IMPACT OF SCHOOL ON DEVELOPMENT
Development has been a critical issue in the education process. School holds a central place in the developmental process set forth for the students. They are the longest, organized and sustained extra-familial context for students. From the time
they first enter the school until they complete their schooling, students spend more
time in schools other than any place outside their homes. Consequently, educational institutions play a central role in both promoting children’s acquisition of knowledge and shaping the ways in which they learn to regulate the retention, emotion and behaviour.
When we imagine a school, the thought which comes in our mind is of academic
activities.
School is supposed to organize academic activities for the cognitive development of the students. We can see significant differences in the cognitive development of the students across schools. The reason behind this may be the way in which the prescribed content is communicated.
Students of some schools exhibit high level of understanding of content with its practical implications, whereas some students are very good in theoretical part of their syllabus. Therefore, these academic tasks and instructions may include varied activities like, debates, discussions, group works, projects etc. so that they can internalize the concept rather than just memorize it. Care should be taken on the part of teacher while designing academic tasks and instructions in terms of the individual differences exist in the class. Thus, groups for classroom activities may be formed sometimes on the basis of children’s ability level or on the basis of representing a diverse array of abilities brought together in a co operative work arrangement. Therefore, the class environment can be made co-operative and competitive.
Teacher is the most powerful component of the developmental process of the students.
Teachers’ behaviour includes three important components which affect the whole classroom environment. These are:
(i) teachers’ beliefs about the role and nature of ability;
(ii) instructional practices; and
(iii) teacher-student relationship.
The first aspect is how teacher perceives her/his profession. If a teacher perceives herself/himself as mere instructor, her/his role will be of fact sharing entity. On the other hand, if s/he considers her/his responsibility as a shaper of the students’ behaviour, then her/his approach may be different. S/he will put more efforts to enhance the cognitive, affective as well as psychomotor domain of students’ life. A teacher can hold different expectation from various individuals within the same class providing differential teaching-learning practices. The motivational and emotional support of the teacher influence students’ satisfaction, motivation, overall achievement and self-concept. Students feel more comfortable in the class, where their emotions are satisfied. The important impact of the supportive behaviour of the teacher strengthens the relationship of students and teacher. Teachers who are trusting, caring and respectful of students provide the socio-emotional support that children need to approach, engage and persist on academic learning tasks and to develop positive achievement related to self-perception and values.
School also functions as a formal organization. The organizational factors affect children’s intellectual, socio-emotional and behavioural development.
School climate plays the most important role in the developmental process.
For example, appreciation in assembly, ranking on report cards, curriculum offered for various ability levels, and competition may enhance the developmental process of the students.
Parents’ involvement in the form of monitoring academic activities and homework, providing assistance with homework, engaging children in educational enrichment activities outside school, and active participation in classroom activities and school activities, create positive linkages with the school environment. Moreover, school can establish linkages with society and community by conducting projects and services for them.