A study used structuration theory to examine the climate of a school prior to a teachers' strike and explored the theory's value and explanatory power. The school is an older, established elementary school in a small town which borders on a major metropolitan area in the midwest. Data (collected over several weeks during school district negotiations with teachers) included formal interviews, participant observation, and content analysis of written materials. In total, 39 individuals were interviewed. Results indicated a concept pool composed of several unitary terms--education, caring, committed--and several binary oppositions--professional/union, dedicated/won't be abused. The concepts were then translated into a kernel climate with an inversion at the collective belief level. In this particular situation, the model kernel climate was stronger than the inversion, but continued coopting by the district of climate apparatuses which support the inversion climate could lead to the inversion becoming a model kernel climate. (A figure listing elements of the concept pool, the model kernel climate and inversion climate, and affective reactions is included. (Contains 15 references.) (RS)