a large midwestern city. The problem of inappropriate behaviors was documented through discipline reports, anecdotal…

Argues that the urban counselor has to be prepared and become acutely aware of the functions that take place in the desegregated school. The urban counselor's allegiance must go out to all students and participate totally in a changing and progressing educational systems. Makes suggestions and recommendations which should be considered by…

The investigators attempted to employ strategies that would attack identified perpetrators of school violence and vandalism existing within schools. Results indicated that the dollar costs of vandalism and frequency of inappropriate student behavior decreased more in experimental than in control schools. (Author)

An ethnographic study was conducted in an elementary school in order to understand the relationship between teacher behavior and the environments of classes identified by teachers as their "worst." First, research on teacher behaviors was reviewed to identify a set of factors identifiable with effective and ineffective teaching. Ten dimensions of…

Explores the effects of a proactive school-wide discipline approach on the frequency of problem behavior displayed by elementary students. Study was designed to explore the impact of a social skill instruction program and direct intervention on problem behaviors in three school settings (cafeteria, recess, and hallway transition). Results indicate…

Analyzes student disciplinary office referrals across a three year period at two urban elementary schools. Results indicate both a stable rate of disciplinary referral school years, and a high and stable rate of recidivism within a school year. Referrals can be compiled into a database to provide useful information about emerging patterns of…

A recent article by Leviton develops a taxonomy for individualized school discipline including use of corporal punishment with conduct-disordered pupils. Research shows corporal punishment does have a negative effect on some types of behavior-disordered children, but it may not be wholly inappropriate for all types of misbehavior. (Author)

The Escuela Internacional Sampedrana (EIS) in Honduras implemented a new discipline program in its Primary School during the 1996-97 school year. This paper contains findings from three evaluations of the program--an initial analysis, a midyear report, and a year-end report. The first report analyzed the number of suspensions and detentions, as…

Describes creative ways for teachers to handle difficult classroom discipline situations, focusing on how to deal with defiant disruptives, noncombatant noncompliers, and incessant interrupters. The article discusses potentially difficult situations and explains how best to handle them in a positive manner. (SM)

A motivational plan to reduce bus discipline referrals in a K-5 elementary school is presented in this practicum paper. Methodology involved observation of student behavior on 13 buses, pre- and post-tests administered to third- through fifth-graders, and document analysis of student misconduct citations and bus conduct reports. Referral…

Forty-eight teachers and 48 parents evaluated the effectiveness and acceptability of five behavioral procedures for reducing disruptive child behavior. Teachers rated all strategies more highly than parents. Reinforcement and isolation and contractual agreement were rated highest. Procedures were rated as more acceptable for 5-year-olds than for…

This paper focuses upon disruptive child behavior in the classroom. The goals of the paper are to give information about the dynamics of disruptive child behavior and to present practical, cost-effective behavior management strategies that teachers can use in remediating such behavior. (Author/BE)