For several decades, there has been a growing awareness of pervasiveness of discipline problems in some schools and the escalation of their violence. Discipline management has become a major concern of many schools in an effort to not only reduce disruptions in the teaching and learning process, but to ensure that schools are safe and conducive to learning.; The purpose of this research was to investigate perceptions of a selected number of staff members at a middle school in a large city in Texas to determine discipline problems most frequently exhibited, their probable causes, and roles staff members play in fostering their reduction or solution.; The research method involved the random selection of employees from ten different positions at the school and interviewing one staff member each from six professionals and four para-professionals using specifically designed interviewer's guides. The interviews were tape recorded and some field notes were also taken of observations and interactions.; The data revealed that professionals identified more discipline problems than the para-professionals. The discipline problems most frequently identified by professionals were fights, disrespect, and disobedience. Those listed by para-professionals included the lack of parent cooperation and concern. They also blamed the breakdown in the community, which has contributed to drugs, gangs, and violence.; For problem prevention, the para-professionals used talking to students, giving them warnings about the consequences of misbehaviors, or threatening to send them to the office or to talk to their parents who some know personally. Para-professionals also tried to prevent problems by trying to help to meet student needs that resulted from lack of resources that parents were unable to furnish.; There appears to be a need for more effective methods to manage student discipline by helping parents to understand their children's needs. Staff members should share discipline techniques that work effectively and para-professionals should be encouraged to assist in recruiting more parents to participate in the education of their children. The school should involve community leaders, parents, professionals from the two universities in the area, and personnel from the number of churches to assist in strengthening the discipline management system at Ryan Middle School.
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