Relationship-centred strategies for improving discipline in rural secondary schools : a PALAR approach

Abstract

After corporal punishment was prohibited in schools in South Africa, learner behaviour in general, and specifically in secondary schools has worsened notably. Learners are becoming more violent and dangerous, and indiscipline in the classroom deprives other learners of their right to learning. Educators must spend valuable teaching time on managing behaviour and dealing with disciplinary issues. Ineffective management of discipline in the school may lead to learners dropping out of school, which in turn influences the country's economy. Research found that indiscipline in schools is one of the factors leading to educators leaving the profession. Educators complain that they are not trained to deal with the behavioural challenges they experience in the classrooms. There is a renewed interest in the role of educators regarding the management of learner behaviour at the schools because indiscipline affects their motivation and professional conduct and the academic progress of the learners. Through a Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) approach, this research aimed at finding strategies to improve educator-learner relationships to assist educators to deal with discipline-related challenges in the classroom. Positive educator-learner relationships were identified as the foundation of dealing with disciplinary issues in the classroom. Positive educator-learner relationships are based on mutual respect between educators and learners. The educator as the adult must lead the way in building positive educator-learner relationships through unconditional respect and acceptance of the learners in their classrooms. In doing so educators must endeavour to earn the respect of the learners. Respect can be acquired by respectful language, respectful social encounters, and unreserved acceptance of the learners. These mentioned factors, in turn, help to facilitate a supportive teaching and learning environment.