Violence is common-place in South African schools and managing learner aggression is central to learners’ academic performance and holistic development. There is empirical evidence that suggests that the school curriculum is an essential vehicle for driving the process of creating social and emotional competent individuals, capable of social cohesion and tolerance. This evaluation research aims to evaluate whether the CAPS Life Orientation curriculum is adequately addressing social and emotional competence in learners in order to reduce violence in schools. A comprehensive literature review was conducted which revealed that Social and Emotional Learning programs are highly effective in addressing issues of violence and social problems in schools along with producing a positive school climate with high learner academic achievements. Data collected from the Life Orientation Curriculum documents, Grades R-12, and the elite electronic interview, revealed that the Life Orientation curriculum covers most of the essential elements necessary to make an impact on the development of learners’ social and emotional skills, but may lack the necessary knowledgeable teachers to facilitate such an important study area. Furthermore, not enough time and resources are allocated to Social and Emotional learning. Based on these results, recommendations are made through a ‘framework to advance social and emotional learning in schools model’ for the CAPS Life Orientation curriculum Grades R-12. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Identification of aggression in Junior Primary school learners often becomes a difficult task due to the lack of appropriate measuring instruments. The assessment instruments used presently are unable to identify the subtypes of aggression. In order to address this limitation in the field of aggression, the present investigation was undertaken. A literature study was done where the concept aggression was defined and the relationship and differences between the subtypes of aggression (physical, verbal, reactive and proactive aggression) were examined. The factors that relate to aggression, namely, biological, personality, environmental and social, parental influence, frustration and media influences were identified. A reliable measuring instrument was developed to identify the four main subtypes of aggression in junior primary learners. The results of the empirical investigation indicated that there were significant positive correlations between the subtypes of aggression. Gender and intellectual potential do not appear to have a significant bearing on childhood aggression. The educational implications of the findings are discussed and guidelines regarding treatment of childhood aggression are given for both educators and parents. / Education Studies / M.Ed.

This study investigated the causes and manifestation of aggression among secondary school learners. Aggression was defined. Various theories of aggression were discussed. From the literature study, nine hypotheses were developed. The study used a quantitative approach by means of a survey design. The research site was a rural, secondary school. A closed-ended questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Only learners were involved as respondents. The impact of various moderator variables was considered. The study discovered that aggressive behaviour is not confined to a specific gender. Above all, female aggression is on the rise. Possible causative factors were confirmed and risk factors were identified. Recommendations were made in line with the findings based on the empirical results. Limitations of the study were also pointed out. / Education Studies / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Text in Afrikaans / The researcher has identified the research problem for the study as the underlying dynamics of physical violence amongst adolescent girls in the school system. The purpose of this study was to investigate these dynamics. The researcher viewed the girls from a holistic perspective and tried to explore and describe the girls' behavior by bringing their environment into consideration. A qualitative study was used to determine the dynamics of physical violence among adolescent girls in the school system. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. From this data it is evident that the dynamics of physical violence among girls is a multi-dimensional and complex phenomenon and cannot be attributed to a single factor. Because of this the researcher tried to make recommendations that touched each level of the girls' functioning. In such a way the researcher tried to address the problem holistically. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)

The study examines the culture of students' violent behaviour, with a focus on socialisation provided by schools and teachers. It explores the beliefs and wishes of teachers, students and parents in some townships of Gauteng Province about the role of teachers in addressing and preventing students' antisocial and violent behaviour in schools. The thesis offers six chapters divided into two components. The first component, chapters one to three, systematically explores socialisation of children by the home and the school. It discusses the historical/theoretical foundations of antisocial and violent behaviour of children/youth from low economic groups. The study utilises literature on strain theory on sociological considerations of adolescents' deviance from Durkheim (1897) to Messner and Rosenfeld (1994) in order to provide an in-depth appraisal of theoretical paradigms and thereafter. The second component, chapters four to six unpacked the research by analysing data from interviews and observations collected from township participants. It identifies five socio-educational factors that deterred students' antisocial behaviour. These included: teachers' attribution for success and failure; teachers' theoretical/practical leadership; the quality of the teacher-student relationship; the level of support to teachers and the function of home and community. The findings identify the approach to antisocial and violent behaviour in Gauteng townships to be punitive. Participants regard township school violence, especially in secondary schools, as serious. The present study concluded that socialisation fostered by a supportive teacher, acting with efficacy and caring, working with parents and the community, can prevent antisocial and violent behaviour. Furthermore, the study uncovered patterns indicating that socio-educational measures are a constructive means to respond to antisocial and violent behaviour.While sometimes justified as responses to antisocial and violent behaviour, reactive measures (like corporal punishment, student expulsion, incarceration) may be less effective than socio- educational measures in instilling prosocial behaviour. / Institute Educational Research / D.Ed. (Socio-Education)

