Code of conduct for learners: A strategy for enhancing positive discipline in selected township schools in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
- Zondo, Sindiswa Silindokuhle
- Authors: Zondo, Sindiswa Silindokuhle
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: School discipline
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21711 , vital:51744
- Description: Dealing with misbehaving learners remains a significant challenge for teachers in South African schools. As the use of corporal punishment and other punitive measures to deal with misbehaving learners is now illegal, alternative positive disciplinary measures have been put in place. The prohibition of negative disciplinary measures has left teachers feeling powerless and frustrated, not knowing how to manage learner behaviour, despite the fact that they are the viable agents tasked with ensuring that positive disciplinary measures are implemented in schools. This study sought to examine how best a code of conduct for learners can be used to enhance positive discipline in schools. To that end, the study offers insights into how positive disciplinary measures may be used, in dealing with learner indiscipline. This is a qualitative study, underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm. The study employed a phenomenological design as a strategy for data collection, to examine how a code of conduct for learners can be used to enhance positive discipline in selected township schools. As this is a qualitative study concerned more with the depth than the breadth of information, the researcher deemed it necessary to focus on two schools, to obtain deep insight into the participants’ lived experiences. Two schools, in Pinetown in Durban, participated in the study. Interviews, observations and document reviews were used as data-collection instruments. In each school, interviews were conducted with the school principal, teacher representatives serving on the school governing board, disciplinary committee members, and members of the representative council for learners. Disciplinary hearings and disciplinary committee meetings were observed, and documents of relevance to the study were reviewed. The findings, as reported on here, revealed that the code of conduct is the most important strategy that schools can use to enhance positive discipline. Other strategies in enhancing positive discipline include the use of a research-based positive classroom management approach; positive reinforcement; integrating community support services; modelling good behaviour; parental involvement; preventive, supportive and corrective discipline; detention; communication (incorporating professionalism and cooperation); the creation of an environment conducive to teaching and learning; and the withdrawal or withholding of privileges. The findings further revealed that positive discipline is an alternative to negative disciplinary measures, such as corporal punishment in schools. Teachers are expected to comply with, and adhere to, disciplinary policies, and to assist learners in unlearning bad behaviours and developing the necessary life skills, values, and attitudes. The participants’ understanding of the use of a code of conduct for positive discipline successfully assisted them, as teachers, in dealing with misbehaving learners, and, in turn, in developing learners’ positive self-control and self-esteem, helping them to become responsible citizens, and courageous and respectful learners, not only in the school environment, but also as members of society at large. The research findings also revealed that many participants believed using a code of conduct (positive discipline) to enhance positive behaviour was a waste of time, and ineffective. As the findings indicate, learners were found to become impervious or immune to positive disciplinary measures put in place to assist them with behavioural problems. The findings also revealed that the ineffectiveness of such a code in enhancing positive discipline could be attributed to the fact that the teachers themselves were not, to a certain degree, fully trained with regard to positive disciplinary measures. A lack of parental support and teacher professionalism, the continued use of (the prohibited) corporal punishment, poor communication, a lack of stakeholder involvement in formulating codes of conduct, a lack of positive modelling and power struggles were found to impede the use of a code of conduct to enhance positive discipline in schools. Based on the research findings, the study recommends that schools ensure that there is a sufficiently detailed code of conduct to assist teachers in addressing learners’ bad behaviour. There should also be advocacy from the Department of Basic Education, for support programmes to be put in place to assist teachers with alternative ways of enhancing positive discipline in the classroom. Awareness of how teachers are to be upskilled as regards positive disciplinary strategies, active parental involvement, and increased support for teachers, are amongst the recommendations. Ultimately, the researcher concluded that the code of conduct was a strategy that schools can use to enhance positive discipline. To this end, teachers must adhere to that code (and other positive disciplinary measures), for positive discipline to flourish in schools. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-03
- Authors: Zondo, Sindiswa Silindokuhle
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: School discipline
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21711 , vital:51744
