Reflect on your role as a school principal: developing a (more) democratic culture in school
Democratic school leadership is a challenge, and a school needs time to achieve that goal. You need to proceed with small steps, rather than a big one. This tool supports you in assessing your role as a school principal. Identify which objectives apply to you. The short-term objectives describe smaller steps that you can take immediately.
Styles of school leadership
Is democracy the best way to respond to the challenges facing our society? Or are there better alternatives? The controversy about this issue has been with us from ancient times to the present. What applies to society, also applies to schools. If we advocate democratic school leadership, it is necessary to consider the alternatives. Let us look at four main types of leadership.
Competences for democratic culture (CDC) – a development perspective for school and society
Democratic institutions depend on the consent of, and the support by, the citizens. Institutional frameworks cannot survive if the people they are intended to serve reject or oppose them or are unable to participate within them.
Key principles for democratic school leadership as a whole- school approach
Whether in society or in school, a culture imposed by a leader would be autocratic, and not democratic. A democratic culture develops through participation by citizens, and in a school setting by all stakeholders who need encouragement to contribute their expertise.
The potential of project- based student participation
School principals and teachers should be aware to what extent student participation depends on their support. In our daily choices and decisions, we are all agents of contingency.
Control or trust? How to ensure student discipline
“Ask yourself: do students behave differently when there is no adult around? If so, why is that?” If you answer this question with “yes”, you may be facing the problem of how to maintain discipline in school.
