This study explored the relation between classroom interactions and exclusionary school discipline practices within and across four classrooms in a disciplinary alternative school. Critical social practice theory and critical microethnographic methodology supported the examination, interpretation, and analysis of interactive power to illuminate ways of transforming exclusionary school discipline practices. Data showed that exclusionary school discipline practices are mediated through power relations with insights into and implications for transforming exclusionary school discipline practices found in teachers' discipline goals, ideology, and views of culture.
Rocco, whose guidance was crucial for developing my research method, dissertation writing and thinking skills, collegiate attitude, publication agenda, and professional fortitude. Her prompt responses, care for me as a student, dissertation peer review group and dissertation group meetings, and wittiness during the entire dissertation process were priceless. Another special thank you is extended to my major professor, Dr. Joan T.Wynne, whose kindness and solidarity supported and guided me in the direction of my final research topic and research design. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to dissertation committee member Dr. Angela Salmon for her willingness to guide and work with me in research and publication endeavors. To Dr. Lynne Miller, thank you for introducing me to the love of literacy, writing, and research. To Dr. Erskine Dottin, thank you for your wisdom and concept of friendship between professors and students. This research contributes to the knowledge base on teacher-student classroom interactions, specifically in relation to exclusionary discipline. Understanding how the themes and varying power relations influence their decisions and actions may enable teachers to reduce use of exclusionary discipline and remain focused on positive teacherstudent academic interactions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.