Widely Used Disciplinary Options for Aggressive Kids: Are the Current Approaches Effective?

Throughout history, schools have struggled with what to do with students who exhibit chronic discipline problems. In fact, school discipline issues stand at the forefront of the national agenda as bullying, violence, and aggressive acts proliferate at many high schools, including many affluent suburban schools that were not historically plagued by these concerns. Historically students who exhibited such behaviors were routinely expelled, but today schools must offer free appropriate education to all students including those with frequent and chronic behavior problems. The search for disciplinary options other than expulsion becomes even more acute when dealing with students served in special education for behavioral disorders due to the legal cautions associated with disciplinary policy for students with special needs (O‘Neil, 2003, Zirkel, 2003, Yell, 2001). Although these students need to be able to experience consequences for their actions, determining appropriate consequences may not be as simple as determining what is or is not legal (Etscheidt, 2002). Clearly, all students have a right to be educated in an environment free from disruption and aggression.