THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SCHOOL CLIMATE DIMENSIONS AND TEACHER WELL-BEING IN MALAYSIAN INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS

Background and Purpose: Teaching at indigenous schools located in rural and outskirt areas is no small feat. Therefore, the teachers at these schools require a consistent and supportive school climate to enhance teacher well-being. As such, this study examines the relationship between the dimensions of school climate and well-being of teachers. It also discusses the application of five dimensions of school climate, namely collaboration, student relations, school resources, decision-making, and instructional innovation. Methodology: Data for this quantitative study was gathered via a set of questionnaires. A total of 291 teachers from indigenous schools along the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia, which are Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang participated in this study. A descriptive analysis of the findings was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while an inferential analysis was conducted using PLS-SEM. Findings: The empirical results show a significantly positive correlation between the five previously mentioned dimensions of school climate and teacher well-being. Contributions: The findings of this study affirm the relative importance of school climate and its impact on teacher well-being. This study is significant for the Ministry of Education, indigenous school administrators, teachers, as well as policymakers in developing suitable strategies to improve the school climate and teacher well-being in Malaysian indigenous schools. Keywords: Teacher well-being, collaboration, student relations, school resources, decision-making, instructional innovation. Cite as: Kamarudin, N. A., Ahmad, A., Abdul Halim, A. S., Abdullah, R., & Kamalrulzaman, N. I. (2022). The correlation between school climate dimensions and teacher well-being in Malaysian indigenous schools. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(1), 292-315. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp292-315

Review of alternative non-punitive school discipline principles and interventions

Increasing evidence shows that punitive discipline is ineffective and detrimental. Using empowerment theory and the opportunity-to-learn conceptual framework, this literature review seeks to broaden school personnel’s knowledge of alternative discipline interventions. Searching ERIC and JSTOR databases, we looked for English language, North American literature published between 1996 and 2016 that discussed alternative individual and school-wide disciplinary approaches. The literature we found indicates that punitive measures are counter-productive; that several alternative disciplinary models share common principles; and that studies point to favourable outcomes of some alternative school discipline models. While the transition towards alternative discipline may require additional resources and years of adjustment, a healthier school climate can foster the empowerment and academic achievement of marginalized students.

Review of alternative non-punitive school discipline principles and interventions

Increasing evidence shows that punitive discipline is ineffective and detrimental. Using empowerment theory and the opportunity-to-learn conceptual framework, this literature review seeks to broaden school personnel’s knowledge of alternative discipline interventions. Searching ERIC and JSTOR databases, we looked for English language, North American literature published between 1996 and 2016 that discussed alternative individual and school-wide disciplinary approaches. The literature we found indicates that punitive measures are counter-productive; that several alternative disciplinary models share common principles; and that studies point to favourable outcomes of some alternative school discipline models. While the transition towards alternative discipline may require additional resources and years of adjustment, a healthier school climate can foster the empowerment and academic achievement of marginalized students.

Mid-career Teacher Retention: Who Intends to Stay, Where, and Why?

Teacher turnover is widely understood to be among the most pressing challenges facing the American public education system. Who and where are the mid-career teachers who choose to stay in the profession? Why do they stay? Researchers need to attend to these questions to inform both national dialogue and local actions regarding how to retain and sustain mid-career teachers who positively impact student learning. This quantitative study explored mid-career teachers’ responses to the 2015–2016 National Teacher and Principal Survey to ascertain if certain demographic factors (e.g., race, school location) and school climate and teacher attitudinal factors (e.g., job satisfaction, career pathway and opportunities, support from administrators and/or sources beyond school leaders and colleagues, and influence over school policy) affect a mid-career teacher’s decision to remain in the teaching profession. Findings indicate that mid-career teachers (5 to 20 years of teaching experience) in a secondary setting are significantly more likely to intend to stay in the profession than their peers in an elementary setting, and non-White mid-career teachers (Black/African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders, and Native American/Alaskan Native) than their White peers, respectively. Suburban mid-career teachers are more likely to express a desire to remain in the profession than their counterparts in urban, town, and rural settings. Related to the climate and attitudinal factors, mid-career teachers with more positive perceptions of school climate are more likely to remain in the profession. The most important factor in mid-career teacher retention is the teacher’s level of satisfaction with workplace conditions that directly impact teaching.

Examination of the Relationships between Secondary School Students’ Social Media Attitudes, School Climate Perceptions and Levels of Alienation

The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between social media attitudes, school climate perceptions and level of alienation of students studying in secondary schools. In the 2018-2019 academic year, 418 students from various secondary schools in Mardin participated in the study. Descriptive statistics and structural equality model were used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the research, it was determined that the level of alienation variable is positively affected by sharing needs, social isolation and safe learning environment; the safe learning environment variable is negatively affected by the social competence variable while it is affected positively by the social isolation variable. Besides, the safe learning environment as a mediator resulted in negative effects between the need for sharing and alienation, positive ones between social isolation and alienation, negative ones between social competence and alienation, and finally negative effects between relationships with teachers and alienation. According to the results, it can be stated that creating a supportive school climate for students in educational settings will reduce students’ tendency to use social media networks and prevent them from becoming alienated by making more friend. Keywords: alienation, social media, school climate, structural equality model

Self-Care is Not Selfish

This chapter defines and outlines many aspects of self-care and renewal and how various practices have tremendous benefits to both teachers and students. Furthermore, self-care and renewal practices when promoted consistently can have a great impact on the school climate as a whole, but especially for students impacted by trauma. Both authors provide personal anecdotes pertaining to self-care and renewal to dive deeper into the topic. The role of the school leader as well as the teacher/leader relationship is explored including aspects of leadership that promote self-care and renewal. To round out the chapter, controversies and opposing viewpoints to self-care and renewal practices in schools are examined. The overall purpose of this chapter is to illustrate the importance of self-care and renewal and the dramatic impact promoting it can have on the school and all those in the school environment.