Culture is a pattern of behaviour among a group of people that encompasses their values, beliefs, customs, and other aspects. The culture of a school is defined by shared values, beliefs, and norms that shape the thinking, feeling, and behaviour of educators and administrators. A positive school culture can greatly benefit student learning and development. It is a critical factor in determining student success in schools.
School administrators understand the significance of school culture and its long-term impact on student growth and achievement. A strong school culture can increase student attendance and retention, as well as teacher morale. In rural India, one of the major challenges facing schools is low student attendance. A positive school culture can help address this issue.
Who affects the school culture?Â
School culture is driven by administration, staff, students, and community, and it positively impacts growth by fostering personality and mental development. A good school culture requires the following elements:
1. A nurturing environment
Culture is created by people and a supportive and challenging environment fosters the most effective growth when people are actively engaged.
A school’s culture encompasses the perspectives and experiences of its members and the school environment. Leaders who strive to tap into the capabilities, desires, and strengths of all members – students, teachers, and parents – demonstrate a commitment to a healthy, nurturing environment.
A nurturing school provides a healthy and safe learning environment free from fear and judgment, allowing for student growth. It is essential to assess students’ needs and implement effective support solutions. Developing positive relationships with all stakeholders promotes harmony and a positive atmosphere.
Students are the foundation of a school, and nurturing them is crucial for the foundation of the school to thrive.
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2. Teachers’ commitment to lifelong learning
Teachers are a crucial component of a school, promoting student learning and growth. It is important for teachers to continuously learn and evolve in order to remain effective in their role as guides for students. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has brought changes to the pedagogical framework, and lifelong learning for teachers will benefit students by making them more globally conscious citizens.
While teachers are dedicated to their profession and strive to positively shape students’ lives, they must embrace changes and proactively redesign learning outcomes. Teachers have the responsibility to unlock students’ potential and talent and to contribute to building a strong school culture by imparting not only knowledge, but also values, ethics, integrity, discipline, and behaviour.
3. A holistic sense of responsibilityÂ
School culture is built through the contributions of all stakeholders. It is their joint responsibility to instill good values and a positive approach in students. To achieve this, it’s crucial to establish a supportive environment that promotes productive parent engagement, where parents and teachers can collaborate on students’ growth plans. Active parent involvement fosters positive attitudes towards the school.
Establish clear norms and discipline, and ensure everyone adheres to them. Reinforce the desired culture through rewards and consequences for adherence or violations.
4. Acknowledge achievement and good behaviour
Recognizing the good behaviour and contributions of children and staff boosts their morale and trust in the school culture. Personalized acknowledgements and compliments are key to a positive outcome. A strong culture is built on positive reinforcement of behaviour and attitude.
The best way to promote good behaviour and attitude is by modeling the qualities and values desired by school leaders. Changes must be initiated and implemented by top management to be effectively carried out throughout the school.
One of the key elements of a positive school culture is inclusivity. Regardless of students’, teachers’, and staff’s caste, class, background, ethnicity, or color, everyone must feel included and respected. Providing equal opportunities is a fundamental right for children and a good school culture should be inclusive and supportive of all students. The foundation for this is to serve students and the culture is established and maintained by top school management, along with involvement from parents, teachers, and community members.