The Case for School Spirit
In the world of education, many aspects of school life are highlighted when discussing what makes a school effective or good; everything from highly skilled educators to small class sizes, and good test scores. While all of those things are important aspects of a healthy school ecosystem, each leaves out a key feature of what makes a school great; school spirit.
Now, when I say school spirit you may start to think of pep rallies and overly excited cheerleaders, and while both of those things can add to the excitement of a school, when I say school spirit I mean a feeling of pride and joy in a school building, specifically how students view their school and peers.
In my own school, teachers and administrators work hard to provide students with high-quality education. Yet, when I asked students during a PBIS reflection to describe their school they used phrases like ‘embarrassing,’ ‘stupid,’ ‘broke,’ and ‘bad.’ After seeing these responses I followed up with my students about what makes them feel this way about their school and the students gave a variety of thoughtful responses, most of which stemmed from the fact that they did not see a mutual relationship or respect between the students of the school or between the students and staff of the school. They see peers skipping class or teachers quitting halfway through the year and believing that their school and themselves do not have the same worth prescribed to them as the wealthier schools have in the same district.
Yet, in my classroom, that spark of school spirit has laid the groundwork for students being able to build strong relationships and build an even stronger classroom environment. For example, after each test, I place my blocks on a pyramid based on their overall class scores. While at first glance this may seem like a recipe for negative competition, in reality, this simple pyramid has helped all of my classes bond with each other, so much so that before each test students will cheer each other on and share positive and supportive comments to each other to help their block reach the top of the pyramid.
While these positive comments don’t make their classmates perform significantly better than classes across the county, it does let students know that there are people around them who care about them and want them to do well, and that knowledge alone boosts their confidence in a way that nothing else can.
Recently I came face to face with this idea in my most challenging class. This class is one where students learn leadership and public speaking skills and in one of my classes, the students started the year struggling to find that cohesive spirit. However, during our most recent speech assignment, instead of having students greet each other, they pumped each other up and cheered each other on. The difference between this assignment and their previous ones was night and day. Students walked up to the front of the room with a bright smile, they spoke with confidence and laughed and joked with the audience in a way that I could not have imagined before this day.
Everything else about this assignment was the same; students had the same amount of time to prepare, and they had the same level of support from me, but the thing that made the difference was simply the positivity and love of their classmates; that’s what pushed them to the next level.
So what can schools do to support the development of this school spirit? Here are 5 simple steps;
Make space to appreciate all students, regardless of their interests
In many schools, few students are highlighted and celebrated, especially those who are not top scholars or top athletes, but in reality, every child has something worth celebrating. Whether it be their passion for their clothing brand or their love for drawing comics. When students see the humanity in their peers it is easier for them to respect them.
Spotlight the different communities in your school or classroom
As a history teacher, I often teach lessons that intersect with the communities of many of my students. These are often the lessons that my students become most interested in, especially when the students have personal or family stories to share. This passion and pride that these lessons evoke in my students can easily be broadened to a whole school by doing things like hosting international shows that allow students to wear their culture with pride while also giving them a space to be seen as experts in their school to teach their peers about their community and culture.
Reward kindness and not competition
Many times, especially in high-performing or high-energy classes (like my challenging class), students turn on each other in pursuit of the highest grade, the best teacher compliment, or the loudest laughs from their peers. However, by building a community within the class students will use that same energy, not to tear down, but to build up their classmates. This can be done by just spending a few minutes each class allowing students to simply talk. One of my favorite ways to do this is to have students share something positive that happened to them during the week on Fridays and allow them to discuss these events with the people at their tables.
Celebrate as much as you can, no matter how big or small
Often times schools become so focused on big-picture items like test scores, that they forget to celebrate the small things. At a recent conference I attended at a high school, I noticed posters throughout the building that highlighted senior athletes on every team the school had. While these posters were nothing fancy, I’m sure the kids on them felt great, and they also got the word out about different ways to get involved in the school. These small things make a big difference, especially when you are trying to cultivate that feeling of togetherness in a building.
Engage in peer mentorship
Students are more likely to buy into a school community when they feel seen and heard, not just by their teachers, but by their peers. By implementing peer mediation schools can not only help to incorporate restorative practices into their building, but also schools are building the groundwork to cultivate strong peer-to-peer relationships and a sense of belonging in their student population.
School life can be challenging for all students, especially for those who feel undervalued or disconnected from their school community. However, as educators, we have the power to make meaningful changes, even small ones, to foster a sense of purpose and comfort for our students. By actively working to develop a supportive and inclusive classroom environment, we can help students feel more connected and engaged. This involves promoting open communication, encouraging collaboration, and recognizing each student’s unique contributions. Ultimately, building a strong classroom community not only enhances the academic experience but also supports the overall well-being and personal growth of our students.
