TY - JOUR
T1 - Suspensions and detentions in an urban, low-income school
T2 - Punishment or reward?
AU - Atkins, Marc S.
AU - McKay, Mary M.
AU - Frazier, Stacy L.
AU - Jakobsons, Lara J.
AU - Arvanitis, Patrice
AU - Cunningham, Tim
AU - Brown, Catherine
AU - Lambrecht, Linda
PY - 2002/8
Y1 - 2002/8
N2 - Disciplinary records for 3rd through 8th grade students (n = 314) in an inner-city, public school were examined for one school year to assess students' variation in response to discipline. Rates of disciplinary referrals were compared for students who received no detentions or suspensions throughout the year ("never group" n = 117), students who received one or more detention or suspension in the fall but not in the spring ("fall group" n = 62), and students who received one or more detention or suspension in the fall and one or more detention or suspension in the spring ("fall + spring group" n = 75). Results indicated that during the fall, the "fall group" had nearly equivalent rates of referrals to the "fall + spring group"; however, the "fall group" exhibited significantly lower rates of referrals during winter and spring that were nearly equivalent to the "never group," as would be expected for a punishment procedure. In contrast, the "fall + spring group" evidenced increases in referrals across the year, suggesting the possibility that detentions and suspensions were functioning as rewards for this group. The "fall + spring group" was rated by teachers and peers at mid-year as highly aggressive, lacking social skills, and high on hyperactivity, whereas the "fall group" and the "never group" were statistically equivalent on teacher and peer ratings. Implications for mental health programs for urban schools are discussed, especially the need for alternatives to detention and suspension for the subset of students who account for the majority of school discipline.
AB - Disciplinary records for 3rd through 8th grade students (n = 314) in an inner-city, public school were examined for one school year to assess students' variation in response to discipline. Rates of disciplinary referrals were compared for students who received no detentions or suspensions throughout the year ("never group" n = 117), students who received one or more detention or suspension in the fall but not in the spring ("fall group" n = 62), and students who received one or more detention or suspension in the fall and one or more detention or suspension in the spring ("fall + spring group" n = 75). Results indicated that during the fall, the "fall group" had nearly equivalent rates of referrals to the "fall + spring group"; however, the "fall group" exhibited significantly lower rates of referrals during winter and spring that were nearly equivalent to the "never group," as would be expected for a punishment procedure. In contrast, the "fall + spring group" evidenced increases in referrals across the year, suggesting the possibility that detentions and suspensions were functioning as rewards for this group. The "fall + spring group" was rated by teachers and peers at mid-year as highly aggressive, lacking social skills, and high on hyperactivity, whereas the "fall group" and the "never group" were statistically equivalent on teacher and peer ratings. Implications for mental health programs for urban schools are discussed, especially the need for alternatives to detention and suspension for the subset of students who account for the majority of school discipline.
KW - Punishment
KW - School discipline
KW - School violence
KW - Urban schools
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036689033&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1015765924135
DO - 10.1023/A:1015765924135
M3 - Article
C2 - 12108766
AN - SCOPUS:0036689033
SN - 0091-0627
VL - 30
SP - 361
EP - 371
JO - Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
JF - Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
IS - 4
ER -