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)

MEDEM / Department of Curriculum Studies and Education Management

This study focuses on the role of educators in the establishment and maintenance of effective discipline in the school and classroom. In a mainly qualitative investigation, empirical data from three secondary schools in the Nkangala region of the Mpumalanga Province were collected by means of focus group and individual interviews as well as observation. These data were analysed in accordance with accepted procedures for qualitative data processing. The study confirmed most of the views found in the existing body of knowledge on school discipline. In the dissertation, detailed attention is paid to the disciplinary problems those educators who were interviewed, experienced, the perceived origin of those problems and suggested solutions. The rights and duties of educators in regard to the management of discipline were also considered. To conclude the study, eight strategies to promote the establishment and maintenance of discipline in secondary schools were proposed. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Educational Management)

The South African Schools Act of 1996 mandates the establishment of School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in all schools with grade eight and higher. Amongst others, the SGB has the authority to develop a Code of Conduct for learners in a school. This study includes a literature review of discipline in schools, the functions of SGBs, the development and implementation of a Code of Conduct by the SGB. A qualitative investigation of the perceptions of parents, educators and learners, of discipline and dealing with misbehaviour was conducted in three secondary schools in the North-West Province. It was established that role-players differed in their understanding of coming to a common understanding of what to include in a Code of Conduct. It seems as if measures to deal with misbehaviour are often in violation of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. Based on the findings, recommendations for addressing discipline by means of a Code of Conduct were proposed. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The purpose of this study was to explore the promotion of safe schools in the Eastern Cape according to a Whole School Development Approach. A literature study investigated the factors contributing to violence in schools in the Eastern Cape as well as South Africa, the strategies that can be used to involve all stakeholders in education to combat school violence and the strategies to promote safe schools through Whole School Development Approach. An empirical investigation following a qualitative approach was used to explore the views of learners, educators, principals and teachers of two secondary schools in the Eastern Cape. Data was gathered by observation, interviews, analysis of written documents and analysis was according to qualitative procedures. Findings showed a prevalence of violence in the schools as a result of non-application of the Whole School Development Approach. The implications of the findings of both literature and the empirical investigation are discussed and certain guidelines are provided to assist all stakeholders in education on the promotion of safe schools through the Whole School Development Approach. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Since 1994 the South African government has implemented principles of equity, redress and social empowerment in broader society and in education. Consequently, corporal punishment was banned in schools and new methods of managing discipline were introduced. Moreover, decision-making power is decentralised to School Governing Bodies on which learner representatives serve in secondary schools. Thus, the latter are also involved in the management of discipline. This study explores the learners' role in the management of discipline in urban secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Current perspectives on school discipline and an overview of the learners' role in discipline management in the South African context were provided. A qualitative investigation used interviews with learners and educators in selected schools to collect data. Findings suggest that learner involvement in discipline can be positive but lack of training and poor communication impede the full deployment of learners in this regard. Finally, recommendations for the improvement of practice are made. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Education Management)

Text in Afrikaans / The phenomenon which was studied in this research was alternative interaction methods. The research question was whether teachers could use these methods to address the problematic behaviour of learners in schools and to create a more positive attitude in learners. The question of a training program for teachers in this regard was also raised. The alternative interaction methods addressed in the literature was amongst others about addressing emotions that hinders the learners' learning process, addressing mild to serious misbehaviour and the positive encouragement of learners, as well as positive feedback given by teachers. The researcher herself used these methods on learners to see what their reaction was in this regard. Information was also gathered from teachers through questionnaires, focus groups and individual interviews. The conclusion was that the alternative interaction methods can be effective in addressing the problematic behaviour of learners and thus improve discipline. Learners' attitudes can also be influenced in a positive way when using these methods. Eventually it implies a higher level of job satisfaction for teachers. A training program was compiled for teachers to learn these alternative interaction methods and apply them in future as a contribution to Educational Psychology. / Educational Psychology / D.Ed. (Opvoedkundige Sielkunde)

Die doel van hierdie studie van beperkte omvang is om inligting in te samel oor die probleem van dissipline soos dit manifesteer in Intermediêre Skole in die Namakwa Distrik van die Noord-Kaap Provinsie. Die aandag word toegespits op: * wetgewing met betrekking tot dissipline in skole; * soorte van probleme; * faktore wat aanleiding gee tot probleme; * maatreëls wat gebruik word om dissiplinêre probleme te hanteer en te voorkom. Deur literatuurstudie word begrip en kennis verkry wat as agtergrond dien vir die kwalitatiewe ondersoek waardeur `n kontekstuele begrip verkry word van die ervaring van dissipline en probleme deur `n geselekteerde groep skoolhoofde van Intermediêre Skole in die Namakwa Distrik van die Noord-Kaapprovinsie. Ten slotte word voorstelle gemaak met die oog op die verbetering van `n komplekse situasie. / The aim of this study on a small scale is to gather information about the problem of discipline as manifested in Intermediate Schools in the Namaqua District of the Northern Cape Province. The attention is focused on: * legislation in connection with discipline in schools; * types of problems; * factors that cause problems; * measures to cope and prevent disciplinary problems. The study of literature provides understanding and knowledge that serves as background to the qualitative study by way of which a contextual understanding is developed of the experience of discipline and specific problems by a selected group of principals of Intermediate Schools in the Namaqua District of the Northern Cape Province. In conclusion proposals are made aimed at the improvement of a complex situation. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Educational Management)

The focus of this thesis falls on school violence. The research addresses the possibility that a culture of violence exists amongst some South African school-going youth. The researcher identified the attitudes and behaviour of learners towards violence as indicators of the culture of these learners. The research specifically focused on the pro-violence attitudes and violent behaviour of learners. The definition of ‘culture’ which was employed suggests the link between a person’s attitude, behaviour and culture. Information was gathered through literature and empirical research. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire with closed-ended questions and a well-tested tool, namely the Attitudes towards Violence Scale. The results of the empirical research were analyzed with the SPSS Windows data editor computer program. Conclusions and recommendations regarding school violence were made. In addition, a programme to curb such violence was proposed. Some suggestions for further research into this subject were also advanced. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

Text in Afrikaans / This study, which was undertaken within a qualitative and quantitative methodological framework, is a collaborative action research project that focuses on the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) teaching in the classroom as intervention to prevent the inappropriate behaviour of learners that could lead to violence and crime. The study also concentrates on how action research can enhance the educator’s teaching practices. The objective was to prevent learners from misbehaving by implementing EI as a teaching strategy in the classroom on the basis of various definitions and models of EI. This research project also explored the coordinated and integrated management of positive learner behaviour, overall school development and the management of a culture of positive behaviour. The empirical study concludes that there is a correlation between EI teaching methods and learners’ behaviour. In view of the fact that the use of EI in the classroom can prevent the inappropriate behaviour of learners it can therefore be regarded as preventative discipline. / Psychology / M.A. (Sielkunde)