UNIT 2: THE SCHOOL CULTURE_FRAMING SCHOOL CULTURE by

As a microcosm of society itself, schools have to set its own culture — its own norms, values, language and expectations from its people in order to establish social cohesion and harmony among its stakeholders. In establishing a culture, like how nation-states do, schools start in defining its structure. It includes first and foremost its vision and mission statements which tell about the school's purpose and aspirations. A mission statement explains why your school exists. The "why" is the guiding purpose of all you do. While, a vision statement must explain (in detail) what your learning community hopes to achieve. It can be suggested that a school's mission is to teach (and promote learning), whilst for writing the vision, administrators could break it down by the week, month, year, multiyear; and it is important to communicate it often.

Another matter that needs to be established is work ethics which shall guide its stakeholders in their decision making and activities to have effective productivity and maintain good reputation. Work ethic is a set of values based on the ideals of discipline and hard work. Building a strong work ethic will allow a person to train themselves so that hard work is almost automatic. One good work ethic is: "Do what you say you will do when you said you would do it," which pertains to relatively to the Spanish idiom: "palabra de honor" — a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do someth‌ing in the future. Honoring one’s word is a rarity these days. Thus, keeping promises is part of integrity, a vital component which every worker or stakeholder shall integrate as part of their character. Also, the quote from Aristotle that reads: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit," which calls for aiming and doing excellence at all times. Other professional work ethic virtues according to Eric Chester are: Attitude, Common Sense, Competence, Gratitude, Initiative, Integrity, Perseverance, Professionalism, Reliability and Respect.

Common expectations have to be clear and laid to the school's stakeholders in ensuring that it maintains the quality of people and work in its system. It is important that students (and staff) know exactly what is expected from them and they know what will happen if they cross over the line. Students have to understand the meaning of consequences. Energy, enthusiasm, and dedication should be pervasive. Teachers have to supervise every inch of instructional space; and student-teacher interactions have to be fair, firm and consistent. These all-in order for school pride to be observable. Some other things to teach students are the following:

Teach How to Make a Line

1. Practice makes perfect

2. Stand behind the next student

3. All bodies, heads, and eyes face forward

4. Keep in personal space

5. No talking

Teach Hallway Movements

1. No student talking, only teacher voice for directions

2. Keep to the right in halls and on stairs

3. Do not disrupt instruction in other classrooms

4. Keep hands off student work on walls

5. Consider it a challenge to be the best managed class in the school while moving in lines

Teach Code of Conduct

1. Work for Quality

2. Earn Respect

3. Safety First

4. Treat Others Kind

Some other aspects that schools should also look into unambiguously defining are its transparency, expectations, decision-making policies, common knowledge, staff development, shared goals and evaluation. These things do need to be established accordingly for its stakeholders to know and imagine its destination and purpose as a social institution. This shared understanding of the institution will make the social relations cordial and the works toward the achievement of the goal to be easier for its members.

Meanwhile, while autonomy is given to schools in defining their respective visions and missions, the school culture that every school has to implement or develop for its stakeholders should always be anchored after the national vision and mission to develop students who are maka-Diyos (God-loving), maka-kalikasan (nature-loving), maka-tao (man-loving) and maka-bansa (state-loving) citizens. Likewise, it should also be patterned before the same vision of the Department of Education which is to "... dream of Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation." This is for the reason that schools as state machinations have to serve its purpose in bringing its citizens to realize their necessary role in nation building. The goal of every educational institution in the country should always be towards the benefit of the country before the world.

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