Is Indiscipline Getting Worse? Scottish Teachers’ Perceptions of Indiscipline in 1990 and 1996

Abstract

This paper compares secondary school teachers’ perceptions of indiscipline in 1990 and 1996. It also presents information on primary teachers’ perceptions of indiscipline. Perceptions were derived from three surveys, sample sizes being 883 secondary teachers in 1990 and 561 secondary teachers and 825 primary teachers in 1996. Misbehaviours which were most common in secondary schools in 1990 remained the most common in 1996. These were typically low level, such as talking out of turn or eating in class. Violence against teachers was rare both in 1990 and 1996. There was a statistically significant finding about verbal abuse which teachers encountered towards them around the school. If this reflects a genuine change, it represents a rather more serious trend towards challenging behaviour around the school. The findings are placed in the context of research on indiscipline and in the policy context of social exclusion and target setting.