Do Discipline Policies in Today's Public Schools Foster the Common Good?

Teaching Interrupted surveyed both teachers and parents on their experiences with maintaining discipline in public schools. Below you'll find a selection of questions from the actual survey. Take the questions yourself and see how your perceptions match up with their results. Return to Teaching Interrupted

The Problem
Teachers: As far as your own school is concerned, is student discipline and behavior: One of the top problems Somewhere in the middle Near the bottom Not sure	Parents: At your child's school, would you say that student discipline and behavior is one of the top problems, somewhere in the middle, or near the bottom? One of the top problems Somewhere in the middle Near the bottom Don't Know

The Frustration
Teachers: Have you yourself ever seriously considered quitting the teaching profession because student discipline and behavior was such a problem or not? Yes No Not sure	Parents: Have you ever seriously considered moving your child to another school because discipline and behavior was such a problem or not? Yes No Don't Know

The Troublemakers
Teachers: At your school, are there persistent troublemakers who should already have been removed from the building and sent to alternative schools or not? Yes No Not sure	Parents: And as far as you know, are there persistent troublemakers at your school who should already have been removed from the building and sent to alternative schools or not? Yes No, there are not Don't Know

Challenging Decisions
Teachers: Have you ever been accused by a parent of unfairly disciplining or reprimanding their child or not? Yes No Not sure	Parents: Have you ever felt that a teacher unfairly disciplined or reprimanded your child or not? Yes, have felt that teacher unfairly disciplined or reprimanded child No, have not Don't Know
Was the matter always resolved between you and the parent or did an administrator ever have to get involved? (Asked of teachers who have been accused by parent of unfairly disciplining or reprimanding a child) Always resolved Administrator had to get involved Not sure	And what -- if anything -- did you do? Did you let it go, did you go directly to the teacher about it, or did you go directly to the principal? (Asked of parents who have felt that teacher unfairly disciplined or reprimanded their child) Let it go Went directly to the teacher Went directly to the principal It depended on the situation Don't Know

The Neighborhood
Teachers: Which comes closer to your view? No matter what educators do, schools in very needy, tough neighborhoods will have problems with student discipline and behavior Regardless of the neighborhood, most kids will behave themselves if educators have clear expectations and consistently enforce the rules Not sure	Parents: Which of these two statements comes closer to your view? No matter what educators do, schools in very needy, tough neighborhoods will have problems with student discipline and behavior Regardless of the neighborhood, most kids will behave themselves if educators have clear expectations and consistently enforce the rules Don't Know

The Threat to Sue
Teachers: How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Today's students are all too quick to remind you that they have rights or that their parents can sue. Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Not sure	Parents: Thinking about the parents at your school, about how many would you say challenge or threaten to sue the school when their children are disciplined? Is it just a handful of parents, is it more widespread than that, or are there no parents who fit that description? It's just a handful of parents It's more widespread than that There are no parents who fit that description Don't Know

The findings in Teaching Interrupted are based on two national random surveys: a mail survey of 725 public middle and high school teachers and a telephone survey with 600 parents of public school students in grades 5 through 12. Copyright © 2008 Public Agenda. No reproduction/distribution without permission Return to Teaching Interrupted