How have teachers responded to behavior problems in the past?

In the past, schools have used many methods of discipline but the most common remains using detention, suspension and expulsion for problem behaviors. “Historically, a common response to problem behaviors in school has been some type of punishment-for example detention, suspension or expulsion from school. These reactive approaches serve primarily as short term solutions that remove a child from a setting.” (Crone, 2004 p.3) In fact, studies show that the rate of suspension as a disciplinary action has doubled over the last thirty years for children in grades k-12. “1.5 million American students missed at least 1 day of school because of out of school suspension or in the 1970s; over the past decade that number has doubled and reached an estimated 3.1 million of approximately 7% of the student population. Studies of school discipline have consistently found that suspension is among the most widely used disciplinary technique, and at the office level, perhaps the most frequently used response to office referrals (Evertson & Weinstein, p.1066)

In many situations, a teacher becomes overwhelmed by a problem behavior. “Our research illustrates consistent findings; that is, problem behaviors classified as disruption, disrespect, and aggression/fighting are among the recurrent reasons for disciplinary referral in elementary school. While not typically included among reasons for office disciplinary actions in school codes of conduct, these behaviors are among those most “disturbing” to teachers” (Algozzine, 2008 p.101) Many of these problem behaviors lead to office referrals which many result in school removal. “Out of school suspension and expulsion are often viewed as a relatively linear response progressing from student disruption to office referral to school removal. Disciplinary actions are multiplied determined by student behavior, teacher tolerance, school and classroom characteristics and local and state policy.” (Evertson & Weinstein, p.1066)

References: Algozzine, Christian, Marr, McClanahan, White, Richard (2008). Demography of Problem Behavior in Elementary Schools. Exceptionality, 16, 2, 93-104.

Evertson, C. M., & Weinstein, C. S. (Eds.). (2006).Handbook of classroom management:Research, practice, and contemporary issues. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Fuentes, A. (2009, April 17). Discipline and Punish. USA Today, pp. 17-20.