In a recent column, Gene R. Carter, executive director of ASCD (that's the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) expands on the notion of educating the "whole child" by arguing that efforts in that direction must involve the "whole school." Carter refers to an HBO documentary that described a Baltimore high school where 50 percent of 9th graders dropped out by the end of the year, and two-thirds of the teachers were uncertified. In that context, Carter says, it's nearly impossible to provide a situation in which all children are healthy, safe, engaged in learning, supported by caring adults, and challenged academically. To build a nurturing environment, he suggests that schools evaluate their climate, put their evaluations to use, and leverage community resources. A whole-school approach, says Carter, means that the school "collaborates with its community to deliberately build and sustain a positive school climate."
Read the column at http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.e904532af52fde8cbfb3ffdb62108a0c