Student Discipline Management System in CICM Schools: A Policy Study

Abstract

The study was designed to give answers on the pressing concern
regarding the perceived non-alignment between student-discipline and the
practice of Catholicity in CICM schools. The study further investigated to
proposed policies to address the disciplinary needs of the CICM schools vis-àvis
Restorative justice. The study participants included administrators, faculty
and students in five (5) CICM high schools located throughout the country
for the school year 2014–2015. The researcher used a researcher-made
questionnaire consisting items dealing with demographic characteristics of
the participants, the extent of practice of Catholicity and the current practices
of the five CICM high schools in handling disciplinary cases in terms of the
implementation of decision and discipline. Results revealed that practice of
Catholicity along curriculum and good policies on students’ discipline is “always”
evident while along school management, school environment and personal
aspects, Catholicity was “often” evident. This result is attested by students’
participation in religious and social activities, policies on reverence and
respect to the rituals and doctrines of Catholic faith. Inferential tests revealed
that there exists significant difference in the extent of practice of Catholicity
along the specific indicators among the CICM schools. The Disciplinary
Management System (DMS) of the CICM high schools is “satisfactory” for
the reason that DMS provide the system of protocol in handling disciplinary
cases; likewise, teachers were consulted when modifications on school
policies were made. Parents appreciate the way teachers reach out to them
when their children are having disciplinary problems. Among the commonly
cited causes of dissatisfaction were lack of sense of urgency to implement
disciplinary action for the violations committed, inconsistency of decisions,
biased decisions meted, not meting same punishment for the same offense/
misconduct, and imposing severe punishment for minor offenses. Participants
are highly aware that heinous crimes and sexual immorality are considered
major violations and are unacceptable in CICM Catholic schools.