NCJ Number
123135
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Winter 1985) Pages: 4-6
Date Published
1985
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The finding that most disruptive students do not misbehave in all their classes indicates that specific teacher practices and policies influence school behavior and that establishing such practices is the way to provide safe, orderly, and effective schools.
Abstract
Thus, administrators should not focus on school safety alone. Unless they place greater emphasis on the established principles of effective education, they may find that they have traded away intellectual curiosity and academic achievement for the sake of compliant student behavior. Steps that school districts can take to provide orderly and effective schools include developing better teaching strategies and classroom management techniques, emphasizing prevention while preparing for intervention, and developing alternatives to suspension and expulsion. They should also study the problem of school safety more closely and should maintain expectations for both staff and students. Expecting all students to achieve academic success and providing the support systems that they need will reduce behavioral problems.