Contributing to School Climate

By. Teresa Marchant

Educators make critical decisions every day. Teachers’ decisions directly impact their classroom and instruction. At the same time, administrators’ decisions can directly affect “big picture” viewpoints, such as school climate. Sometimes, when administrators make decisions and teachers disagree, there can be a conflict.

Some teachers are at their breaking point. I had a colleague describe the current climate as “very brittle .” Meaning we could break at any point over the slightest thing. Decisions like where you can and can’t park you car, are just one example. Depending on the climate of your schools, these decisions could lead to a toxic workplace environment.

Whether you agree or not, moving past it is life-changing and tells a lot about yourself and your school environment. Often teachers may say they have no voice in the decision-making process, or it was disregarded if they were asked their opinion.

How do YOU react?

Are you defiant or possibly passive-aggressive? Meaning you will do your own thing regardless until someone directly tells you otherwise.

Are you apathetic? You believe that your opinion doesn’t matter but will go along with whatever you are asked to do.

Or will you hold a grudge? You decide to go along with the decision, but you are angry and want a personal apology. Until you get the apology, you won’t let this grudge go.

If any of the above is happening in your schools, and frustrations over the current climate continue to build up, it could lead to distrust and impact your school climate and workplace environment.

Will you accept the decision? Ultimately, the administration is responsible for making these decisions, and acceptance is when you realize this. You respect their position and the decision, and then you move on.

In a perfect world, we would all make the best decision for everyone. We would also understand each others’ points of view and work together. However, decisions need to be made with or without us. When we realize that we can only control what we can control, we will be happier and make the best of each situation that directly impacts us.