Previous research has indicated that there is a possible relationship between disproportionality in student discipline and high school dropout rate.  Using discipline and dropout data from a mid-Atlantic state school district, discipline disproportionality and dropout rate amongst high school African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian male and females over a period of four school years was examined. The findings indicated that there was indeed discipline disproportionality among African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian students.  However, the evidence indicating a relationship between disproportionality and dropping out was not conclusive.  Based on the findings, implications for educational practice are advanced.  In addition, recommendations for further research are set forth. / Ed. D.

This study investigated teacher beliefs and organizational climate constructs of collective efficacy, faculty trust, academic emphasis, enabling bureaucracy, and mindfulness as antecedents for implemented professional development. Researchers previously combined collective efficacy, faculty trust, and academic emphasis into academic optimism. Using Conscious Discipline as professional development and book study as delivery, in this mixed methodology study, 489 teachers in 17 suburban elementary schools completed surveys measuring organizational climate constructs, teacher beliefs about classroom management, and self-reported degree of imlementation. Morning greeting and classroom walkthrough observations collected evidence of implementation. Sixteen focus group teachers from four elementary schools explained the degree of implementation. This study found that (a) Teacher and school demographic data correlated with organizational climate constructs; (b) Teacher beliefs and faculty mindfulness explained 65.7% of variance in self-reported degree of implementation; and (c) Socioeconomic status, book club participation, and teacher beliefs explained 77.1% of variance in observation degree of implementation. / Ph. D.

Det primära syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur aktiva lärare tillämpar och uppfattar sitt ledarskap samt hur det kan bidra till hur undervisningen kan utforma en god läs- och skrivundervisning. Frågeställningarna “Hur synliggörs lärarens ledarstil i klassrummet och på vilket sätt utövar de sina ledaruppgifter i relation till läs- och skrivundervisning?” och “Vilka uppfattningar har lärare kring sitt ledarskap och ledarstil i klassrummet samt de ledaruppgifter som används i läs- och skrivundervisning?” besvarades genom observationer av sju svensklektioner och genom intervjuer med sex lärare på olika skolor i Stockholms län. Därefter analyserades resultatet med hjälp av tematisk analys. För att öka förståelsen för ledarskapets dynamik inom dessa undervisningspraktiker, användes ledarskapsteori och sociokulturell teori som ramverk.  Analysen uppmärksammade tre distinkta teman; Tydlighet i handling och ord, Variation av struktur och rutiner, samt Anpassningsbart ledarskap. Studien visade att lärares ledarskap i läs- och skrivundervisning präglas av tydlighet genom muntliga och skriftliga instruktioner, varierad struktur och rutiner samt anpassningsbarhet hos lärare för att möta elevers skiftande behov. Lärarnas uppfattningar om sitt ledarskap överensstämde delvis med vad som observerades i klassrummet.  Slutsatserna underströk den viktiga roll som ett situationsanpassat ledarskap spelar för att utforma en god läs- och skrivundervisning, och framhävde självinsikt och medvetenhet som viktiga aspekter. Dessa insikter bekräftade inte bara befintliga teorier om vikten av ett flexibelt och anpassningsbart ledarskap inom utbildningsvetenskap, utan belyste också behovet av kontinuerlig utveckling av ledarskapsförmågor bland lärare. Implikationerna från denna studie antydde på att ytterligare forskning behövs för att fördjupa sig i dessa komplexa frågor och för att utforska potentiella ledarskapsstrategier som kan underlätta pedagogiskt arbete och anpassning av lärares ledarskap. / The primary purpose of this study was to investigate how active teachers apply and perceive their leadership and how it can contribute to shaping good reading and writing instruction. The research questions “How is the teachers’ leadership style manifested in the classroom, and in what ways do they perform their leadership tasks in relation to reading and writing instructions?” and “What are teachers’ perceptions of their leadership and leadership style in the classroom, and the leadership tasks used in reading and writing instructions?” were addressed through observations of seven Swedish lessons and interviews with six teachers at various schools in Stockholm County. The results were then analyzed using thematic analysis. To increase understanding of the dynamics of leadership within these teaching practices, leadership theory and sociocultural theory were used as frameworks.  The analysis highlighted three distinct themes: Clarity in action and words, Variation of structure and routines, and Adaptable leadership. The study found that teachers’ leadership in reading and writing instruction is characterized by clarity through oral and written instructions, varied structure and routines, and the adaptability of the teacher to meet the changing needs of pupils. The teachers’ perceptions of their leadership partially aligned with what was observed in the classroom.  The conclusions emphasized that situational leadership plays an important role in shaping good reading and writing instruction and highlighted self-awareness and consciousness as key aspects. These insights not only confirmed existing theories on the importance of flexible and adaptable leadership in educational science but also underscored the need for continuous development of leadership skills among teachers. The implications of this study implied that further research is needed to delve into these complex issues and explore potential leadership strategies that can facilitate pedagogical work and the adaptation of teacher leadership.

