Journal Article

School discipline, school uniforms and academic performance

Krskova, Hana, Baumann, Chris

2016

Overview

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of school discipline in achieving academic performance. The study aims to clarify the role of permissive vis-à-vis authoritative teaching styles with an overarching hypothesis that better discipline leads to better academic performance. The authors also probe whether uniformed students have better discipline. Design/methodology/approach – The authors analyse Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment data on school discipline dimensions: students listening well, noise levels, teacher waiting time, students working well, class start time. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc analysis on five geographic groups established by Baumann and Winzar (2016) was applied to test for geographic differences (Europe, Americas, Far East Asia, Rest of Asia, Anglo-Saxon cluster) in school discipline. ANOVA was further used to test for school discipline and academic performance. Third, t-tests on five discipline dimensions were run to test for differences between students who wear uniforms and those who do not. Findings – The results demonstrate differences in school discipline across five geographic clusters, with East Asia leading the way. The authors demonstrate significant differences in discipline for low, medium and high performing students. Peak-performing students have the highest level of discipline. Students wearing a uniform listen better with lower teacher waiting times. Originality/value – Students peak perform when teachers create a disciplined atmosphere where students listen to teachers, where noise levels in the classroom are low and they do not have to wait to start class and teach. Good discipline allows students to work well and this ultimately leads to better academic performance. Uniforms contribute to better discipline in everyday school operations. The findings support that in general, implementing school uniforms at schools might enhance discipline and allow for better learning. The authors recommend keeping uniforms where they are already used and to consider introducing uniforms where they are not yet common.

• Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subject: Academic Achievement / Achievement Tests / Administration & policy in education / Analysis of variance / Beginning Teachers / Classroom communication / Classroom environment / Classroom techniques / Classrooms / Comparative analysis / Comparative Education / Confucianism / Correlation / Cross Cultural Studies / Discipline / Discipline Policy / Discipline problems / Economic growth / Education / Education policy / Educational administration / Educational Environment / Educational Policy / Educational Practices / Egalitarianism / Expenditures / Foreign Countries / GDP / Geographic distribution / Geographic location / Geographic regions / Gross Domestic Product / High Achievement / Hypotheses / International Assessment / Leadership in education / Learning Strategies / Low Achievement / Parenting styles / Program for International Student Assessment / Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) / Researchers / Role / Role of Education / School discipline / School Uniforms / Secondary education / Secondary School Students / Statistical Analysis / Student Behavior / Student behaviour / Students / Studies / Teaching Styles / Tukeys Test / Uniforms