What you need to know — ASAP
Sponsored by the Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative
As fall fades into winter we all begin to adjust to the climate in which we live. We pull out hats, mittens, and coats to protect ourselves from the elements. What adjustments do our children make as they adjust to the climate of their school environment? Would their forecast for their school be “warm” and inviting or “cold” and unwelcoming?
According to the Search Institute, a Caring School Climate – Asset #5, is the mood or atmosphere of a school. It is directly tied to the way young people feel about going to school and how well they learn. Several factors can promote a “warm school environment” but none are more important than how people within the school interact. On any given day your child will have many school interactions including; bus drivers, other students, the school secretary, counselor, teachers, coaches, cooks, custodians, parent volunteers and so on. When these individuals take the time to relate to young people in a positive, compassionate, and supportive way, schools become not only successful learning environments but they become places where youth look forward to being. If we are to create an atmosphere within our schools where we can promote learning, and keep students interested in and better able to reach their dreams than we must all join hands.
Parent’s hands are critical in creating a Caring School Climate. The Search Institute has identified, Parent Involvement in Schooling – Asset #6, as a necessary support all youth need in their lives. It appears that many parents are quite involved in the early educational years by attending concerts/events, hanging up artwork on the refrigerator, and spending time in their child’s classroom. As youth enter middle and high school the involvement seems to decrease perhaps because they are more independent. According to Search Institute this downward trend is substantial, 50 percent of 6th graders report having parent involvement in school as opposed to only 20 percent of 12th graders. Ironically this drop in involvement for middle school students occurs at a time, in some respects, that is most difficult time for young people. This does not mean you should go to school every day or even volunteer monthly as for many this is not possible due to work schedules. What it does mean is that it is important to know what is going on with your children’s education. Staying involved even in small way will make a big difference. Stay in contact with your child’s teacher via e-mail read the same book your child was assigned in English class; imagine the conversations you could have.
Youth hands greatly contribute to the creation of a Caring School Climate. By helping others feel cared about and supported, by learning the names of other students not in their social circle, by reaching out to students who may feel isolated or lonely, by being tolerant, by sticking up for students who are bullied by others, by respecting school property, by making an effort to get to know their teachers and by getting involved in positive school programs that promote asset building, youth can move a “warm front” into even the coldest of places.
As the season fades we may not be able to keep the snow from falling, the temperatures from diving or the ice from forming but we, as a community, have the power to create an even better climate in our schools. By intentionally creating positive interactions at all levels we can create “warm” and inviting schools where the forecast would be sunny, supportive, breezy, bully proof, low humidity, successful learning, and a respectful 70 degrees from August through June.
“Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets.
This article was brought to you by Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention. For more information about ASAP and 40 Developmental Assets contact Allison Heidorn, project assistant at 540-6772 or visit www.asapcoalition.com