No description available.

The purpose of this research was to determine whether or not discrepancies existed between what Senior Internship students in the College of Education at a major southeastern university expected to encounter as far as classroom discipline issues, in their internship classroom and what issues were actually experienced. This. was achieved by conducting a pre survey of what students expected before the internship experience began and a post survey when the internship experience ended and comparing those results. The survey gave a range of common classroom discipline issues and was modified to ask participants to rate the degree to which they expected to encounter those issues in their classroom and then to rate what degree those same issues were actually encountered. After comparing the data from the pre and post survey a significant difference was found concerning pranks, which pre service teacher expected to encounter more than were actually experienced. Two other survey questions approached significance, and three survey questions remained almost identical among the pre and post survey respondents.

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)

It has become obvious that a worldwide awareness of the quality of children’s behaviour and therefore also of learner-behaviour exist (Lewis, 2001:307). Moreover, according to Lee and Powell (2005:83), the whole of America has turned concerned interest towards the dilemmas that are associated with the troublesome behaviour of young people at schools. The purpose of this non-experimental, descriptive survey was to react to Gossen (in Lee & Powell, 2005:85) who advocates the restructuring of school discipline to create an atmosphere that would support learners in re-adjusting their behaviour. As a result, the main aim of this study is to examine how learner discipline can be managed in Thabo Mofutsanyana District as informed by the literature study and empirical survey. This aim is conceptualised into objectives and was achieved by investigating the nature of learner discipline, investigated how learner discipline in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District was managed. A quantitative method of gathering data was used in this study. According to Leedy and Omrod (2005:950, quantitative research methods are those that seek to objectively measure the variables of interest. To qualify and quantify the effects of learner’s perception on behavioural choices, this study offers a guide to the data collection and analysis, which provides useful information that is relevant to pre-service and practicing educators. For the purpose of this research, structured questionnaire was selected as a research tool. Tuckman (2008:230) explains the fact that questionnaires are used by researchers to convert information directly given by people into data. The findings suggest that classroom management has an impact on how learners learn and how educators manage learning in a classroom situation. Findings also suggested that by means of a classroom policy, an educator can use rules and procedures to regulate all aspects of the classroom environment and all the actions and behaviour within the classroom. Also, findings confirm that the following issues are pivotal to schools when developing classroom policy: a good classroom policy must clearly reflect the objectives (long-term) and aims (short-term) for which the class is striving, the policy should also be consistent, be acceptable to the majority, facilitate decision-making about certain matters and make provision for the class rules and procedure. In conclusion, an overview of the challenges identified by this research project, as well as the aspects in need of further research, is highlighted. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

程曉樵. / 呈交日期: 2000年12月. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2001. / 參考文獻 (p. 208-218) / 中英文摘要. / Cheng jiao ri qi: 2000 nian 12 yue. / Available also through the Internet via Dissertations & theses @ Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Cheng Xiaoqiao. / Lun wen (Zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2001. / Can kao wen xian (p. 208-218) / Zhong Ying wen zhai yao.