Influence of Teachers' Attitudes towards Students' Discipline in Secondary Schools in Murang'aEast Sub-County, Murang'a County, Kenya

Abstract

Discipline is a rudimental ingredient that plays a crucial role in a school system, which insists on upholding the moral values of students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of teachers’ attitudes towards student’s discipline in secondary schools in Murang’a East Sub-County. The specific objectives of the study were: to establish the determinants of students’ indiscipline in secondary schools, determine whether teachers' attitudes towards students’ gender affects discipline, analyse whether the type of school influences the teachers' attitude towards students' discipline and to establish the relationship between teachers’ attitudes and students’ discipline in secondary schools in Murang’a East Sub-County. The study employed the use of descriptive survey research design which is suitable for the study of behaviours and attitudes. A sample of 126 respondents was selected that included 54 teachers and 72 students representing a total population of approximately 540 teachers and 600 students. The survey tool was in form of a questionnaire and all analysis was done using SPSS. The study found that there is a significant relationship between teachers’ attitudes and students’ discipline in secondary schools in Murang’a East Sub-County. The study further established that teachers have prejudiced and discriminative beliefs on the students which may impact negatively on their discipline. The type of school as one of the category of variables investigated was not found to influence students’ indiscipline. The study recommends that all the stakeholders should be involved in the development of a good attitude structure in secondary schools. It further recommends the need to have open forums between teachers and students so as to discuss their most immediate problems, regulate behaviour and rectify bad attitudes towards both the teachers and students. The study proposes further research with respect to other determinants that may affect students’ discipline such as socio-cultural, socio-economic, class, race, length of stay of teachers in institutions of learning and the academic achievements of the students.