Perspectives on a zero-tolerance approach to discipline: towards maintaining a nurturing and secure school environment - R Mestry

This article reports on inquiry into school managers' and teachers' views on a zero-tolerance approach to managing learner discipline in schools. The study was conducted by way of multiple focus group interviews with selected participants from six inner city schools. Additional (secondary) data were obtained from schools' code of conduct journals. The data were analysed in grounded theory mode and the main themes of the findings show that the participants are deeply concerned about the way in which disciplinary problems are affecting everyday school life. The participants struggle with applying the democratic principles of the punishment. The study includeed a section in which participants were asked to converse about the 'zero-tolerance' approach to maintaining school discipline. It appears that this is seen as a viable option. Having introduced the notion the principal researcher, with the other authors, caution such an introduction without coupling it with a school renewal drive that includes counselling and the development of an ethic of care.
From: Africa Education Review, Vol. 4 (2), pp. 94-113