ON CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE

WHEREAS, we live in a period of increasing social and economic crises and our schools have increasingly become the scene of violence and disturbance; and

WHEREAS, teachers consistently list classroom discipline as one of the major obstacles to effective teaching; and

WHEREAS, administrators, parents, and boards of education are becoming more aware of the discipline problem; and

WHEREAS, methods of controlling disruptive behavior such as corporal punishment and suspension are being severely criticized or made illegal:

RESOLVED, that we protest the cutbacks in federal, state and local funds for education; and

RESOLVED, that we seek to sharply increase funds available for positive programs for alleviating the crisis conditions in the schools; and

RESOLVED, that we seek positive programs such as: smaller classes, more psychologists, psychiatric social workers, school-home liaison social workers, more school health personnel and guidance counselors at all levels; and

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers urge each school district to set up study groups which include parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders to develop a concrete policy for dealing with pupil behavior that disrupts the learning environment.