PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kantorová, Jana
TI  - School Climate Description, Assesment and Measurement
DP  - 2010 Feb 1
TA  - e-Pedagogium
PG  - 48--55
VI  - 10
IP  - 1
AID - 10.5507/epd.2010.007
IS  - 12137758
AB  - This paper analyses the quality of the school climate. One of its objectives is to define such basic terms as environment, atmosphere, climate, and selected climate variants, above all the school climate. Attention is also paid to the following five areas of school life, which are in my opinion of significance: 1) the overall attitude to school and the motivation to study 2) teachers' qualities and competence 3) school rules and the discipline in class 4) the solidarity of the class as a social group 5) the architectural, aesthetic and hygienic aspects of the school. The thesis also wants to present new practical methods supported by long experience of the school climate gained abroad and even by similar experience lately picked up in this country. Whereas in Europe and elsewhere the school climate is part of the basic educational disciplines, in this country it is still waiting for its recognition as a regular educational and psychological phenomenon. The primary aim of the whole thesis is to devise an adequate method, ie a questionnaire for my own research. This questionnaire has been tested in a quantitative way. It has helped me judge the quality of five areas of the school climate at a grammar school. One-factor analysis of dispersion has revealed differences in pupils, teachers and parents' judgement of the five areas. If we compare the average answers given by the three groups of the respondents, we come to the conclusion that it is teachers who are most satisfied with all areas of the school climate. Parents have turned out to be less content. The biggest dissatisfaction is among pupils. In the future the gained results can become a basis for further research in this area. The long-term goal should be to propose a model of creation of a positive school climate in the form of practical advice and recommendations for teachers and headmasters. The importance of the thesis consists in setting up a questionnaire method and carrying out the actual research.