CULTURE AND CLIMATE IN SCHOOLS

JORDAN KENNETH R. SAN MATEO

The attitudes, behaviors, and points of view that students, instructors, and other stakeholders display and encounter within the school constitute the school climate. School climate as “the heart and soul of the school,” as expounded by Freiberg and Stein (1999), the emotion that either inspires educators and learners to participate, love the school, and wish to be a part of it, or to reject the institution and cut ties with it. It is the result of the norms and ideals of the school, the relationships and interactions amongst students, and the ways that procedures and policies are put into practice.

On the other hand, School culture is the way things are done in the school (the character of the school), the underlying standards and beliefs that influence expectations, attitudes, and behavioral patterns amongst many stakeholders in the school. School culture can be directly be defined as “norms, values, beliefs, traditions, and rituals built up over time.”.

Learning is aided or hindered by the culture of a school at all times. It has an impact on all decisions and actions made in a school, including the principal's leadership style and the way instructors select curriculum and engage with students.

High-quality learning environments are built on positive and healthy school cultures and climates, which also provide the right atmosphere for effective teaching and learning to take place. Hence, culture and climate in schools is important in the best delivery of the teaching and learning process.

-oOoThe author is Teacher II at San Jose Integrated School San Luis, Pampanga