Discipline in South Australian Primary Schools

Teachers’ views on discipline in primary schools in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia, were investigated using a survey instrument developed for the Elton Enquiry into school discipline in England and Wales. Results of the survey suggest that primary and junior primary teachers experience frequent but minor discipline problems in their classes and in the school yard, but that they cope with these problems reasonably well. Data are presented summarising and comparing primary and junior primary teachers’ most common discipline problems, which are the most difficult to handle, teachers’ perceptions of the seriousness of these problems, and their suggestions to improve their capacity to deal with these problems. Differences between public and teacher perceptions of discipline problems in government primary schools are exposed. The implications of several findings for teacher training and development are briefly discussed.