"Engage Them, Don't Punish Them": Developing and Enacting Humane Behavior Policies and Practices in Schools

• In Event: 16.057 - Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: 16.057-19 - Methods of Evaluating Leaders and Leaders' Decisions

Abstract

This paper reports a large research project that investigated how schools enact behaviour policies in a humane and educative way. It draws on a policy enactment theoretical toolbox and micropolitics to understand how school do this policy work. A critical policy study of five schools was conducted. A framework for developing and enacting humane behaviour policies and practices in schools has been developed to outline the five themes. The themes are: (a) Philosophy for enacting humane behaviour policies, (b) Staffing to enact a collective philosophy, (c) Prioritising place and space, (d) Fostering an engaged and supportive school community, and (e) Enacting humane behaviour policies and practices.

Authors

• Anna M. Sullivan, University of South Australia

• Bruce Raymond Johnson, University of South Australia

• William T. Lucas