- Description: Dealing with misbehaving learners remains a significant challenge for teachers in South African schools. As the use of corporal punishment and other punitive measures to deal with misbehaving learners is now illegal, alternative positive disciplinary measures have been put in place. The prohibition of negative disciplinary measures has left teachers feeling powerless and frustrated, not knowing how to manage learner behaviour, despite the fact that they are the viable agents tasked with ensuring that positive disciplinary measures are implemented in schools. This study sought to examine how best a code of conduct for learners can be used to enhance positive discipline in schools. To that end, the study offers insights into how positive disciplinary measures may be used, in dealing with learner indiscipline. This is a qualitative study, underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm. The study employed a phenomenological design as a strategy for data collection, to examine how a code of conduct for learners can be used to enhance positive discipline in selected township schools. As this is a qualitative study concerned more with the depth than the breadth of information, the researcher deemed it necessary to focus on two schools, to obtain deep insight into the participants’ lived experiences. Two schools, in Pinetown in Durban, participated in the study. Interviews, observations and document reviews were used as data-collection instruments. In each school, interviews were conducted with the school principal, teacher representatives serving on the school governing board, disciplinary committee members, and members of the representative council for learners. Disciplinary hearings and disciplinary committee meetings were observed, and documents of relevance to the study were reviewed. The findings, as reported on here, revealed that the code of conduct is the most important strategy that schools can use to enhance positive discipline. Other strategies in enhancing positive discipline include the use of a research-based positive classroom management approach; positive reinforcement; integrating community support services; modelling good behaviour; parental involvement; preventive, supportive and corrective discipline; detention; communication (incorporating professionalism and cooperation); the creation of an environment conducive to teaching and learning; and the withdrawal or withholding of privileges. The findings further revealed that positive discipline is an alternative to negative disciplinary measures, such as corporal punishment in schools. Teachers are expected to comply with, and adhere to, disciplinary policies, and to assist learners in unlearning bad behaviours and developing the necessary life skills, values, and attitudes. The participants’ understanding of the use of a code of conduct for positive discipline successfully assisted them, as teachers, in dealing with misbehaving learners, and, in turn, in developing learners’ positive self-control and self-esteem, helping them to become responsible citizens, and courageous and respectful learners, not only in the school environment, but also as members of society at large. The research findings also revealed that many participants believed using a code of conduct (positive discipline) to enhance positive behaviour was a waste of time, and ineffective. As the findings indicate, learners were found to become impervious or immune to positive disciplinary measures put in place to assist them with behavioural problems. The findings also revealed that the ineffectiveness of such a code in enhancing positive discipline could be attributed to the fact that the teachers themselves were not, to a certain degree, fully trained with regard to positive disciplinary measures. A lack of parental support and teacher professionalism, the continued use of (the prohibited) corporal punishment, poor communication, a lack of stakeholder involvement in formulating codes of conduct, a lack of positive modelling and power struggles were found to impede the use of a code of conduct to enhance positive discipline in schools. Based on the research findings, the study recommends that schools ensure that there is a sufficiently detailed code of conduct to assist teachers in addressing learners’ bad behaviour. There should also be advocacy from the Department of Basic Education, for support programmes to be put in place to assist teachers with alternative ways of enhancing positive discipline in the classroom. Awareness of how teachers are to be upskilled as regards positive disciplinary strategies, active parental involvement, and increased support for teachers, are amongst the recommendations. Ultimately, the researcher concluded that the code of conduct was a strategy that schools can use to enhance positive discipline. To this end, teachers must adhere to that code (and other positive disciplinary measures), for positive discipline to flourish in schools. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-03
Code of conduct for learners: A strategy for enhancing positive discipline in selected township schools in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
- Zondo, Sindiswa Silindokuhle
- Authors: Zondo, Sindiswa Silindokuhle
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: School discipline
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21736 , vital:51747
- Description: Ddeleting thos one delete 2 , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022-03
- Authors: Zondo, Sindiswa Silindokuhle
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: School discipline
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21736 , vital:51747
- Description: Ddeleting thos one delete 2 , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022-03
Disquieting high school learners’ indiscipline behaviour: A systematic review exploring the impact of learner indiscipline on learning and teacher’s impetus
- Vuyolwetu Soni https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-0368
- Authors: Vuyolwetu Soni https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-0368
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: High school students -- Conduct of life , School discipline
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23829 , vital:60913
