NCJ Number
53431
Editor(s)
B HOWELL,
B GRAHLMAN
Date Published
1977
Length
110 pages
Annotation
THIS ANTHOLOGY OF PAPERS BY PROFESSIONALS IN EDUCATION CONSIDERS THE DEFINITION OF SCHOOL CLIMATE, SCHOOL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION, AND MEASURES FOR INFLUENCING SCHOOL CLIMATE.
Abstract
THE FIRST PAPER DISCUSSES THE ESSENCE OF A POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE AND DESCRIBES IT AS THE RESULT OF PROMOTING SATISFACTORY AND PRODUCTIVE EXPERIENCES AND SENSITIVITY TOWARD BASIC HUMAN NEEDS. THE PRINCIPAL IDENTIFIES CLIMATE DETERMINANTS AND ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FULFILLMENT. TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SCHOOL ASSESSMENT ARE STRATEGIES FOR BEGINNING A PROGRAM TO IMPROVE SCHOOL CLIMATE, AND AN ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY OUTLINE IS PROVIDED. A STUDY OF 20 JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ASSESSED STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF SCHOOL CLIMATE AS OPPOSED TO TEACHES' PERCEPTIONS ACCORDING TO SUCH INDICATORS AS HUMANE TEACHERS, OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT, AND INNOVATIVENESS IS PRESENTED, AS WELL AS A STUDY DONE IN AN OMAHA, NEB., SCHOOL DISTRICT USING THE KETTERING FOUNDATION SCHOOL CLIMATE PROFILE. THE SECOND PORTION OF THE ANTHOLOGY CONCERNS IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL-CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT POLICIES, BEGINNING WITH A DISCUSSION OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL CLIMATE WHICH MAINTAINS THAT THE TWO FACTORS ARE MUTUALLY DEPENDENT AND RECOMMENDS THAT STAFF DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS BE HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO CLIMATE FACTORS. SEVERAL PAPERS OFFER ADVICE ON IMPROVING SCHOOL CLIMATES BY ESTABLISHING FEELINGS OF TRUST IN CLASSROOMS, ALTERING PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS, ALTERNATING TEACHING METHODS, SHARING SCHOOL GOVERNANCE WITH PARENTS, AND ORGANIZING CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES. SCHOOL DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS AND RATES OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE ARE ALSO ADDRESSED. SELECTIONS CONTAIN SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES. (DAG)