A school is a place where students learn in an organized way. They take academic subjects and also participate in extracurricular activities.
While all children can learn school subjects—Billy Keanes Family Circus cartoon shows this is true—most are not eager for school. They need to be taught that their mind is a human dynamo that should work at full capacity during learning.
Education
Schools have a responsibility to educate students in the academic subjects they teach. Education can include teaching about history, geography and civics as well as math, science and English. There are educational standards set by national and state bodies that provide a framework for curriculum.
Schools should also help students understand their own culture and promote cultural tolerance. This is especially important as the world becomes more crowded and interconnected.
Some school cultures reward teachers who prioritize classroom discipline, which focuses on ensuring that all students keep up with the pace of their classmates. This can lead to a culture in which poor children, minorities and non-English speakers are discouraged from asking questions or raising their hands in class.
In other schools, educators focus on building relationships with students so that they can build on their strengths and interests. This approach can be a powerful tool to counteract adversity in children’s lives, like poverty, homelessness or food insecurity, that can contribute to toxic stress and affect their ability to learn.
Socialization
Socialization involves learning about the values and norms of a culture or society. It is taught through primary socialization, like a child learning they should put on deodorant because it’s the norm in their community, and secondary socialization, such as a student believing it’s “cool” to study because other students are doing so.
Schools are one of the major sources of socialization for youths. They teach children how to interact in a specific group of people, such as their classroom, and they also help children develop a conscience aligned with social norms. This can be developmental, like teaching a shy student how to become more outgoing, or anticipatory, such as preparing students for future roles in the world of work.
School socialization is a complex issue and scholars should consider the roles of different agents in the process. This includes family, teachers, peers and the media. It is also important to understand that students feel a range of emotions in the classroom, such as anxiety over test-taking or academic performance and sadness due to difficult social interactions.
Character Development
Character development refers to the intentional teaching of core ethical values like honesty, trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility. These values are critical to the success of students as well as our society in general. Students who exhibit these traits demonstrate positive classroom behaviors that help them to learn better.
Schools that focus on character development look at all aspects of school culture and practice through a character lens. They work with all stakeholders to consider and agree on a set of character strengths that transcend religious and cultural differences and express our common humanity. These character strengths become a touchstone for the community and inform their PBIS, curriculum, student-centered learning, assemblies, hall manners, behavior approach, service-learning, parent engagement and staff professional learning.
They also work to support social-emotional skills including collaboration, communication and empathy, as well as an emphasis on resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks. These skills prepare students for life beyond the school walls and into their communities.
Personal Growth
Students learn personal growth by tackling challenges, building confidence and working on their soft skills. They gain the ability to think critically, analyze and evaluate their own and other’s beliefs, and develop communication and leadership skills. Using these tools, they can build connections and friendships that will open doors in their futures.
Schools also immerse students in various situations that require them to strategize and problem-solve, fostering their emotional intelligence. This also helps them understand and manage their emotions, as well as how to form healthy relationships.
Students who prioritize their personal development tend to perform better academically. They become more confident and take ownership of their decisions, which can help them create a more content and fulfilling life. They also build the strength to overcome adversity and learn how to live independently. Teachers can teach personal development through lessons on self-awareness, as well as by encouraging students to join extracurricular activities and make social connections.