Kids Feel They Belong: Another aspect of school climate is “school connectedness” or a sense of belonging. This refers to a student’s perception that he or she is part of the school community and cared for at school.
Connectedness is often proposed as an antidote to alienation. This is especially critical during early adolescence when feelings of alienation can lead to discouragement about schooling, more risky behavior, and dropping out.
“In smaller schools, students, teachers, and school administrators all have more personal relationships with each other…They know who you are. This is important to keep kids engaged and a part of school”
Excerpted from a report entitled The Hobbit* Effect: Why Small Works in Public Schools. The report focuses on attributes of small schools where there is a general consensus in the research about their positive impact for kids. They believe that good schools, close to home are the right of every child. In rural communities, that means keeping small schools open and making them the best schools they can be. They want to dispel the illusion that bigger is better. I’ll share their perspective on each of the Ten Research-Based Reasons Why Small Works. “The Hobbit Effect: Why Small Works in Public Schools,” by Lorna Jimerson
*The main characters of JRR Tolkien’s books, Hobbits are small in size, but huge in courage and unrelenting in their focus on attaining their goals. In addition, they fully appreciate their rural roots and gladly return home when their quest is fulfilled.
Holden Rural Academy 