"Stoll (1998) defines school culture as three dimensions, the relationship among its members; the organisational structure including the physical environment and management system; and the learning nature." - Mind Lab Class Notes, Week 26.
"Culture describes how things are and acts as a screen or lens through which the world is viewed." - Stoll, 1998
“the way we do things around here” - Deal & Kennedy, 1983
“a real school is what I attended when I was a child” - Metz, 1991
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“The force is strong in this one…”
Our school is typical of many schools in New Zealand and probably the Western world. Built in the 1970’s, it was open plan, with four classrooms, sans doors, which opened out onto a central space with a work area, art supplies, benches, storage and sinks - an early “maker space”.
When I got there at the start of the millennium as a trainee primary teacher, it was still like this, but teachers stayed in their cells and there was a lot of self consciousness and irritation when the neighbour’s noise and activity intruded on others. Once a gimme that all contributing schools contributed to the annual intake, this decade was one when a lot of students headed into town to the Catholic College; a “grass is greener” syndrome, which I have to say, I was part of.
Roll on August 2010 and I returned to the school, this time as Deputy Principal Curriculum. There was a different principal, and an interesting dichotomy: staff who had been with the school for a while, several since its inception, and another group which had been there for only six months. They, like me, were still trying to find out “how we do things around here.” And change was difficult to bring about. There was one change that stood out: doors on the classrooms and transformation of the central space away from the shared work station to an open common room.
I’d already learned in my first assistant principal position, that the folk who populate a community of practice don’t necessarily appreciate the breath of fresh air you bring when you open the door to new ideas. Stoll (1998) talks about the importance of understanding the school’s culture, and the important roles of history, socioeconomic status, location and national education policies. “The way we do things here,” is a very strong force. I pinned a poster to the notice board above my desk:
“God gives you the people you want, not the people you need, to make you into the person you need to be.” (Unknown)
There were some divisions on the staff. National Standards had not been taken on board (some would say that was a good thing). The assessment system lacked robustness. Teaching was more about the teachers than the learners. Too many students were driving into town to school away from one of our local schools.
There were some strong and noble traditions: a belief that intermediate education is an important area; that sport and fitness is intrinsic to the well being, physical and academic, of the emerging adolescent. That students need to be exposed to a range of subjects before they get to high school. That independence, fortitude, leadership a teamwork are important qualities and are to the fore in the week long camp in Term 4, where students are under canvas, and in Term 4 when the students opted for an alternative education activity. The school was also renowned for its kapa haka success.
I saw my place as strengthening the academic side of things; well, it was what my title said I did. We have made a lot of progress on improving teacher knowledge and pedagogy; we still have a way to go. I learned that even a small step is still a small step forward.
This year has seen another large turn over of staff; some have retired, some moved on to their own greener pastures. A principal who takes over a school inherits teachers and “the way things are done around here.” It takes time to build a shared set of values in incumbent staff; it’s easier when you get to choose the staff who will carry forward the vision you have for your community of practice.
The local community has returned to the school as has regard for the quality of our education.
A shared vision is the key: it becomes the internal driver from “the way we’ve always done it,” or “this is how we do it here,” to “this is what we want and need for deep learning to take place” and that strong force for change.
Innovative learning environments and practices are the topic du jour in the educational world. Digital technology is no longer a novelty. These are our next challenges. There is an old saying now, that while the world has changed technologically, should Rumplestiltskin awake after a hundred years, he’d still feel at home in a school.
As an early adopter, I’ve had to learn patience. And it’s not just with my colleagues’ rate of uptake of new technologies. It’s about how difficult it is to ensure there is equity for all students, especially when our catchment includes each end of the decile system.
Our new teachers have made an interesting change to the scales. They’ve come from communities of practice where cloud based learning is the norm. Suddenly, it’s “how we do it around here,” and the force for change has swapped directions.
