Date of Award

Spring 5-2007

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership and Research

Committee Chair

Dr. Michael Ward

Committee Member 2

Dr. Gaylynn Parker

Committee Member 3

Dr. Wanda Maulding

Committee Member 4

Dr. Mary Nell McNeese

Abstract

This study analyzed the impact of several violence prevention measures (security guards, metal detectors, locked exterior doors, visitor sign-ins, visitor escorts, teacher supervision in the hallways, hall passes, intercoms/telephones in classrooms, and parent involvement) on school climate in determining the satisfactory maintenance of order and discipline in school buildings. This study additionally analyzed the impact of surveillance cameras along with the specified violence prevention measures on school climate in determining the satisfactory maintenance of order and discipline in school buildings of a local convenience sample. The relationship among the school violence prevention measures of security guards, metal detectors, locked exterior doors, hall passes, intercoms/telephones in the classrooms, parental involvement, and the level of order and discipline in school buildings was found to be statistically significant based on analysis of a multiple correlation coefficient, R = -.02, p = .04. A standard multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the prediction of the satisfactory maintenance of order and discipline in school buildings based upon the identified prevention measures, specifically the presence of employed security guards, installed metal detectors, locked exterior doors, visitor sign-ins, visitor escorts, teacher supervision in the hallways, hall passes, intercoms/telephones in classrooms, and parent involvement on school campuses in a national sample. Regression results show that the linear combination of security guards, metal detectors, teacher supervision in the hallways, hall passes, intercoms/telephones in classrooms, and parent involvement statistically significantly predicted satisfactory maintenance of order and discipline in school buildings, R2 = .12, F ( 9,10484) = 163.34, p < .001. Surveillance cameras are used in slightly more than half o f the regional schools. One hundred percent of the regional sample schools require visitor sign-ins and have intercoms/telephones in classrooms. Regional sample schools are more inclined to keep exterior doors locked during the day than are national sample schools. In both samples, parents were considered actively involved in school programs. Both national and regional sample principals reported that order and discipline was maintained in school buildings. Longitudinal studies are highly recommended for future research. ill