THE NATURE AND MANAGEMENT OF STUDENTS’ MISBEHAVIOR AT WISDOM SEEDER SCHOOL: A CASE STUDY
DEMESSEW ALEMU *
RCMRD-Pan Africa, Geo-Information, PLC, Assessment and Training Consultant, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A qualitative research method was employed to investigate the nature and management of students’ misbehavior at Wisdom Seeder Private School in Ethiopia. The data were collected from the school’s academic director, unit leaders, homeroom teachers and subject teachers. Groups of respondents were chosen to this study due their better knowledge in describing the misbehavior of the students in the school. Accordingly, they were asked to complete an observation format that contains list of misbehaviors to be checked in both classroom and out of classroom environments. Using the format, respondents tried to select the misbehavior that can characterize students of the school.
In relation to this, both classroom and out of classroom misbehaviors were identified by the selected respondents separately. On the other hand, the school leaders were asked to select misbehaviors that could be seen out of classrooms. Lastly, the researcher categorize the common choices of the respondents under three major headings; classroom, out of classroom misbehavior/disciplinary problems/ and the subsequent common measures taken by the school leaders to manage the problems.
The techniques to manage the identified disciplinary problems in the school were commented on their applicability. Also, recent research findings on the issue have been consulted. Disparities, in between what the school leaders cited and what is currently applied, were displayed using a table.
It was concluded that both classroom and out of class room disciplinary problems seen at Wisdom Seeder School were not unique to the school alone. However, the most common misbehaviors that could be observed in the school were identified by the respondents. Solutions to these problems require the collective efforts of the school community and other stakeholders.
Keywords: School discipline, misbehavior, classroom discipline, out of classroom discipline, discipline management