A study was undertaken to examine the culture of violent behaviour, with a focus on socialisation provided by schools and educators. The role of teachers in addressing and preventing student antisocial and violent behaviour in school was explored. Participant observations and in-depth qualitative research interviews were conducted in United States public schools from September, 2000 through August, 2001. Analysis of recorded and transcribed data from initial interviews and observations revealed five socio-educational factors that precluded student antisocial behaviour. These factors included: teachers' theoretical/practical orientation; teachers' attributions for success and failure; the quality of the teacher-student relationship; the importance of home and community; and the level of support available to teachers. Preliminary interviews with five teachers and in-depth interviews with nine AfricanAmerican (Black) educators, from schools where violence was a serious problem were then conducted. Analysis of these qualitative interviews revealed four categories of educational dynamics that served to prevent violence, or moderate its severity: the teacher's qualities; the classroom context; the school context; and parental involvement and support. Within these four categories, nine specific factors were identified that served to prevent violent behaviour. These included: personal teaching efficacy; a caring teacher-student relationship; an academic activity orientation within the classroom; a sense of community within the classroom; obvious classroom ownership by the teacher; clear expectations that have been internalised by the students; support for teachers from administration; a supportive rather than threatening stance taken by police assigned to the school; and a high level of involvement by parents. The present study concluded that in addition to the socialisation fostered by a supportive, engaged classroom and school context, the teacher, acting with efficacy and caring, and working with parents and community, can prevent violent and antisocial behaviour. The study revealed patterns indicating that socio-educational measures are constructive means to respond to antisocial and violent behaviour. While sometimes justified as responses to antisocial and violent behaviour, reactive measures (like corporal punishment, student expulsion, and medication), may be less effective than socioeducational measures in instilling prosocial behaviour. Guidelines for the prevention of violent and antisocial behaviour are provided, with recommendations forfuture research. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Socio-Education)

The phenomenon of aggression has been of interest to psychologists for many years, and has resulted in a variety of theories which-attempt to explain its existence in man. Aggression is prevalent in our primary schools today and it was this observation which initiated the research project. The Relationship Theory was applied in order to gain insight into the life-world of the aggressive child and to explore possible causes which may originate from changes in our society. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling (Psychology of Education)

Cette thèse étudie l’état des victimations et du climat dans les collèges maliens et l’articulation de ces victimations au climat scolaire, cela dans la perspective d’une comparaison internationale avec des collèges français de zones d’éducation prioritaires. La comparaison internationale est ici convoquée pour un approfondissement de la mise en critique des collèges maliens au prisme des collèges français. Par une association des approches quantitative et qualitative cette recherche procède à l’étude des victimations et du climat scolaires en mesurant à la fois les expériences victimaires des acteurs de l’école, leur regard de l’institution scolaire et de leurs interactions sociales à l’école. La réalité sociale des victimations et du climat scolaires est ainsi décryptée à travers une affirmation du rôle déterminant des sens et significations produits par les acteurs de l’école. Notre recherche montre une articulation particulière des victimations au climat scolaire dans les écoles maliennes, une réalité qui s’oppose à celle des collèges français étudiés et qui contredit la constance révélée par les études européennes, à savoir la dégradation du climat scolaire proportionnellement à l’importance de la prévalence de violences scolaires. L’articulation paradoxale du climat et des victimations caractérisant les collèges maliens montre à la fois le poids du contexte dans l’étude des dynamiques sociales à l’école et la relativité du phénomène de la violence en milieu scolaire. / This thesis studies the state of victimations and climate in Malian colleges and the articulation of these victimations to the school climate with regard to international comparison with French colleges of priority education areas.The international comparison is hereby invoked in order to further the criticism of Malian colleges in light of French colleges.Through an association of quantitative and qualitative approaches, this research procedes with the study of school victimations and climate by measuring both the victimation experience of school actors, their opinion of the school institution and their social interactions at school. The social reality of the school victimations and climate is thus decripted through an affirmation of the key role of senses and significations produced by the school actors.Our research shows a particular articulation of victimations to school climate in Malian schools , a fact that is contrary to the surveyed French schools and which contradicts the constancy revealed by European studies, that is to say the deterioration of the school climate with respect to the importance of the prevalence of school violences.The paradoxical articulation of the climate and victimations which characterizes Malian colleges shows both the burden of the contexte in the study of social dynamics at school and the relativity of the phenomenon of violence in school environment.

