NCJ Number
53171
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 13 Issue: 51 Dated: (FALL 1978) Pages: 375-392
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THE RELATIVE LACK OF STUDENT DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS IN CALIFORNIA'S ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
ON-SITE OBSERVATIONS AND INTERVIEWS WITH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT 18 'SCHOOLS WITHIN SCHOOLS' REVEALED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS HAD FEW PROBLEMS WITH STUDENT BEHAVIOR, PARTICULARLY IN COMPARISON TO THE PROBLEMS REPORTED BY NEIGHBORING CONVENTIONAL SCHOOLS. (THE SCHOOLS WITHIN SCHOOLS ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE REGULAR HIGH SCHOOLS BUT HAVE THEIR OWN IDENTITY, STAFF, CURRICULUM, SCHEDULE, RULES, AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES). AMONG THE POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS' LACK OF DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS ARE THE RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE OF THE SCHOOLS, THEIR FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES, THE FREQUENT INTERACTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AND THE GENERAL ABSENCE OF FORMAL RULES GOVERNING STUDENT BEHAVIOR. IT APPEARS THAT EDUCATORS CONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEMS FACED BY TEACHERS IN REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE MUCH TO LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS. ALTHOUGH BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN REGULAR SCHOOLS PROBABLY CAN BE TRACED TO A VARIETY OF CAUSES, IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO IGNORE THE ROLE SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS PLAY IN CREATING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. OBSERVATIONS OF THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND INTERVIEWS WITH THEIR PARTICIPANTS INDICATE THAT CHANGES IN CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES OF SCHOOLS AND IN THE ATTITUDES OF TEACHERS CAN LEAD TO A MORE TRANQUIL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. FURTHER STUDIES SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE WHICH CHARACTERISTICS OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCHOOLS' RELATIVE LACK OF STUDENT DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)