ABSTRACT
The priorities for teacher education we have discussed so far are program planning and pupil assessment. A third area needing emphasis is the setting in which teaching and learning takes place: the structures, routines, social patterns, and atmosphere of the classroom. The classroom environment must be one that supports student learning (including personal growth generally), rather than undermining it. Students have difficulty learning if, for example, they are constantly interrupted, are unclear what to do next, feel unsafe or insecure, or have little connection with the teacher or their peers.
