School Culture

Sender : Abolfazl Bakhtiyari

 

“If only schools would behave more like

businesses.”

 

• The culture of an enterprise plays the

dominant role in exemplary performance.

 

• Highly respected organizations have

evolved a shared system of informal

folkways and traditions that infuse work

with meaning, passion, and purpose.

Objectives

 

• Define school culture

and its elements.

• Share examples of

school culture and its

elements.

• Connect school culture

to discipline

• Based on Shaping

School Culture by

Terence Deal and Kent

Peterson

School Culture

 

Culture fosters school

effectiveness and

productivity.

Teachers can succeed in a

culture focused on

productivity rather than

maintenance or ease of work,

performance, and

improvement.

Provides focus and

collegiality, social motivation

to persevere.

Encourages, sanctions, and

rewards the professionals’

constant task of improving

their craft.

School Culture

• Culture improves collegial

and collaborative activities

that foster better

communication and

problem-solving activities.

• There is a better climate

for social and professional

exchange of ideas.

School Culture

• Culture fosters successful

change and improvement

efforts.

• Toxic cultures that support

mediocrity, inertia and

apathy are not innovative.

• Schools that embrace

norms of performance,

change, and efficacy, staff

will seek innovative

practice.

School Culture

• Culture builds

commitment and

identification for staff,

students and

administrators.

• People are motivated and

feel committed to an

organization that has

meaning, values, and an

ennobling purpose.

School Culture

• Culture amplifies energy,

motivation, and vitality of

school staff, students, and

community.

• “The context is

infectious.”

• School climate and culture

influence the emotional

and psychological

orientation of staff.

School Culture

• Culture increases the

focus of daily behavior

and attention on what is

important and valued.

• With strong and

meaningful values, the

daily work is focused on

quality instruction,

continuous refinement of

teaching and accelerated

learning of all students.

Implications for Discipline

• How can school culture affect discipline?

• What can an assistant principal do to affect

school culture and discipline?

Schools as Tribes

• School cultures, not matter whom they

serve become like tribes and clans--

– deep ties among people, and

– values and traditions that give meaning to

everyday life.

Vision and Value

The Bedrock of culture.

Mission and vision--the focus

of what people do.

Purpose and Definition of

Success

extracurricular success

performing well

learning for the elite

surviving or not making

waves

embracing the new flavor

of the month

learning for all students

Values, Beliefs, Assumptions,

and Norms

Ritual and Ceremony

• Culture in Action

• Rituals are procedures or

routines that are infused

with deeper meaning.

– Greetings and goodbyes.

– transition rituals to

bridge changes in

practice or procedures.

Battle preparation for

challenges

– initiation rituals

– closing rituals

Ritual and Ceremony

• Ceremonies are complex,

culturally sanctioned ways

that schools celebrate

successes, communicate

values, and recognize

special contributions of

staff and students.

– Opening Day

– Community Renewal

– Seasonal Renewal

– Management

ceremonies

– Integrative ceremonies

– Recognition

Traditions

• Build professionalism

• Recognize

contributions of others

• Examples

History and Stories

• Knowing history is critical

to deep understanding of

the culture of a school.

• Past events influence

present cultural practices

in dramatic fashion.

• History is an aggregate of

stories about people and

events.

• Stories demonstrate the

range of values, beliefs,

and assumptions that

expressed the values

undergirding the emerging

culture.

• Storyteller are powerful

and indispensable

members of the cultural

network.

Symbols and Signs

• Represent intangible

cultural values and

beliefs.

• Play a powerful role in

cultural cohesion and

pride.

• Unifies a group and

gives it direction and

purpose.

Symbols and Signs

Mission Statements.

• Displays of student

work.

• Banners.

• Displays of past

achievements.

• Hall of Honor

• Mascots.

• Historical artifacts and

collections.

Symbols and Signs

Living Logos

• Symbolism of Action

• Symbolism of School

Tour

• Symbolism of Intellectual

Engagement

• Symbolism of Writing

• Symbolism of

Communicating Ideas

• Symbolism of Advocacy

• Symbolism of Collegial

Sharing

• Symbolism of Warm

Greetings

• Symbolism of Song

• Symbolism of Joy,

Laughter, and Fun

• Symbolism of Storytelling

• Symbolism of Recognition

• Symbolism of

Professional Learning.

School Culture and Discipline

• How do the following elements influence

discipline?

– Vision and value

– Ritual and ceremony

– Traditions

– History and stories

– Symbols and signs

– Living logos

School Culture

• Knitting the elements of

culture into an artistic

tapestry is like creating a

word from the letters of

the alphabet. Juxtaposed

with one another, the

letters from a meaningful

expressions, just as

combing the elements of

culture create a cohesive

school identity.

 

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Further site 

 

 

http://www.tepsa.org/AP/Handouts05/TEPSASchoolCulture.pdf

 

http://www.centerforcsri.org/files/Center_IB_Dec06_C.pdf

 

http://www.schoolculture.com/ideas.html

http://www.centerforcsri.org/files/Center_IB_Dec06_C.pdf

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_can_the_school_culture_support_or_impede_learning

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http://www.tepsa.org/AP/Handouts05/TEPSASchoolCulture.pdf