Promoting Discipline Among Students: Basis for an Action Plan

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A student's behavior inside the classroom is a challenge educator face every day. Teachers should then exert effort to conduct disciplinary interventions to address students’ misbehavior and lessen teacher’s stress while dealing with them. In this study, the most common misbehaviors of students and how the teachers promote discipline among them were identified.

METHODS

A descriptive design was used in the study, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research methods (methodological triangulation). Focus group discussions were conducted to gain insights about students' common misbehaviors and teachers' disciplinary interventions. Survey questionnaire was answered by one hundred and seventeen classroom advisers and subject teachers of Southville I Integrated National High School. The school guidance counselor was also interviewed and data pertaining to the reported misbehaviors recorded in the guidance office were analyzed.

RESULTS

Focus groups and survey questionnaires revealed that disruption which includes loud talking, yelling or inappropriate noise during class time was the most common misbehavior encountered by the classroom advisers and subject teachers. Aggression and fighting were the most reported misbehavior according to the school guidance counselor which was manifested in the cases reported in the guidance office. Variables such as the year level, time schedule, class size and gender did not significantly affect the student's behavior. Positive interventions done by the teachers were assessed to be more effective than negative interventions. Parental involvement was also vital in promoting discipline among the students.

DISCUSSIONS

Implementation of the Positive Discipline in Everyday Teaching which outlines steps teachers can follow and situations they can refer to in applying positive and non-violent discipline can help teachers in dealing with stress caused by student's misbehaviors.