Le sujet de la présente étude est la violence scolaire, phénomène complexe et polysémique qui préoccupe légitimement le monde de l’éducation depuis plus de trente ans. À partir des analyses factorielles exploratoires, analyses de variance factorielle et finalement analyses multivariées de covariance, cette recherche vise plus précisément à dégager la relation entre le climat scolaire, le contexte scolaire et les différents rôles adoptés par les élèves du niveau secondaire lors d’une situation de violence scolaire. Les données de la présente étude ont été collectées par Michel Janosz et son équipe pendant l’année 2010, dans quatre établissements éducatifs provenant d’une commission scolaire de la grande région de Montréal. L’échantillon de départ est composé de 1750 élèves qui fréquentent des classes ordinaires et spéciales du premier et deuxième cycle du secondaire âgés entre 10 et 18 ans. Pour fins d’analyse, deux petites écoles ainsi que les classes spéciales ont été retirées. Il demeure donc 1551 élèves dans l’échantillon initial analysé. Les résultats des analyses permettent de constater d’une part, la relation significative existante entre les dimensions du climat scolaire et l’adoption des différents rôles lors d’une situation de violence scolaire, les climats d’appartenance et de sécurité étant les plus importants, et d’autre part d’observer des différences dans les perceptions que les élèves ont de la violence scolaire selon le niveau et selon l’école. / The present study pertains to a complex and polysemic phenomenon that has preoccupied people working in the field of education since at least thirty years, that is, school violence. Using factor analysis, analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of covariance, this research aims at exploring specifically the relationship between school climate, school context and the various roles adopted by students at the high school level when they face a situation in which school violence in present. Data for this study were collected by Michel Janosz and his team in 2010, within four schools, all in the same school board of the Montreal region. The original sample comprises 1750 students who attend both standard special classes, between 10 and 18 years of age. The analyses presented are based on a reduced sample where the special classes and the two small schools have been withdrawn. Therefore, the answers from 1551 student s are used. The results show that first, there is a significant relationship between the various dimensions of school climate and the different roles adopted by students facing a situation in which violence is present, perceptions of belonging and of security being the most important. Second, all things being equal, there are significant difference between schools, and school levels.

Aujourd’hui, la violence scolaire est souvent évoquée et invoquée. Elle retient l'attention de la communauté éducative et constitue une préoccupation majeure pour les politiques. Tout d'abord, parce qu’elle revêt divers aspects, quantitatifs et qualitatifs. Ensuite, parce qu'il existe une forte demande sociale et institutionnelle envers la cessation de cette violence sous toutes ses formes. En Algérie, ce phénomène n’est certes pas nouveau mais il a commencé à prendre de l’ampleur quelques années après le déclenchement d’une violence politique et criminelle sanglante (le terrorisme). Comment, et sous quelles formes, un tel phénomène se produit-il au sein de l’école algérienne ? Afin d’éclairer non seulement ses modalités, mais aussi ses enjeux et sa structure, nous nous sommes intéressé à la manière dont les différents acteurs de la communauté éducative se représentent la violence ainsi que sa genèse et son développement en prenant l’exemple de collèges constantinois. Cette recherche nous a permis, à travers une enquête par questionnaires et par entretiens menée auprès d’un échantillon de 545 personnes, dont 388 élèves et 157 adultes, de mieux comprendre le processus complexe de cette spirale et de mettre en exergue les perceptions de ces acteurs, eu égard à leurs logiques d’action. Les résultats ont mis en évidence le lien entre l’école et son environnement à la lumière d’une pluralité de variables telles que le contexte familial et urbain, le climat scolaire, la situation socio-économique, les groupes de pairs, les valeurs, les aspirations, l’usage de drogues. / Today, the school violence is often raised and invoked. It holds the attention of the educational community and is a major concern for the politics. First of all, because it covers various aspects, both quantitative and qualitative. Then, because there exists a strong social and institutional request toward the cessation of this violence in all its forms. In Algeria, this phenomenon is certainly not new, but it has begun to expand a few years after the outbreak of bloody political and criminal violence (the terrorism). How, and in which forms, such a phenomenon does it occur within the Algerian schools ? To clarify not only its modalities, but also its issues and its structure, we were interested in the way in which the various actors of the educational educative community represent violence as well as its genesis and its development by taking the example of middle schools (colleges) in the city of Constantine. This research has enabled us, through an investigation by questionnaires and interviews conducted with a sample of 545 people, among which 388 pupils and 157 adults, to better understand the complex process of this spiral and to put forward the perceptions of these actors, in view to their logics of action. The results highlighted the link between the school and its environment in the light of a plurality of variables such as the family and urban context, school climate, the socio-economic situation, peer groups, the values, aspirations, the use of drugs