Teacher Retention
December 12th, 2006In 2005-2006, nearly 10% of the teachers in Prince George’s County resigned, with those responding to the exit survey citing student discipline at the # 1 reason they left (43%) and student motivation as 2nd (35%).
According to national survey by the nonpartisan opinion research group, Public Agenda, virtually all teachers , 97%, and 78% of parents said good discipline and behavior are prerequisite for a successful school.
Teachers and parents are open to a broad range of solutions, including giving principals greater authority to discipline students and limiting legal challenges to everyday disciplinary decisions. The poll found:
84% of teachers and 70% of parents strongly or somewhat support giving principals a lot more authority to handle discipline issues as they see fit.
87% of teachers and 74% of parents strongly or somewhat support proposals for establishing alternative schools for chronic offenders.
94% of teachers say finding ways to hold parents more accountable for kids’ behavior would be a very or somewhat effective solution to schools’ discipline problems.
82% of teachers and 78% of parents strongly or somewhat support limiting lawsuits to serious situations like expulsion.
82% of teachers and 69% of parents also strongly or somewhat approve of removing the possibility of monetary awards for parents who sue over discipline issues.
91% of teachers and 88% of parents strongly or somewhat support an approach of strictly enforcing little rules so the right tone is created and bigger problems are avoided.
91% of teachers say putting more emphasis on classroom management skills in teacher education programs would be a very or somewhat effective solution.
Public Agenda, Teaching Interrupted: Do Discipline Policies in Today’s Public Schools Foster the Common Good? (2004). http://www.publicagenda.org/press/press_release_detail.cfm?report_title=Teaching%20Interrupted Comments?
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