- Description: High school teachers in South Africa have been voicing out their distress to the government, caused by the indiscipline of learners. The indiscipline became evident after the South African government scrapped punitive behaviour modification methods such as corporal punishment. Although the government had introduced alternative forms of behaviour modification, the teachers still maintain that these are not effective hence the rife indiscipline behaviour among high school learners. This study reviewed 14 articles on the impact of the alternative forms of punishment on high school learners’ indiscipline and the teachers’ motivation. Further, the studies highlight several factors involved in developing the learners’ indiscipline. This review indicates that high school learners’ indiscipline continues to be rife in South African schools and negatively affects high school teachers’ motivation. This is regardless of the government's introduction of alternative forms of punishment. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-03
- Authors: Vuyolwetu Soni https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-0368
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: High school students -- Conduct of life , School discipline
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23829 , vital:60913
- Description: High school teachers in South Africa have been voicing out their distress to the government, caused by the indiscipline of learners. The indiscipline became evident after the South African government scrapped punitive behaviour modification methods such as corporal punishment. Although the government had introduced alternative forms of behaviour modification, the teachers still maintain that these are not effective hence the rife indiscipline behaviour among high school learners. This study reviewed 14 articles on the impact of the alternative forms of punishment on high school learners’ indiscipline and the teachers’ motivation. Further, the studies highlight several factors involved in developing the learners’ indiscipline. This review indicates that high school learners’ indiscipline continues to be rife in South African schools and negatively affects high school teachers’ motivation. This is regardless of the government's introduction of alternative forms of punishment. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-03
Perceptions of teachers on the implementation of positive learner discipline: A case study of three primary schools in the Amathole-West Education District
- Authors: Bantom, Laetitia Anneline
- Date: 2020-06
- Subjects: School discipline , Classroom management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19980 , vital:44915
- Description: The aim of this study was to gain an insight into perceptions of teachers on the implementation of positive learner discipline in three primary schools in the Amathole- West Education District. The study was in the interpretive paradigm and adopted a qualitative approach in the collection of data. A case study design through face-to-face interviews and document analysis related to positive discipline were used for data collection. Three schools were selected through purposive sampling. Four teachers per school participated in the study and these were purposively sampled. Data from the findings were thematically presented and analysed by scrutinizing it for commonalities. The study revealed that teachers had ample knowledge on positive learner discipline and therefore tried to implement it to the best of their abilities. The study also established that teachers perceived positive discipline as a good approach for disciplining learners. Participants were aware that positive learner discipline made learners feel and that it assisted them to improve and sustain good behaviour. Data revealed that schools used different strategies to implement positive learner discipline, such as, class rules, rewards and awards, personal relationship with learners, role model, communication with learners, point system, goal setting, hand-system and sign language, isolated area in front of the classroom, positive attention and guidelines on discipline. In contrast, the study also revealed that a minority of teachers still administered corporal punishment, which is unlawful and traditional. They also applied punitive disciplinary measures. The study concluded that the selected schools encountered various challenges on the implementation of positive learner discipline. These included undisciplined learners, limited involvement and minimal support from the Department of Education (DoE) and limited support from the School Management Team (SMT), uninformed, ignorant and rude parents, lack of parental involvement, parents using punitive measures, no proper training for teachers and parents, overcrowded classrooms and unhappy teachers. As for monitoring and support from the SMT and DoE, the study envisaged that most participants were supported by the SMT, other than the DoE. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-06
- Authors: Bantom, Laetitia Anneline
- Date: 2020-06
- Subjects: School discipline , Classroom management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19980 , vital:44915
