African American Males

and Lunch Detention

- Historically, African American males are more frequently represented in disciplinary action in schools
- Data indicates that scholars with the following identifiers are suspended most frequently:
- Black scholars
- Boys
- Scholars with a disability/with disabilities
- The U.S. Department of Education's office for civil rights reported in 2014 that of all out-of-school
suspensions of preschool-age children, 42 percent were given to black children, compared with
28 percent given to their white peers. (Howard, 2015)
- According to data collected during the past thirty years, Black scholars are disciplined at rates that
far exceed their statistical representation, particularly on measures of suspension and expulsion, in
almost all major school systems (Children’s Defense Fund 1975; Drakeford 2004; Skiba, Peterson, and
Williams 1997;Williams 1989)

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Discipline disparities
For young, Black men

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Underrepresentation and overrepresentation among students suspended.
Source: [Link]

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Breakdown of suspensions of Black Boys by grade level.
Source: [Link]
5
Frequency and racial disparity in out of school suspensions.
Source: [Link]
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 1.
Assumptions and Limitations

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 Assumptions and limitations

Assumptions
- Scholars and staff responded accurately and honestly to survey questions.

Limitations
- The study was conducted at a school where the researcher was principal and therefore
this is a sample of convenience.
- Thus, the results of this study cannot be generalized to other schools.
- The survey was conducted with one set of scholars at a specific school in which I was the
principal.
- There was only one survey that was conducted with scholars and staff and there was
only one pre-test survey provided and data was collected.

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 2.
Research Questions

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 Research Questions

✘ What effect does Lunch Detention have on improving the behavior

of African American males in the classroom?

✘ How effective is Lunch Detention on improving the behavior of

African American males over time?

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 3.
Method Of Study

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 Method of Study

- Sample of convenience

Gender Number of Scholars % of Scholars

Males 78 51%

Females 74 49%

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 Method of Study

✘ The study was conducted utilizing the data from the Lunch

Detention Effectiveness Survey completed by all middle school

scholars and teachers. There is also a Principal Perspective where

the principal provided their perspective on the survey questions

provided to the scholars and teachers.

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 Research Design

✘ The scholar surveys were administered by the school principal in the Advisory block

of the school day from 8:30-9:00am.

✘ The survey was conducted with all scholars over a two day period with three classes

having completed the survey on one day and the remaining three classes completed

the survey on the following day.

✘ The teacher survey was administered in a staff meeting and responses were
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 5.
Triagulation of Data

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 Triangulation of Data

I used three forms of data for my research:

1. Scholar Lunch Detention Survey

2. Teacher Lunch Detention Survey

3. Principal Perspective statements based on the survey questions

given to teachers.

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 6.
Results of Study

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Scholar Lunch
Detention Survey
Responses

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Teacher Lunch
Detention Survey
Responses

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Principal
Question 1: Lunch detention is helpful in improving scholar behavior.
Perspective
Source - Disagreement

- Scholars who are exhibiting mild behavior, detention seems to deter recurring

behaviors

Question 2: Scholars enjoy going to lunch detention.

- Disagreement

- Lunch Detention is highly structured and signifies time spent away from their peers

Question 3: Overall, lunch detention is making an impact on scholar behavior.

- Disagreement

- However, it is helpful in deterring the scholars who are not chronic offenders.

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Principal
Question 4: Scholars make an effort to improve their behavior over time.
Perspective
Source - I believe that scholars will make an effort to improve their behavior over time if the

appropriate and effective interventions are utilized by teachers and staff.

- I also believe that providing individualized social work and counseling services to

scholars who have exhibited exacerbated behaviors in the classroom, the outcomes will

shift positively.

Question 5: What suggestions do you have for improving lunch detention?

- Individual conferencing with each scholar complete with follow up during the school day

- 100% of scholars with chronic behavior issues receive social work services at least twice

per week

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 7.
Conclusions

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 Conclusions
The results of the study indicated that lunch detention does not have an effect on improving the behavior of black male

scholars in the classroom. Also, the results indicated that lunch detention does not work to improve black male scholar’s

behavior over time. The study showed that black male scholars have control over their behavior. A total of 66% of black

male scholars either agreed or strongly agreed that they are in control of their behavior. The results show that 42% of

males responded strongly agree and 34% responded agree that they are able to improve their behavior with hard work.

The study indicated that scholars have the self determination to change their behavior, however lunch detention is not

the best way to do this.

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Lunch Detention in its current form does not work to
change the behavior of black male scholars.

- Data indicates that scholars, teachers and the principal agree that lunch
detention in its current form is not effective
- Data indicates that scholars, teachers and the principal believe that behavior
can positively change over time and all believe that scholars are in control of
their behavior

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 8.
Recommendations

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 Recommendations
Based on the outcome of the study completed, it is my recommendation that:

- lunch detention be utilized as a first step in rectifying scholar behavior. Based on the scholar,

teacher and principal responses, there should be additional consequences available for scholars

who chronically attend lunch detention.

- the lunch detention structure be created collaboratively with all stakeholders involved in order to

ensure its maximum impact.

- focus group interviews be conducted at MacDowell Preparatory Academy with scholars and

teachers to collect more in depth information and seek changes that should be made.
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 9.
Implications for Future Research

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 Implications
✘ The results have shown that black male scholar’s behavior was not changed or effected by

lunch detention in the moment and over time.

✘ The research has generated an additional question about how to implement a strong

program that will change scholar’s behavior positively rather than maintaining the current

level of misbehavior in the classroom.

✘ After recommendations have been implemented, I recommend a follow-up study to

determine the effectiveness of a revised Lunch Detention program.

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 Thank you!
Any Questions?

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