Students who feel connected to school are less likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, become involved in violence and other dangerous activities. These students are also less likely to experience emotional problems.
Second only to family, school is the most important stabilizing force in the lives of young people. The school environment provides a natural setting to foster positive relationships among student, adults and peers. Building positive relationships within the school environment involves certified staff, classified staff, students, community, and family members.
The relationships formed between students and school staff members are at the heart of school connectedness. Students who perceive their teachers and school administrators as creating a caring, well-structured learning environment in which expectations are high, clear and fair are more likely to be connected to school. (Blum, Robert, School Connectedness: Improving the Lives of Students, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore Maryland, 2005).
Blum, R. (2005). School Connectedness: Improving the Lives of Students. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Baltimore, Maryland.
