Principal communication and its effect on school climate

School Climate and the Role of the Principal

Why is School Climate Important?

The purpose of this paper is to identify why school climate is important. Many researchers have investigated school climate, which is nothing more than the learning environment or the social setting where students and teachers interact. These social environments may focus on many elements including student growth and achievement, relationships between students and their peers, between students and teachers and between students and the principal. The article reviewed for this synopsis is "The Relationship Between Effective Communication of High School Principal and School Climate." In this article, Halawah (2005) attempts to ascertain how important communication is to the successful principal in a school. The researcher reviews empirical studies that involve successful schools and the leadership styles and methods adopted at the schools to help teachers, students and the principal realize success and a positive outlook.

Strengths

The article is strong because it is direct and concise. The researcher cites empirical research that suggests the key to effective school management and creation of a welcoming school climate is an "effective principal" (p. 334). While Halawah notes there are many other important elements that support success in the school, including teachers, the board and parents, he asserts the principal of the school is the most influential character, the one that directs school climate and has the most impact on student success and learning. Halawah projects his love of education noting a successful school climate led by a successful principal is one that embraces learning and asserts love for learning among students and other faculty members. Halawah notes how important teacher's satisfaction is to fostering a positive school climate, noting teacher's relationships wit the principal as indicators of a schools success or failure. Of utmost importance notes Halawah is effective communication. According to the researcher, effective communication is established in many ways, and must involve clear and directed policies, rules and procedures that help shape or manage the way a school is run. Other important elements noted include school values and morals. Halawah notes schools are "multi-faceted organizations" and thus to create a winning climate, a principal must work to sustain quality communication within a "complex environment" that is often dynamic and changing (p. 339).

Discussion/Conclusion

School climate is an important element of education. As noted in this article school climate includes the community that supports learning. It may include peer-to-peer relationships, student-teacher relationships and relationships between teachers and the principal and students. What Halawah fails to mention is the need for interaction between community and educational institutions and parents as part of the school climate. Parents that are more involved are likely to identify actions that teachers or principals might take to enhance learning in a culturally diverse school climate.

As a principal, I believe it is most important for leaders in the school to embrace all members of the community that might influence learning. The role of the principal is to lead and direct communication so it centers not on organizational objectives alone. It should focus on student objectives and community objectives especially if the school intends to prepare students for work outside the school climate. An effective principal in my opinion would be one that creates a school climate that fosters growth internally and externally through open communication and collaborative efforts between students, teachers, parents, the principal, the community and even school guidance counselors.

Halawah notes that communication is important to building a comfortable school climate. Further, Halawah cites the U.S. Department of Education that notes enhancement of teacher learning is critical to the creation of a positive and supportive school climate. Also important based on Halawah's research is the need for "stable and supportive administrative leadership" which he suggests is an "overriding factor" that will determine whether school programs and policies are successful or not.

Reference:

Halawah, I. (2005) the relationship between effective communication of high school principal and school climate. Education, 126(2): 334.

School Climate