The Positive School/Perspective of Students and Teachers of Two Public Schools in Antioquia

This article is the result of an exploratory research that seeks to understand the perception of reality from discussion groups and explores social representations that secondary school students and teachers -7th, 8th and 9th grades- at two public educational institutions in Antioquia, Colombia, have built on school as a promoter of personal competencies and positive development of adolescents. The results allow to identify aspects that make the school a positive and safe environment, with links, opportunities and positive possibilities that contribute to improve strengths such as personal responsibility, high self-esteem, self-confidence, decision-making, future expectations, critical thinking, and recognition of the other. In Addition, teacher's attitude, performance, and linkage strategies are significant in emotional development and academic performance of adolescents.