Students Speak About Learning Environment
Students have shared that they learn best in comfortable and calm classroom environments. These environments can be fun and also foster genuine learning and respectful peer and teacher relationships.
Students have shared that they learn best in comfortable and calm classroom environments. These environments can be fun and also foster genuine learning and respectful peer and teacher relationships.
Students have stated that their learning improves when a sense of safety and support extends beyond the walls of their classrooms and characterizes the feeling of the whole school.
“I believe, then, that an outlet for student voice and supportive teachers to guide that outlet are necessary in promoting a better, safer environment within schools. These outlets will empower students and instill a stronger sense of community within schools that will bring students even closer together.” — Sean
“I think the school could encourage students to take action in making school “better” by recognizing more students when they do positive things. Possibly even have some type of celebration as a reward. We shouldn’t only recognize students when they do something wrong.” — Melanie
“I want to talk about the library – it’s a safe, welcoming alternative for me to recess. Me and my friend get a pass from the librarian early in the day so we can skip recess—so we can, instead of going to recess, go to the library. And it’s really nice and quiet. It’s a rejuvenation halfway through the day.” — Ethan 2022
“If schools don’t offer better ways to reduce stress, teens will continue to follow this trend and relieve their stress through unhealthy habits.” — Valancia
“There was a certain amount of harassment at the school I attended. A lot of kids were being targeted or bullied by other kids. … I was scared to do anything because the kids were older than me. Teachers were aware of all this, but most of them would disregard it.” — Ethan
“That is why this incident of violence that happened a few years before I came to my high school was so jarring for me. I had viewed school with freshness-not only were my teachers nice, but so were my classmates. I thought that school violence could not happen at my school. I thought that school was a safe space.” — JiaJun
“Having a school and a support group with this kind of open and supportive culture has fed into my ability to be myself, to be the genuine me I know and see inside, and to be in control of my life. When I walk into my school, it takes a weight off of my shoulders. I can be myself, and if I have setbacks, I trust that my school will accept them, help me to understand what happened, and give me the opportunity to try again.” — Briar
Students have identified a crucial link between their learning and having access to classroom and school environments where they feel listened to by adults, where they feel that their voices matter.
“I had one teacher who responded differently. Instead of trying to make me go back in her room, she asked me what was wrong. She listened to me. She compromised with me and found ways to help me. Taking just a few minutes to ask me what was wrong and help me problem solve made a huge difference. I felt understood.” — Theresa
“During this pandemic and in its aftermath, we must take the opportunity to reevaluate our school system and who it is built for, and hopefully with the voices of every student, regardless of who they are, we can create a new system that is built for everyone.” — Sean
“Students must have a voice in deciding how to make things better. The focus needs to be on more than just the school’s reputation. The focus needs to be on what students need to feel supported at school.” — Melanie
“Schools need to set up systems to listen to students. Schools are for students after all. Let’s try to really understand where students are coming from. Let’s understand what the issues are and why students are struggling so we can work towards solutions and not temporary suspensions.” — Juan
“Although I understand why the school made that decision, I wish we felt more listened to. In this situation, how would you feel as a Brockton student if the school dismissed concerns about your safety? Most Brockton schools did not have school, but we did. I am NOT disappointed by their final decision not to have a snow day, but I AM disappointed that the school missed an opportunity to listen to us and care about our concerns.” — Oreoluwa
This website is dedicated to the valuable lessons we can learn from students’ own experiences about how to create better schools. Decisions about schooling are often made without listening deeply to students themselves. But students are in the best position to understand what they need in order to do well in school.
A collaboration of the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative (TLPI), Harvard Law School and Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC). LEARN MORE
Adam: Teachers should pay more attention to how students are treating each other
“In order to create a more respectful environment, teachers should pay more attention to how students are treating each other instead of brushing it off or looking away.” — Adam
Valancia: Every time you go to class you have to put your feelings aside
“Every time you go to class you have to put your feelings aside. And it’s especially difficult for teens when their stress piles up, and they feel like they’re going to burst.” — Valancia
Amayra: Everyone’s Quiet
“When I’m in these classrooms, six hours a day, everyone’s quiet. All I can hear is the scribbles of the pencils or the tapping of the keyboards. And that’s it. It’s silent. There’s no music. There’s no laughter. It’s just so dead. And it’s like that for 180 days out of the year.” — Amayra
Jaydah: In classes where my teachers recognize the good work that I do
“In classes where my teachers recognize the good work that I do, I feel very confident in continuing to do that good work. I feel comfortable taking risks and asking questions, which helps me to learn. I feel safer in the classroom and like there is a community.” — Jaydah
Trish: The class feels like a community
“The class feels like a community because students are comfortable and have a chance to communicate with each other.” — Trish