--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've come to the frightening conclusion…" description: "\"I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my da..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/haim-ginott-22986_approach_i-ve-come-to-the-frightening-conclusion_3216331.jpg" --- # I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the… ![“I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a student's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture…” quote by Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/haim-ginott-22986_approach_i-ve-come-to-the-frightening-conclusion_3216331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/haim-ginott-22986_approach_i-ve-come-to-the-frightening-conclusion_3216331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d20/haim-ginott-22986_approach_i-ve-come-to-the-frightening-conclusion_3216331.jpg) > “I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a student's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a student humanized or de-humanized.” [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teachers shape classroom climate through their attitudes and responses, wielding power to uplift or harm students. **In simple terms:** Teachers' moods affect student experience. Key Takeaway Choose compassionate, constructive responses. Themes education power responsibility Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily teaching - conflict resolution - student support - discipline strategies Key Concepts Classroom climate teacher influence Questions to Reflect On - How can teachers model emotional regulation? - What practices foster a positive classroom climate? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on teacher control may ignore systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Classroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classroom/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education and teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-and-teachers/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Effective teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effective-teacher/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Great teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-teaching/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-teacher/) [Joyous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joyous/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning and growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-and-growing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [Personal responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-responsibility/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher and student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-and-student/) [Teachers learning from students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers-learning-from-students/) [Teaching and education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-and-education/) [Teaching and learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-and-learning/) [Teaching children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-children/) [Teaching education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-education/) [Teaching learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-learning/) [Teaching students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-students/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Weather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weather/) ## Related quotes > [“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/i-ve-come-to-a-frightening-conclusion-that-i-am-the-decisive-element/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [No one can take it away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/no-one-can-take-it-away-from-you/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Anyone who stops learning is old — whether this happens at twenty or at eighty. Anyone who keeps on learning not only remains young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/anyone-who-stops-learning-is-old-whether-this-happens-at-twenty-or-at/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Anyone who keeps learning stays young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/anyone-who-keeps-learning-stays-young/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/i-can-be-a-tool-of-torture-or-an-instrument-of-inspiration-i-can/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [I strive to view my students as unique human beings all of whom come to my classroom with a personal history, cultural perceptions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-harris/i-strive-to-view-my-students-as-unique-human-beings-all-of-whom-come/) [Joe Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-harris/) > [I've come to the frightening conclusioin that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-come-to-the-frightening-conclusioin-that-i-am-the-decisive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When a teacher calls a boy by his entire name, it means trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-a-teacher-calls-a-boy-by-his-entire-name-it-means-trouble/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If kids come to us from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-coloroso/if-kids-come-to-us-from-strong-healthy-functioning-families-it-makes/) [Barbara Coloroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-coloroso/) > [There's no word in the language I revere more than 'teacher.' My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/there-s-no-word-in-the-language-i-revere-more-than-teacher-my-heart/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [The children are now working as if I did not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-children-are-now-working-as-if-i-did-not-exist/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Men learn while they teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-learn-while-they-teach/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [When our students fail, we, as teachers, too, have failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marva-collins/when-our-students-fail-we-as-teachers-too-have-failed/) [Marva Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marva-collins/) > [Learning is never done without errors and defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/learning-is-never-done-without-errors-and-defeat/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/do-not-train-children-to-learning-by-force-and-harshness-but-direct/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Haim Ginott > [I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/i-can-be-a-tool-of-torture-or-an-instrument-of-inspiration-i-can/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [A modern teacher educates children to value their emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/a-modern-teacher-educates-children-to-value-their-emotions/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/teachers-are-expected-to-reach-unattainable-goals-with-inadequate/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/i-ve-come-to-a-frightening-conclusion-that-i-am-the-decisive-element/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [How can we help a child change from undependable to dependable, from a mediocre student to a capable student, from someone who won't amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/how-can-we-help-a-child-change-from-undependable-to-dependable-from-a/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [Whenever I hear about a child needing something, I ask myself, 'Is it what he needs or what he wants?' It isn't always easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/whenever-i-hear-about-a-child-needing-something-i-ask-myself-is-it/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [Adolescence can be a time of turmoil and turbulence, of stress and storm. Rebellion against authority and against convention is to be expected and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/adolescence-can-be-a-time-of-turmoil-and-turbulence-of-stress-and/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/if-you-want-your-children-to-improve-let-them-overhear-the-nice/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [Each of us carries within himself a collection of instant insults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/each-of-us-carries-within-himself-a-collection-of-instant-insults/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [Only if a child feels right can he think right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/only-if-a-child-feels-right-can-he-think-right/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [I have great faith in 'ordinary parents.' Who has a child's welfare more at heart than his ordinary parent? It's been my experience that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/i-have-great-faith-in-ordinary-parents-who-has-a-child-s-welfare-more/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [Many teenagers are tormented by terrors they deem private and personal. They do not know that their anxieties and doubts are universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/many-teenagers-are-tormented-by-terrors-they-deem-private-and/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [Teenagers crave independence. The more self-suf-ficient we make them feel, the less hostile they are toward us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/teenagers-crave-independence-the-more-self-suf-ficient-we-make-them/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [When children feel understood, their loneliness and hurt diminish. When children are understood, their love for their parent is deepened. A parent's sympathy serves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/when-children-feel-understood-their-loneliness-and-hurt-diminish-when/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) > [While parents possess the original key to their offspring's experience, teachers have a spare key. They, too, can open or close the minds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-ginott/while-parents-possess-the-original-key-to-their-offspring-s/) [Haim Ginott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) [Explore all 26 Haim Ginott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-ginott/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. Because you have to force a utopia on a free people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/what-begins-as-a-utopian-vision-always-always-ends-in-bloodshed/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) [Browse all 3,949 Approach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a student's life miserable or joyous. 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