The United States presidential election has certainly heated up in the last month, and it doesn’t seem to be calming down any time soon. Chances are, the current political climate will still be as hot a topic in August as it is now. Considering how inflammatory rhetoric can seep into classrooms, we thought it best to take a moment to prepare for potentially difficult conversations with students without taking advantage of young minds’ malleability to leverage personal political opinions.
Effective Initiatives That Help Keep Your Students Off Drugs
Last issue, we discussed public service announcements (PSAs) that were ineffective by modern standards for various reasons, including unclear calls-to-action and inaccurate scare tactics that irreverent teenagers were more likely to mock than to heed. Therefore, we thought we’d take some time in this issue to talk about the ways in which schools can help their student body achieve change.
From Toxic to Healthy: How to Move Your School’s Culture
A healthy school culture is the core of school management. ISM research shows that a healthy faculty culture significantly relates to student performance, satisfaction, and enthusiasm.1 This culture is also a top characteristic that leads parents to choose your school. As School Head, when you find your school culture is unhealthy (or even toxic), you must improve its health decisively and immediately. This article outlines a three-phase model to improve your school’s culture.
Marketing Your School’s Advisory Program
ISM recently updated and reported on its survey database of parent opinion on the factors most influential in families’ choice of a private-independent school. While the perceived quality of the academic program is highly important, several high-ranking factors taken together reflect an emphatic desire for a safe and caring community. “Faculty care and concern” and “Character development/values” were the top two variables. Recognize and take action on the strategic opportunities this information provides by developing and implementing a marketing and communication plan to highlight how your school delivers these institutional qualities, particularly through the mission-based advisory program that engages and supports students in your middle and upper divisions.
Bullying: Seven Ways to Protect Your Students
We’ve talked about digital harassment in the past, but recent events have reminded us that physical bullying is still alive and well. On April 21, a 16-year-old lost her life after a fight (allegedly over a boy) in the girls’ bathroom of a public school in Wilmington, Delaware. Rev. Sandra Ben of Pray Ground Community Church told the Delaware News Journal, “We know [violence] is happening in the streets. But now we are talking about violence happening in a place that normally should be a safe haven.”
Parents choose to send their children to your school, in part because they consider your community safer than the public alternatives. Still, bullying can occur anytime, anywhere—and occasionally, despite your best efforts to educate. (In a moment of cruel irony, this incident occurred in the middle of the school’s anti-bullying campaign season). So this month, let’s talk about the effective ways in which you can keep your school a predictive and supportive space for every student.
Four Hilariously Ineffective Anti-Drug PSAs
Children are smarter and more intuitive than many adults give them credit for. They know when they’re being sold to, no matter the window dressing on it. Therefore, advertising campaigns to help young people avoid addictive substances have occasionally… shot wide of the mark. This issue, enjoy a countdown of some of the most hilariously incompetent efforts to educate our children on the dangers of drugs.
Strategic Financial Aid and Diversity
In previous I&P articles, we have taken a close look at arguments for classifying financial aid awards as “rainy day” and “filling empty seats” for strategic reasons. This article looks in depth at “diversity and/or marketing goal” awards, the third strategic reason for giving financial aid. Some may wonder why diversity is paired with a marketing goal. It is simply because students that fit these profiles are not applying—or at least not sufficiently—without financial assistance at a school.
Professional Ethics in Advising
The Professional Characteristic expressed above derives from ISMs research on school culture, and student performance and satisfaction. It is a distinguishing component of ISM's approach to faculty growth and renewal. A core principle behind ISM's guidance to schools, in general, is that their reason-for-being is to benefit students. As one dimension of this student-centered focus, we have endorsed a mission basis for middle and upper school advisory programs and emphasized that the advisor is a professional.
Seven Observations from the Division Head e-List
Our email-based, position-specific e-Lists generate lively conversation year-round, but the Division Head e-List has been especially insightful lately. In addition to recommendations on specific curriculum, technology, and policy-related questions, there are many words of wisdom to be shared from listening in to the conversations of your fellow Division Heads.
Five Steps to Excellent Student Assemblies
Student assemblies change students’ lives—or they can be something akin to a waking nightmare. Finding the right “educational performers” or motivational speakers that do a wonderful job of inspiring and teaching your students within your budget and who mesh with your school’s mission can be a trial, though. This month, we’ve listed the five steps that should lead you to host the transformational student assemblies that will become wonderful memories your students treasure long after they leave your school.