School Culture vs School Climate

 

Though many see school climate and school culture has one in the same it appears that one is actually strengthened by the other. 

 The school climate is the attitude of the organization.  It is the collective mood or morale of the school -both its staff and students.  School climate is based on the feeling that goes on within the school.   A basic principle of school culture is “a happy teacher is considered a better teacher and this attitude influences the quality of instruction.”  (Gruenert, Steve:  Principal, 2008)  School climate is the feeling that is present by the staff and the students.  How do you create a school climate free of tension?  How do you create a school where all are happy to be there? 

 Any individual can be happy if everything is going just as they have planned.  A happy teacher can be one that is happy because everything is going right for them.  But is this kind of happy teacher going to really have an impact on the culture of the school?  Are they going to be able to influence the overall culture of the school based on their own happiness in their own personal lives?   Are they going to have a positive impact on student learning?   A happy teacher that has an impact on the culture of the school is going to be one that is happy because of what is going on in the business of school.  That what is going on in the school is the school culture. 

The culture is the personality of the organization.  Culture is the vision, values, and the commitment that each individual has for the school.  It is the seriousness of the business of what is going on day to day.  Through collaboration, commitment, and working together a school establishes a positive self image.  The culture is what has been built over time through the feelings, thoughts, and actions of the staff.  The school culture is the expectations that are present within the school.  By having high expectations for both the staff and the students and meeting those expectations, the culture of the school has an impact on the climate of the school.  A positive school climate can be created with the building blocks of the culture. 

Let’s look at the school climate as the roof of the building.  The school climate is what is covering everything underneath it.  The pillars under that roof, holding it up, determine the climate.  The pillars are the culture.  Those pillars can work together and brace one another to hold the roof (school) or they can stand alone.  Collaboration, shared vision, shared values, commitment to performance, effective leadership and high expectations work together to strengthen the school.   When teachers and staff share in the achievements of the school and are recognized for their efforts, a positive school climate evolves.  The roof that covers is held strong.  When each individual pillar is not braced and is standing all alone, the roof is not as strong and soon the pillars began to break and fall.  Standing alone without any support or recognition, teachers began to fall as well. 

School climate is the feeling one gets when they walk into the school.  It is the moral of the staff.  It is the song of the students.  It is important that in a school that each person is valued.  They are recognized and encouraged.  It is important that the school climate is not an individualized process but is a group working together to hold one another.  The school climate is determined by the culture of the school.  The school culture strengthens the climate. 

 

 

 

Gruenert, Steve (2008)  School Climate, School Culture:  They are not the Same: Principal (March/April 2008)  pgs 56-59. Retrieved March 3, 2014.