Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-9-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Education
First Advisor
Kayla Crook
Second Advisor
Diane Lowry
Third Advisor
Kate Kellum
Relational Format
Literature Review
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the involvement of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities in the bullying dynamic and propose restorative circles as an alternative to exclusionary discipline practices. Students with emotional and behavioral disabilities are more likely than other children to be both the perpetrators and the victims of bullying due to their difficulties with emotional regulation and appropriate conflict resolution. Creating a school community that teaches appropriate social behaviors and healthy conflict resolution could reduce the rate at which students with emotional and behavioral disabilities are involved in the bullying dynamic. This paper examines the prevalence of bullying involvement for these students and describes a restorative practice that may reduce their involvement. A review of the literature suggests that restorative practices reduce the number of disciplinary referrals in schools and have a positive impact on the entire school community, which in turn could improve relationships and increase healthy conflict resolution among students.
Recommended Citation
Mattingly, Elizabeth M., "Bullying Among Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities and Restorative Practices to Heal the School Environment" (2025). Honors Theses. 3310.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3310
