We’ve all heard it: “We need to build a positive school culture.” It’s the phrase that gets tossed around every time there’s an issue with student behavior or academic performance. But let’s get real for a second—how many times has “building culture” been used to gloss over the fact that there are serious problems in our schools that aren’t being addressed?

For the first time in MANY years, I feel (cautious) optimism that my school’s administration is taking real, actionable steps to improve problems. We’re instituting an electronic pass system, and I see admin out there enforcing it. I really, really hope it continues and doesn’t fade away like so many efforts before. Because I’m tired and can’t do it all by myself anymore.

Not exactly the feelings of a person for whom school culture is doing the trick.

The Myth of the Magical Culture Fix

Here’s how it usually goes down. You’re in a staff meeting, and the admin starts talking about how important it is to create a “positive, inclusive culture.” They show you slides of smiling kids, colorful posters, and maybe even a few motivational quotes. The underlying message? If we just focus on building this perfect culture, everything else—bad behavior, low test scores, disengaged students—will magically improve.

But that’s a nice little fantasy, isn’t it? In reality, culture is important, but it’s not a cure-all. Yet, when culture is pushed as the ultimate solution, it’s often a way to ignore or downplay the real issues that teachers are dealing with every day.

The Gaslighting Game

Let’s talk about gaslighting. It’s when someone manipulates you into doubting your own reality. In schools, it looks something like this: You bring up concerns about a lack of student discipline, and the response is, “Well, maybe you need to focus more on building relationships.” Or you mention that academic performance is slipping, and you’re told, “Just engage your students more.”

See the pattern? It’s not that there’s a problem with the system, oh no—it’s that you’re not doing enough to create the right culture. That’s gaslighting, plain and simple. It shifts the blame onto you, making you feel like the reason things aren’t working is because you’re not trying hard enough.

Ignoring Behavior Issues in the Name of “Culture”

One of the biggest ways this gaslighting plays out is with student behavior. We’ve all been there: dealing with disruptive students who make it impossible for the rest of the class to learn. But when you bring it up, you’re often told that strict discipline is “too punitive” and that you need to focus on inclusivity and understanding.

Look, inclusivity is important. But it doesn’t mean we should just let bad behavior slide. When you’re made to feel like enforcing basic classroom rules is somehow wrong, that’s a problem. It sends a message that maintaining a “positive culture” means tolerating behavior that’s anything but positive.

The Academic Smoke and Mirrors

Then there’s the academic side. When students are failing or not meeting expectations, the response is often, “Just make your lessons more engaging!” As if a little more enthusiasm on your part is going to fix deep-seated issues like lack of resources, learning disabilities, or students who are simply overwhelmed.

Again, it’s the same gaslighting tactic—if the culture were just right, these problems wouldn’t exist. It puts all the responsibility on you to “fix” things by creating an engaging environment, rather than addressing the root causes of why students are struggling in the first place.

The Real Cost of This Gaslighting

What’s the result of all this? Teachers start doubting themselves. They feel unsupported, isolated, and eventually, burned out. Some even leave the profession altogether because they’re tired of being told that the problems they’re seeing aren’t real or are somehow their fault.

And let’s not forget who’s really losing out here—our students. When schools focus more on maintaining the appearance of a positive culture than on actually solving problems, it’s the students who suffer. They don’t get the discipline they need, the academic support they deserve, or the attention that could really make a difference in their lives.

Let’s Get Real About Culture

So what can we do? First, let’s stop pretending that culture is the end-all, be-all solution. Yes, it’s important, but it’s not a replacement for real, tangible support. Teachers need to feel empowered to speak up about the challenges they face without being gaslit into silence.

We need to create a culture (there’s that word again) where teachers are heard, where real problems are addressed, and where the focus is on genuinely supporting both educators and students—not just on looking good on paper.

Because if we keep using “building culture” as a way to ignore the real issues, we’re not just gaslighting teachers—we’re failing everyone.

Tags: building school culture, teacher gaslighting, school behavior problems, academic struggles in schools, positive school culture myths, education system issues, classroom management challenges, teacher support, student discipline in schools, teacher burnout, addressing student behavior, academic performance in schools, educational leadership, school administration tactics, real problems in education