Did you know you can have an affect on the climate? By climate we are talking about the climate of our schools, businesses and homes. The way young people feel about going to school and how well they learn is directly tied to what kind of “climate” their school has. If a school feels “warm” in a caring way, it’s easier for students to learn. But if safety at school is a problem or relationships between students and teachers are tense, it’s more difficult for everyone to focus on learning. The climate of a school is not just set by the teachers and students but also by the parents and support of the community.
Here are the facts:
Research shows that young people who go to school where the environment feels caring and encouraging get better grades, have healthier relationships, get into less trouble, and are interested in and better able to reach their dreams. Only 30 percent of Washington County young people feel their school provides a caring, encouraging environment, according to Search Institute’s Attitudes & Behavior survey. Maybe we can’t stop the rain, lower the humidity, or make it snow, but we do have the power to change the climate at our schools.
Tips for building this asset
Here are some ideas for how you can play a part in creating a caring school climate:
- Parents – be a partner in education. If your child is struggling at school, make a visit to the school to learn about what is going on and find out how you and the school can work together.
- Adults – learn about our schools. Get involved. Volunteer. Donate. Support school events.
- Businesses – allow flexibility for parents to attend school events and programming.
- School Staff – think about how you greet children each morning as they arrive and each afternoon as they leave.
Young people come in contact with a lot of different adults during the day. One person’s attitude—good or bad—can significantly impact how students feel about themselves and interact with others at school. For young people, the day may start with a greeting from a neighbor or the bus driver. When school secretaries, counselors, teachers, coaches, custodians, parents, volunteers, and others take time to relate to young people in a positive, caring, and supportive way, school is a great place to be.