Characteristics of Successful Schools

CHAPTER ONE
What are the characteristics of Successful Schools?

STANDARDS OF THE HEART

Definition

In a school, standards of the heart help children become caring, contributing, productive, and responsible members of society. This includes:

• advocating for equity, diversity, fairness, inclusiveness, and justice;
• making responsible decisions;
• caring about others;
• being a contributing member of the community and the broader society;
• developing personal and interpersonal skills; and
• developing and adhering to a core set of values.

Schools that deliberately foster positive character traits in their students are described in many ways. Students and staff may say the school has a positive climate; parents may note it is an equitable school where diversity is valued and stereotyping and harassment are not tolerated. The community might observe that students and staff are often engaged in service to others. In reality, standards of the heart are all of these things, and they add a new dimension to the idea of achievement.

Rationale

The foundations of public education in the United States have always included preparing students to take an active and responsible role in the republic. It is a vision that values students’ ability to recognize individual differences, acknowledge common bonds, and contribute to the greater good. The world of work requires individuals who are capable of managing their own health and well-being, and who have the skills necessary for problem solving, self-direction, self-motivation, self-reflection, lifelong learning, human relations, conflict resolution, and healthy relationships.

Key Ideas

1. Families, with the support of schools, help children meet life’s challenges and become healthy, caring, and productive citizens.
2. Schools are places where youth have access to many significant adults to help them feel collectively and individually valued.
3. High expectations for staff and students include expectations for behavior and result in a positive and safe school environment.
4. Schools are places children can learn and practice positive interpersonal, cross-cultural, and citizenship skills.

Successful Schools Have Standards of the Heart That:

1. help students learn and model a core set of values such as respect, honesty, courage, and responsibility.
2. create a positive school climate free of stereotyping, harassment, hate, and violence and filled with a concern for justice and fairness.
3. honor the traditions and contributions of all family and community members in the learning community.
4. encourage youth and adults to use their talents to positively address societal issues as a part of democratic citizenship.
5. promote healthy and positive relationships among students and between students and adults.
6. provide a variety of relevant, multicultural curricular and co-curricular programs to engage all students in the schooling experience.
7. establish high expectations for student and staff behavior in the classroom, at school- sponsored events, and across the community.

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For questions about this information, contact Molly A. Garner (608) 266-3983

Last updated on 4/2/2009 9:03:10 AM