6 Ways to Create a Healthy School Climate
Special Report
Special Report
School Climate & Safety Opinion

6 Ways to Create a Healthy School Climate

January 04, 2013 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Copy URL

Over the last two decades, many in the public have viewed the lack of discipline as one of the key problems facing public schools. How can educators find a balance between establishing order and creating a welcoming learning environment for students? To share their insights into this thorny issue, Education Week Commentary asked six thought leaders the question:

What is the most effective approach for maintaining discipline and a positive climate in the public schools?

Read their responses:

School Climate & Safety Opinion Raise Expectations
Clinton L. Robinson Jr.
Southwestern Area Superintendent
Wake County, N.C.
Clinton L. Robinson Jr., January 4, 2013
•
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Opinion Channel Energy to Social-Justice Projects
Xian Barrett
Law and History Teacher
Gage Park High School, Chicago
Xian Barrett, January 4, 2013
•
3 min read
Families & the Community Opinion Keep Communication Lines Open
Candi Cushman
Education Analyst
Focus on the Family
Candi Cushman, January 4, 2013
•
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Opinion Be Consistent
Earl Perkins
Assistant Superintendent of School Operations
Los Angeles Unified School District
Earl Perkins, January 4, 2013
•
2 min read
School Climate & Safety Opinion Emphasize the Positive and Personal
Matt Cregor
Assistant Counsel
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Matt Cregor, January 4, 2013
•
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Opinion Build Relationships
Laurie Barron
Principal
Smokey Road Middle School, Newnan, Ga.
Laurie Barron, January 4, 2013
•
3 min read

Related Tags:
School Climate

Events

Thu., December 11, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Reading & Literacy K-12 Essentials Forum Supporting Struggling Readers in Middle and High School
Join this free virtual event to learn more about policy, data, research, and experiences around supporting older students who struggle to read.
Register
Tue., December 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
School & District Management Webinar Squeeze More Learning Time Out of the School Day
Learn how to increase learning time for your students by identifying and minimizing classroom disruptions.
Register
Thu., January 15, 2026, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar Improve Reading Comprehension: Three Tools for Working Memory Challenges
Discover three working memory workarounds to help your students improve reading comprehension and empower them on their reading journey.
Content provided by Solution Tree
Register
See More Events

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs
Create Your Own Job Search

Read Next

School Climate & Safety From Our Research Center Security Cameras Are Everywhere in Schools. Do They Work?
The effectiveness of security camera systems is often compromised by lack of investment in upkeep and training.
Arianna Prothero
•
6 min read
A camera with facial recognition capabilities hangs from a wall while being installed at Lockport High School in Lockport, N.Y., on July 10, 2018.
A camera with facial recognition capabilities hangs from a wall while being installed at Lockport High School in Lockport, N.Y., on July 10, 2018. Lackluster maintenance of security cameras in many schools compromises their effectiveness.
Carolyn Thompson/AP
School Climate & Safety Download Student Safety: Everything You Need to Know About Heat Stroke
As summer heat waves stretch later into fall—and with higher temperatures arriving earlier in spring—protecting student-athletes from heat-related illnesses has become a year-round concern.
Laura Baker, Vanessa Solis & Gina Tomko
•
1 min read
Junior Ryan Edson takes a drink of water during a morning football practice at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 2, 2025.
Junior Ryan Edson takes a drink of water during a morning football practice at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 2, 2025.
Noah Devereaux for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Heat Illness Is Preventable Even on a Budget, Experts Say
Building awareness of risk is a critically important strategy for under-resourced school districts.
Jennifer Vilcarino
•
5 min read
Senior Joaquin Garcia takes a drink of water on the sideline during a morning football practice at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 2, 2025.
Senior Joaquin Garcia takes a drink of water on the sideline during a morning football practice at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 2, 2025.
Noah Devereaux for Education Week
School Climate & Safety ‘We Can Save Other Athletes’: How One State Is Fighting Heat-Related Deaths
The state has encouraged schools to modify their practices and monitoring during tough conditions.
Jennifer Vilcarino
•
5 min read
Football players gather around a coach during practice at Heard County High School in Franklin, Ga., on Aug. 27, 2025.
Football players gather around a coach during practice at Heard County High School in Franklin, Ga., on Aug. 27, 2025.
Lynsey Weatherspoon for Education Week
Load More ▼