All educators know that the atmosphere within a school contributes as much to the success of the student as the curriculum. More importantly, it has a great more bearing on whether or not a child develops a love for learning.
The challenge of creating a positive atmosphere transcends the debate of whether our schools need to become more goals oriented, and more accountable for their results. It is about making school a place where children feel challenged but competent, where they work hard but enjoy it, where achievement is the product but not the sole objective.
This is of course, an issue far too complex and a discussion much too robust for this space, however, schools open this week, and the temptation to at least say something is too great to pass up. The creation of a positive loving atmosphere is the joint responsibility of the professional and the parent communities.
