While serving as superintendent in Kentucky’s Madison County School System, I often thought about ways to improve the learning culture in each of my schools, and how our schools could better engage with every student.
My most prevalent thought? How can we better engage with the hardest-to-reach, often marginalized students who don’t connect with their school community beyond the school day.
Two of my former superintendent colleagues had a great quote, “Culture eats everything else for breakfast.” I certainly agree with that! I have seen the benefits of establishing and maintaining a positive school culture and how it can pay dividends toward the learning culture in schools where I have served.
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A huge part of culture building involves getting those students who have not previously engaged in school-sponsored events to do so. In the face of seemingly endless barriers, we must ask ourselves if the strategies we emphasize do enough to connect with a wide range of students and provide opportunities to engage.
I believe the reason many students feel disconnected from their school is they haven’t yet had a taste of success. They don’t feel like they fit the typical “athlete” or “scholar” mold; instead, they feel unseen, unacknowledged and lost on the fringes.
Middle and high school-age students are making incredibly important decisions about their habits, future, peers and recreational time. During this same period, students are forming deep perceptions about themselves and, unfortunately, some say they don’t like what they see. All students need success to build those self-perceptions and skills for a post-secondary world.
Youth archery hits the target
Schools themselves are communities. Large schools can feel like bustling urban centers filled with hundreds or even thousands of individuals going about their business. These communities may have connection points throughout the day (attending classes together or sharing lunchtime) but too often those scenarios are students simply being in the same place at the same time without a shared mission, passion or purpose.
One simple tweak teachers and other adults can make is to use the language of “belonging” when talking with students about the activities available. Finding strategies to implement that encourage diverse participation opportunities that appeal to a wide variety of students can play a huge role in building a positive school learning culture. I believe that when educators interact with students who want to be at school and be a part of its culture, the battle is well on its way to being won.
One unexpected school activity where I’ve personally witnessed thousands of students become deeply engaged is in youth archery programs. Archery programs, like that offered to 4th to 12th graders through the National Archery in Schools Program, are available to everyone regardless of gender, popularity, ability, size, athletic skills or income level. Once those kids experience the bow and arrow, learn the 11 steps to success and send an arrow to the target, they’re hooked.
The number one piece of feedback I hear from parents and guardians of student archers is, “My kid never cared about anything school-related before… They care about this.” They weren’t just doing an archery unit in school gym class—they became archers.
They’re now part of the broader school community and confidently, proudly and safely using their skill and focus to become a contributor to that positive school culture.
Feeling more connected in school, working harder in the classroom, being better able to deal with success and setbacks—and better able to regulate emotions, keep calm and focus—are all benefits I’ve seen in students thanks to the participation in youth archery programs.
When kids are given the opportunity to succeed, the feeling of belonging and importance within a community, they become more engaged and school culture flourishes.
