Improving Relationships within the Schoolhouse

The nature of relationships among the adults within a school has a greater influence on the character and quality of a school and on student accomplishment than anything else. However, educators rarely discuss the matter of how adults interact in schools because the topic is too volatile. These relationships can be categorized in several ways. In parallel play, educators work in isolation from one another. Adversarial relationships can involve open combat, the more subtle withholding of information, and competition for scarce resources and recognition. Congenial relationships are personal and friendly, and lay the groundwork for the most elusive and desirable of relationships--collegiality. To create a culture of collegiality, educators must talk about their practice, share craft knowledge, observe one another in their classrooms, and root for one another's successes.