ASTI > Education > Other > Student Behaviour / Discipline > ASTI Guidelines for Review of School Discipline Policy

Introduction

In dynamic communities such as schools, policies require regular review if they are to continue to serve as effective regulators in the school environment.  This is particularly the case with policies for student discipline. 

A survey conducted by the ASTI in 2004 found that the majority of teachers believed that their school discipline policy was effective in promoting positive student behaviour.  At the same time, teachers raised concerns in relation to aspects of the implementation of discipline policy in their schools.  These Guidelines have been prepared by the ASTI to provide a model for staff to review the implementation of school discipline policy.

Before the review, some frequently asked questions!!

What is the current framework for school discipline policies?

The framework within which school discipline policies are developed and implemented is as follows:

  • Circular M33/91 - Guidelines towards a Positive Policy for School Behaviour and Discipline 
  • Circular M42/93 - Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour 
  • Section 23 of the Educational Welfare Act, 2000 requires all schools to put in a code of behaviour for students
  • Circular M18/99 - Guidelines on Violence in Schools

Does my School have a Written Policy?

Section 23 of the Education Welfare Act, 2000 requires all schools to have written codes of behaviour.  Each teacher should be issued with an up-to-date copy of this Code.  The Code must be provided to all parents upon the enrolment of their child in the school. Some schools have developed the good practice of issuing a copy of the Code to all teachers and students at the beginning of the school year.  It is strongly recommended that the school discipline policy and the school rules are displayed in the staff room.

Who is Actually Responsible for Implementing the Policy in the School?

Responsibility for implementing the policy rests with all teachers in the school.  All teachers are therefore advised to be aware of their duty of care of care to students - in the classroom, the corridors, the yard and out-of-school activities. 

It is implicit in the code that all teachers are responsible for discipline in their classrooms.  In most schools, a Discipline Committee is appointed which oversees the implementation  of discipline policy and which typically deals with less serious breaches of the Code.  The Principal has the duty of making decisions in relation to the imposition of the  sanctions of suspension or expulsion arising from serious breaches of the Code.  This duty is laid out in Circular M33/91.

Who Develops the Code of Discipline?

The Board of Management, under Section 23 of the Educational Welfare Act, 2000, is responsible for ensuring that a fair and efficient code of discipline is drawn up, stating the rules, sanctions and procedures.  The Board is required to develop the Code in consultation with the school community.  Once the Code has been developed and adopted by the Board, the Principal has responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation of the discipline policy across the school. 

How Can Teachers Support Each Other?

Teachers form a professional community at work within which there are different degrees of experience.  Teachers work in isolation in classrooms which can make the sharing of professional wisdom difficult on a day-to-day basis.  Teachers' workload and lack of time to engage in planning and teamwork are also major obstacles to the sharing of experience.  Teachers should be prepared to listen to their colleagues and to share their extensive knowledge of both the student population and skills in classroom management.   Nothing is more discouraging for the teacher who, when expressing concerns re difficulties with certain students or classes, get a dismissive " I-never-have-any-problems-with-them" type reply!! 

Guidelines for Staff Review of School Discipline Policies

The ASTI recommends that teachers review the implementation of the school discipline policy on a regular basis.  The aim of a review should be to enable all members  to participate in an examination of this important area of school policy with a view to making it more effective.  The School Steward should convene a meeting of ASTI members to initiate such a review.

If the review is to have an impact, the Principal should be informed in advance that it is taking place.  An agreement should be sought that the findings of the review will be considered by the Principal.  In some instances, the staff may consider it appropriate to submit the findings of  its review to the Board of Management.

STEP 1:  How to Review School Discipline Policy?

Circular M33/91 does not specify a review mechanism.  However, effective models for review of school policies are available.  All schools were circulated with a guide  - "School Development and Planning: An Introduction for Second Level Schools" -  as part of School Development and Planning Initiative (SDPI).   Copies of this guide should be available from the Principal.  This document is available on the DES website - www.education.ie The SDPI website - www.sdpi.ie - contains information on all SDPI services which schools can draw on to review and develop policies.

STEP 2: Clarifying Aims and Objectives

At the beginning of any review process, it is essential to clarify the rationale for the review by asking the following questions:

Why is a review necessary? What will be achieved by the review? Who will contribute to the review? What is the time-frame for the review?  How will the review be implemented?

Step 3:  Getting it Right from the Start!

In some situations, it may be helpful to get external assistance to "kick-start" the review!  Such assistance could be in the form of having a speaker in at a staff or Union meeting; a presentation by a Co-ordinator from the School Development and Planning Initiative.   The local Education Centre will also have a list of presenters with expertise in school discipline policies. It would also be useful to get a presentation from the School Discipline Committee at some stage of the review.

STEP 4: Set Up the Committee!

At the meeting convened by the ASTI School Steward, a representative Committee should be formed to carry out the work.  The Committee should carry out the Steps in these Guidelines and report back to a meeting of the staff in a specified time period.

STEP 5:  Set Modest Objectives!

  • Find out how teachers feel about the school discipline policy through a questionnaire (see below)
  • Ask teachers to list two actions which should be taken in the school to improve the climate of discipline.
  • Set up a "Suggestion Box": These actually work as some teachers  may feel enabled to make suggestions without fear of alienating colleagues.

Sample Questionnaire

  1. Have you been provided with a copy of the school discipline policy?
  2. Were you involved in developing the school discipline policy?
  3. Are you satisfied with the manner in which the school discipline policy is implemented?  Yes/ No?  If No, state why?
  4. What aspect of the school policy do you consider is most effectively implemented?
  5. What aspect of the school policy is least effectively implemented?
  6. What type of indiscipline causes the most stress for you?
  7. What two  recommendations would you make for a better disciplinary climate in the school?
  8. Do you think that the staff should get some assistance through insevice training or the School Development and Planning Initiative or some other programme to improves aspects of school disciplinary climate?