Youths' discourses on their school environment: How schools are meeting youths' needs

This study explored the role of academic press within youths' perceptions of their school environment. Guided by McMillan and Chavis' (1986) model of psychological sense of community, youth in early (Grade 7), middle (Grade 9), and late (Grade 11) adolescence were interviewed about their school environments. Qualitative analyses identified seven major dimensions which can be linked to sense of school community and academic press. The dimensions reflect youths' concerns about relationships with others (teachers, peers), schooling (school activities, school engagement, academic press), and the environment (psychosocial, physical). No developmental or gender differences emerged among youths' references to these dimensions. The importance of schools emphasising both communal environments and academic press, "authoritative schools", is discussed.