Critical Practices
• Social and Emotional Support
• Centering Student Experiences
• Shared Inquiry and Critical Conversations
• Social Justice-Based Community Facilitation
“To feel safe and to feel seen. To feel valued and capable of growth. These are simple concepts—basic pillars of student achievement and the results of good pedagogy.” These opening words from Learning for Justice’s guide to support LGBTQ+ young people capture the importance of school culture and climate on the learning and well-being of students.
School culture usually refers to the physical and social environment of a school and its values as expressed through curricula and practice. Culture influences decisions and actions, and the way things are done at school shapes the feelings and experiences of learners and educators, affecting the overall climate of the school.