Student, School and Community Wellbeing
My daughter helpfully pointed out that her understanding of social capital is not the same as the one used in my last blog. I realise there are different versions of the concept – Bourdieu considered that social capital comprised the connections that often maintain privilege – such as Old Boys’ Networks. Coleman and particularly Putnam’s definitions are closer to mine. When I talk about social capital I am referring to the quality of relationships within an organisation, usually a school. This is the definition used by MindMatters and others. A high level of social capital is the opposite of a toxic environment. It is built in the thousands of interactions that occur every day to promote trust, reciprocity and shared understanding. It is the lynchpin of relational wellbeing that turns rhetoric into reality. It includes, but is by no means limited to, the following.
This constructs an environment in which people want to work because they feel valued, included and have a positive sense of professional integrity. This in turn promotes student wellbeing. It doesn’t take much – just the mindset. And the belief it matters. Start the conversation.