Tough sanctions - including the suspension of pupils - should be necessary only on rare occasions, according to a new report on discipline by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO).
The report, published this week, emphasises a constructive rather than a punitive approach to misbehaving pupils.
Discipline problems are less common in primary than secondary schools, although teachers report a deterioration in behaviour among some young children.
The INTO says that a reduction in class size in line with the commitments given in the Programme for Government would have a huge impact in helping teachers address the problem.
The programme promised average classes of 20 pupils for all under-nines by next year. But Minister for Education Mary Hanafin acknowledged this week that this will not be met because of new commitments to special needs and foreign national pupils.
The INTO recommends a series of measures including:
A new stress on support systems for pupils, parents and teachers so that a sanction such as suspension should be necessary only on rare occasions.
Assisting schools to develop procedures so that pupils at risk can be identified and supported as early as possible.
Pastoral reviews to be considered as an integral part of regular reviews of pupils' progress.
The use of curricular areas such as social, personal and health education and strategies such as "circle time" to focus on issues like bullying/friendship.
Categories of children qualifying for additional resources to be broadened so that pupils with challenging behaviour may be given support.
The remit of the National Educational Psychological Service to be extended to include the assessment and support of pupils with behavioural difficulties.
Support to be made available to teachers who are having difficulty dealing with a class/group of pupils /individual pupil.
Courses on behaviour management and resource materials on classroom management skills to be made available as part of pre-service and in-service education.
Parenting courses to assist parents experiencing behaviour problems with their children at home.
The INTO says that while the standard of behaviour in schools is of "fundamental importance to our society it has been largely taken for granted by the Department of Education. It is essential that a proactive approach be adopted to the maintenance and improvement of standards of behaviour in schools. In recent times a reactive approach to behaviour has been to the fore."
