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Educational reform advocate Katie Lusk once wrote, “Education means inspiring someone’s mind, not just filling their head.” The best way to go about inspiring our children, our students day in and day out is to provide them with an environment conducive to inspiration, so a healthy, empowering school culture would be a fantastic way to achieve that end. A healthy school culture should make the students within it feel good about themselves, and support them unconditionally.
Sociologist Cairns writes that, “Research has… revealed a relationship between school climate and student self-concept,” (1987), and that shouldn’t really come as a surprise. School is a primary source of interaction for young people. If they’re supported in an environment in which they spend so much formative time, it makes sense that they’d have a strong sense of self, because they’re constantly pushed supported and encouraged.
A peer of Cairns’ echoes the same thoughts. Social psychologist Hoge writes that, “commitment to school and positive feedback from teachers have been shown to affect students’ self-esteem,” (1990). Again, this isn’t anything groundbreaking. Indeed, it seems quite the obvious opposite: when people are supported in who they are and what they do, they feel better about themselves. More schools- indeed, all schools- should actively and consciously create their cultures so as to encourage and support their students, staff, faculty, and all members of the community.
About Sandi
A seasoned professional with over 18 years of experience streamlining operational efficiency and innovating corporate culture at companies like Colliers International, Delivering Happiness, and The Hunter Group, Sandi Herrera is bringing her expertise to the place where it all starts: our school system. Her approach is as pragmatic and effective as it is inspiring, beautiful, and socially and philosophically important. She’s legitimately getting kids and teachers excited about school, empowering them to own their passions and pursue their dreams, building community, and investing in the future in a real, effective, and profoundly human way. Follow Sandi via her company, Got Core Values, on Twitter @GotCoreValues and on Facebook here.