- Description: The aim of this study was to gain an insight into perceptions of teachers on the implementation of positive learner discipline in three primary schools in the Amathole- West Education District. The study was in the interpretive paradigm and adopted a qualitative approach in the collection of data. A case study design through face-to-face interviews and document analysis related to positive discipline were used for data collection. Three schools were selected through purposive sampling. Four teachers per school participated in the study and these were purposively sampled. Data from the findings were thematically presented and analysed by scrutinizing it for commonalities. The study revealed that teachers had ample knowledge on positive learner discipline and therefore tried to implement it to the best of their abilities. The study also established that teachers perceived positive discipline as a good approach for disciplining learners. Participants were aware that positive learner discipline made learners feel and that it assisted them to improve and sustain good behaviour. Data revealed that schools used different strategies to implement positive learner discipline, such as, class rules, rewards and awards, personal relationship with learners, role model, communication with learners, point system, goal setting, hand-system and sign language, isolated area in front of the classroom, positive attention and guidelines on discipline. In contrast, the study also revealed that a minority of teachers still administered corporal punishment, which is unlawful and traditional. They also applied punitive disciplinary measures. The study concluded that the selected schools encountered various challenges on the implementation of positive learner discipline. These included undisciplined learners, limited involvement and minimal support from the Department of Education (DoE) and limited support from the School Management Team (SMT), uninformed, ignorant and rude parents, lack of parental involvement, parents using punitive measures, no proper training for teachers and parents, overcrowded classrooms and unhappy teachers. As for monitoring and support from the SMT and DoE, the study envisaged that most participants were supported by the SMT, other than the DoE. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-06
Challenges facing teachers in implementing alternative measures of discipline in schools: a case study of five secondary schools in the Umzimkhulu circuit of the Sisonke District in Kwazulu-Natal
- Authors: Zulu, Xolani Wycliff
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: School discipline , Secondary schools , Sisonke District -- Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2393 , vital:41455
- Description: This dissertation is a report on a study that was conducted in rural schools of the Sisonke District in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. The study covered the challenges experienced by teachers in implementing the alternative measures of discipline. The study was conducted because the researcher was the head of the disciplinary committee in the school where he was employed and he often dealt with disciplinary problems which usually occurred between the teachers, learners and SMTs. It was important to know from other schools, what problems they faced in implementing the alternative measures of discipline. The study used a qualitative research design in the form of a case study. Purposive sampling was used. The sample comprised 15 SMT members, and 20 post level 1 teachers, and the total number of participants was 35. Data was collected through observations which were followed by interviews. Qualitative methods were used to analyse data. This involved reduction and interpretation of data collected. The findings of the study highlighted the role that could be played by SMTs, teachers, parents, and the Department of Education in the smooth running of the school in dealing with the misunderstandings of alternative measures of discipline and so advance an effective work ethos. The study also illuminated the issue of negligence on the part of SMTs in enforcing the implementation of the alternative measures of discipline. There was a great need for school teachers to be well versed in the general legislation of the Department of Education so as to align themselves with the correct rules and regulations when they deal with disciplinary problems. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Humanities, Educational Management and Policy, 2014
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Zulu, Xolani Wycliff
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: School discipline , Secondary schools , Sisonke District -- Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2393 , vital:41455
- Description: This dissertation is a report on a study that was conducted in rural schools of the Sisonke District in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. The study covered the challenges experienced by teachers in implementing the alternative measures of discipline. The study was conducted because the researcher was the head of the disciplinary committee in the school where he was employed and he often dealt with disciplinary problems which usually occurred between the teachers, learners and SMTs. It was important to know from other schools, what problems they faced in implementing the alternative measures of discipline. The study used a qualitative research design in the form of a case study. Purposive sampling was used. The sample comprised 15 SMT members, and 20 post level 1 teachers, and the total number of participants was 35. Data was collected through observations which were followed by interviews. Qualitative methods were used to analyse data. This involved reduction and interpretation of data collected. The findings of the study highlighted the role that could be played by SMTs, teachers, parents, and the Department of Education in the smooth running of the school in dealing with the misunderstandings of alternative measures of discipline and so advance an effective work ethos. The study also illuminated the issue of negligence on the part of SMTs in enforcing the implementation of the alternative measures of discipline. There was a great need for school teachers to be well versed in the general legislation of the Department of Education so as to align themselves with the correct rules and regulations when they deal with disciplinary problems. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Humanities, Educational Management and Policy, 2014
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
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