- Stoll and Fink (cited in Stoll, 1998) identified 10 influencing cultural norms of school improvement including:
“1. Shared goals - “we know where we’re going”
2. Responsibility for success - “we must succeed”
3. Collegiality - “we’re working on this together”
4. Continuous improvement - “we can get better”
5. Lifelong learning - “learning is for everyone”
6. Risk taking - “we learn by trying something new”
7. Support - “there’s always someone there to help”
8. Mutual respect - “everyone has something to offer”
9. Openness - “we can discuss our differences”
10. Celebration and humour - “we feel good about ourselves”” (p.10)
References
Hongboontri, C., & Keawkhong, N. (2014). School Culture: Teachers' Beliefs, Behaviors, and Instructional Practices. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 39(5), 66-88. Retrieved from http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2332&context=ajte
Lave, J. (1991). Situating learning in communities of practice. In L. Resnick, J. Levine, and S. Teasley (Eds.). Perspectives on socially shared cognition. [E-reader version](pp. 63-82). Retrieved from http://www.ecologyofdesigninhumansystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Lave-Situating-learning-in-communities-of-practice.pdf
Stoll (1998). School Culture. School Improvement Network’s Bulletin 9. Institute of Education, University of London. Retrieved from http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Understanding-school-cultures/School-Culture
Hi Annemarie,
ReplyDeleteYour post is really well written. It says so much. Schools are at the point of needing to determine "what is our point of difference". Your school is not the only school that has experienced the "greener pastures" and for some schools that has placed them in a precarious position. It is about find out " this is how we do things around here", however it is also about how do we make it better for our learners.
Thanks for such a great reflective reading.
Kersty
I found it interesting that you drew attention to long time staff members who were of the mindset 'this is how we have always done it'. I think if you delved deeper some of these people would not understand the pedagogy behind these 'ways of being'. I was part of a community going through the change process and witnessed first hand a community react in the same manner. They wanted traditions to be upheld.
ReplyDeleteThrough the Student Achievement Function (SAF) process we were able to gather community voice and build practices that strengthened our relationships in order to move forward in a positive manner. This included simple things. For example, when a teacher walks past a parent and they do not look up or greet them it gives the impression that they are not courteous. In actual fact teachers were so busy they were rushing about getting ready for class in the morning. As soon as their attention was brought to this assumption a shift happened. Teachers ensured they acknowledged and greeted others as they moved through the school.
This, an other things, would not have been addressed if it had not been for the conscious effort and structured process that the SAF facilitator took the school through.Of we are not rigorous in seeking to understand and engage with all communities we see things like people taking their children across town to another school.
Congratulations on the success you have had with this in you community of practice. It takes a huge effort to guide people through change.
Thank you Annemarie. As always a great read! Culture is an interesting topic within schools - and it sounds like your CoP is changing and therefore the school's culture will be re-shaped. I agree with the shared vision quote “this is what we want and need for deep learning to take place”, something all educators working collaboratively need to keep in mind. This topic has been interesting to reflect on.
ReplyDeleteHi Annemarie, interesting read. The old saying now, that while the world has changed technologically, should Rumplestiltskin awake after a hundred years, he’d still feel at home in a school. I can empathise with you on this quote. The 'old' culture and climate does not fit the current culture and climate. Your learners are different. They are developing in an environment so much more different from when we were at school. I can read through your impediment. Keep creating that positive climate and continue to share that breath of fresh air to your community of practice. It is catchy!!
ReplyDeleteHi Annemarie, I really enjoyed reading this post. Having started your career at your school before returning as a DP certainly offers a unique perspective on the culture of the school and how things can change and evolve. You highlight an interesting dichotomy where aspects of established school culture and those that are determining the narrative "the way we do things around here" at times needs to be challenged and how leadership through times like this is so important to make and embed the changes required to benefit the school today, and in the future. It sounds like the leadership of the school has been uncompromising of the shared set of values required by those who will carry forward the vision you have for your community of practice. Good on you!
ReplyDeleteHi Annemarie, I really enjoyed reading this post. Having started your career at your school before returning as a DP certainly offers a unique perspective on the culture of the school and how things can change and evolve. You highlight an interesting dichotomy where aspects of established school culture and those that are determining the narrative "the way we do things around here" at times needs to be challenged and how leadership through times like this is so important to make and embed the changes required to benefit the school today, and in the future. It sounds like the leadership of the school has been uncompromising of the shared set of values required by those who will carry forward the vision you have for your community of practice. Good on you!
ReplyDelete