What’s going on with the school climate at Harwood? No, I’m not talking about the temperature, I am talking about the other type of school climate. In this case, school climate refers to the quality and character of school life, as defined by the National School Climate Center (NSCC). So what is Harwood’s school climate? How does the climate impact us as students? Our teachers? Our families? 

Recently at Harwood, I’ve noticed a decline in the climate having negative effects on the school as a whole, such as the pause of assemblies and the temporary closings of Kate’s Garden.

Andy Johnson, the current Dean of Students at Harwood, who taught at a school in Madison Wisconsin in 2020, says he felt that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a disconnect between students and the school, and families and the school. “That connection to the community and their peers and the families to school relationship, took a real hit” he says. “Coming back, families weren’t coming into the building for events for a couple of years. Getting that back, you had to be really purposeful and focus on the connections.” 

This isn’t just Harwood, as Johnson points out. It’s everywhere. Post pandemic, schools across the board felt the disconnect from students, as well as the uptick in misbehavior from students.

Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, schools took big hits, as trends like Devious Licks circulated across the internet, causing inconveniences to students due to bathroom closures, as well as headache to staff members. One staff member greatly affected by this was Scott Guyette, the Maintenance Supervisor at Harwood. “The latest vandalism and all vandalism takes away from the Facilities daily cleaning and maintenance schedules. The students and the public that use the school need a safe place to be at at all times. When there is vandalism it will offend others and can sometimes make a hazard where injuries could be possible.Vandalism is very costly in labor and materials,” says Guyette. 

Part of my belief on why there is this lack of care for common spaces, and the destructive behaviors, is due to the lack of mental health services for students and youth. One thing I was curious about when interviewing people was their thoughts and opinions on mental health access. “Access to mental health and services is lacking. Especially for youth….  there’s more of a disparity between supply and demand.” says Johnson. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in March 2022, public schools reported that students’ mental health was a common concern for both students and parents. In April 2022, some 69 percent of public schools reported that the percentage of students who had sought mental health services from school had increased since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Overall, Harwood’s school climate reflects the broader struggles schools face post-pandemic. The vital sense of community and connection has been strained, affecting everyone from students to staff and families. The disruptions of the past years, coupled with rising misbehavior and vandalism, underline the need for better mental health services and stronger community ties. To move forward, we must create a supportive, inclusive environment where students feel connected and valued. Tackling the mental health issues and rebuilding our school community are crucial steps in restoring a positive atmosphere at Harwood.