Climate in urban schools generally positive

CUBE’s largest-ever research project, Where We Learn, surveyed nearly 32,000 students from 15 urban school districts in 13 states. Students indicated their perceptions in five areas: school safety; bullying; trust, respect, and ethos of caring; racial self-concept; and general climate.

The report was released March 30 at the National Press Club, and there was a session exploring the report’s findings in depth at the Annual Conference.

“This is a crucial study since research shows that improved school climate contributes to greater student achievement, higher morale, and a better relationship with the community,” says NSBA Executive Director Anne L. Bryant. “It is an important starting point for discussion among school board members, teachers, administrators, students, parents, and the community about school climate.”

“The findings are generally positive in all five categories. Students feel good about themselves, their schools, and their teachers,” says CUBE Chair Brian Perkins, who also is the study’s principal investigator and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Southern Connecticut State University.

“However, in each category, there are certain findings that raise concerns for teachers, school leaders, and parents,” Perkins says.

In the area of school safety, nearly 63 percent of urban students report feeling safe at school. However, nearly 20 percent of students believe that other students carry weapons to school.

When it comes to bullying, more than 75 percent of students say they are not bullied during the school day, but 50 percent said they saw other students being bullied at least once a month.

As the students get older, there is less confidence that the school can prevent bullying. Almost half of high school students do not believe that teachers can stop bullying.

A majority of students at every grade level say that teachers respect students at their school, and almost two-thirds believe their teachers care if they are successful.

Nearly 80 percent of urban students say they plan to continue their education after they graduate from high school.

However, almost 25 percent of students say they do not think students in their schools trust their teachers, and only about a third of African-American students say their teachers are fair.

“The concerns we uncovered are not just school-based issues,” Perkins says. “They reflect the issues we are all struggling with. Every member of the community is a role model for children.”