School Leadership For Democratic Education In South Africa

School Leadership for Democratic Education in South Africa explores the democratization and modernization of education in South Africa, analyzing the state of school leadership in South African schools from the time of the new democratic education dispensation in 1994 to the present day. The book maps out what the future of education in South Africa could look like and explores the most conducive educational environments for change in South African schools. It adopts a critical approach to analyzing leadership and management in the context of school governance, school effectiveness, teacher development, multiculturalism and equity in education. Contributions explore the democratization and modernization of education in South Africa through examining different perspectives, achievements and challenges, and also consider issues around access to technology, language policy and the curriculum along with new literature on selected aspects of leadership. This book will be of great interest for researchers, scholars, and students in the fields of educational leadership, sociology of education, and teacher education.

Educational Leadership in Becoming reconsiders educational leadership in its current forms, and presents a more plausible form of educational leadership to contend with the complexities currently found in universities and schools. Much of the literature in vogue concerning educational leadership ranges from transactional to transformative representations of the concept in relation to educational management and policy, curriculum inquiry and pedagogical action. The primary aim of this book is to revisit some of the dominant understandings of educational leadership and to offer an extended view of the practice along the lines of potentiality and becoming. Davids and Waghid argue that all current forms of educational leadership are insufficient to enact responsible human action, particularly when it comes to addressing the combined issues of globalisation and equitable redress and transformation, whether in relation to leading schools or universities. The primary objective of the book is to draw on the Agambian notion of becoming in order to show that an educational leadership in becoming is better placed to not only address the myriad challenges besetting education, but to also enhance the potential of leadership in action. The book addresses an international audience by analysing conceptions of transformative leadership and should be read by anyone who is interested in education and educational leadership, as well as the impact of neoliberal agendas on education and society. It should also appeal to those interested in the philosophy of education.

Grounded in democratic culture and values, Education Management and Leadership: A South African Perspective second edition enables individuals in school leadership and management positions to have an in-depth understanding of leading and managing effective schools. The book comprises twelve chapters, each discussing a different aspect of school management and/or leadership, such as managing diversity and multiculturalism in the South African context, so that a comprehensive model of an effective school is created. Consideration is given to African perspectives on management and leadership applied within educational settings. Important concepts such as effectiveness, efficiency and economy are explained and various leadership and management theories are introduced to the reader. Pertinent topics covered include the policy and legal frameworks within which educational leaders and managers operate; the management of relationships between parents, teachers, learners and the broader community; t he need for school development and planning; processes involved in establishing accountability and quality assurance; the systems required for good governance; and financial and physical resource management -- page 4 of cover.

`This is an important book for anyone who is serious about introducing or sustaining democratic leadership in schools. Busy practitioners will get much from it by going straight to the chapters about how democratic leadership could be made to work`- Kate Myers, Times Educational Supplement `I found this an interesting and stimulating book. The book's ideas are a useful counterpoint to some of the daft notions of macho leadership and management being peddled in education and indeed the public sector more widely. Woods' book has the merits that, though radical, it seeks to base its recommendations in the real world and to argue that there are possibilities for change that can bring about real improvements in everyone's experience and outcomes. Matching the rhetoric of democracy with reality - or at least making them closer - might also improve the quality of our political process, and hence increase interest and reduce cynicism about politics, something which surely should be welcomed. Woods' agenda is significant and his book certainly worth reading' - ESCalate `Philip Woods productively refocuses our attention, not on heroes and visions but on how we understand and practise within educational institutions in ways that are social and relational. He provides a realistic and yet challenging analysis of democratic leadership in ways that speak to practitioners, policy makers and researchers. We deal everyday with issues of social justice, and Philip Woods shows us how we might think differently about it, and so work for a better system of learning and schooling' - Professor Helen Gunter, School of Education, University of Manchester 'Not another bunny, but a welcome academic fox' - Kevin Avison, Steiner Waldorf Schools' Fellowship 'The theory and practice of democracy and democratic leadership have implications for how we understand what ought to be counted as `improving schools' In this book the author focuses on the idea of democratic leadership. He examines what is meant by democratic leadership, and what forms it can take, and shows how it is relevant to school education and learning. The author shows how the ideals and theories of democratic leadership can translate into practice, and sets out some of the challenges that democratic leadership poses in the context of contemporary education . This book challenges many of the assumptions inherent in educational policy and conventional approaches to leadership. It is about understanding and exploring both the idea of democratic leadership and its practical relevance through examples drawn from practice and research. This book is for practitioners and students on professional development and academic courses. It will be essential reading for all policy-makers, academics and others (such as inspectors) who critically examine leadership and management of educational institutions. 'Every now and then a book is written in the field of leadership that stands out, says something different, is coherent, original and makes us really ponder and think. This is such a book - it will provoke policy-makers, academics, experienced practitioners and advanced students' - Camridge Journal & Education

Research shows that students' sense of belonging in their school communities is critically linked to academic achievement. This ninth and final book in The Soul of Educational Leadership series offers practical strategies for promoting socially responsible school cultures that foster greater student engagement and democratic values. A joint publication with the American Association of School Administrators and the HOPE Foundation with contributions from renowned educators Bonnie Davis, Linda Skrla, Randall Lindsey, and others, this book explores the key concepts of respect, equity, and character, and examines tough issues such as: - Reflecting on our own backgrounds and assumptions - Modeling socially responsible behavior - Teaching students to discern injustice - Enacting a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying. Students will shape tomorrow based on what they learn today. This compact guide equips educators to implement democratic practices, act in socially just ways, and impart democratic values to the citizens of the future.

The argumentative point of departure of this scholarly book is the common conviction of specialists in the field of education in South Africa that the national education system is not at a satisfactory level – in both the academic and the public discourse. Such allegations are made and, frequently, stronger adjectives than ‘non-satisfactory’ are used. Results of international test series in which South Africa has participated, such as the 2015 TIMSS tests, confirm the negative verdicts found in the (public and scholarly) discourse. This book aims to argue that although the lack of performance could be attributed to a multiplicity of factors, one factor that can make a difference in the achievement levels obtained by learners in schools is leadership. The book demonstrates that a particular problem of both the scholarly and the public discourse on education in South Africa is an overtone of defeatism or resignation, blaming all ills in the education system and educational institutions on historical legacies and/or contextual factors (such as socio-economic deprivation in the catchment areas of schools) or poor resources and infrastructure. This collected work was inspired by a recently published spate of articles on top-performing schools (including top-performing schools in rural communities), in which it was demonstrated that good leadership can overcome such contextual and other challenges. The book unpacks the issue of leadership in South African schools from a variety of perspectives, thus contributing to the development of the scholarly discourse on Educational Leadership in South Africa. The target audience of the book is scholars of Educational Leadership. The research reported in the chapters draw on a wide range of methodologies, including empirical (survey) research (questionnaires and interviews), critical literature surveys, and the comparative method.

The book is based on African research and reviews on school leadership preparation and development, taking stock of where the field is in this geographical region and what lies ahead. The exclusive focus on sub-Saharan African countries is driven by the desire to foreground African experiences, highlighting gaps and asking critical questions about contextually relevant models of leadership that can drive towards improved educational outcomes for African children. The countries explored include Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania. Written by a collective of seasoned researchers with extensive experience in the field and on the continent, this volume is timely, as the field is in need of serious political attention. For these reasons, the book is an important resource for policy-makers, school leaders and other practitioners, students, educators of school leadership preparation programmes as well as researchers in the field on the continent and the diaspora.

Redefining Educational Leadership in Central Asia brings together the voices, views, experiences, and reflections of educational leaders from both secondary schools and higher education institutions in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.