The Principalship

by Drake, Thelbert L.; Roe, William H.

• ISBN13: 9780130941336
• ISBN10: 0130941336
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-18
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Using a strong social/historical foundation, this book deals in plain English with the real tasks facing any principal. It is designed to provide starter ideas and activities for projects, research, and discussion. It also deals with current issues while providing a thorough legal and organizational base.This book provides readers with topics that address real, current issues principals face daily and includes information on collaborative ventures with community agencies, full-service schools and evaluation as affected by the standards movement and high stakes testing. Coverage also includes teacher morale, gay rights, and pressure resulting from mandated testing.For professionals in the position of school principal.

Table of Contents

PART ONE Bases for Operation	1	(178)
A Social Base for School Operation: Myths, Realities, and Perceptions	3	(18)
The Principal: The Person and the Profession	21	(22)
The School and Its Communities	43	(32)
Theory, Research, Principles: A Basis for Action	75	(22)
Organization	97	(26)
Leadership	123	(22)
Legistration and the Courts: A Sound Base of Authority	145	(34)
PART TWO Improving Learning	179	(200)
The Principal's Major Task	181	(26)
Creating Appropriate Structures to Improve Learning	207	(30)
Restructuring for the Individual Learner	237	(18)
Provision for Special Needs Students	255	(36)
A Framework for Evaluation	291	(26)
Evaluation of Individual Performance	317	(42)
Staff Development to Improve Learning	359	(20)
PART THREE Special Problems and Issues	379	(58)
Society-Related Problems	381	(28)
School-Centered Problems	409	(28)
PART FOUR Management of Supporting Services	437	(52)
The School Office: Information and Communications Center	439	(14)
Business-Related Management of a School	453	(20)
Facilities Management	473	(16)
PART FIVE Conclusion	489	(10)
Reflections	491	(8)
Appendix Court Cases	499	(6)
Glossary	505	(6)
Index	511

Excerpts

The principal of a school today works in a more fluid and expanding context than at any time in history. Information streams in from around the globe and from space, and we can access it at the touch of a keyboard connected to cyberspace. We can chat with faceless colleagues around the world on that same web of communication. The social circumstances for most of the students in our schools are very different from those a few years ago. Pressures are increasing from the business and political communities to produce students who will be useful to the economy. What an array of challenges and opportunities await the principal! Yet the greatest opportunity is answering the question of what is the right thing to do, as well as how to do things the right way. The ground rules that were in effect when schools were formed in similar, unquestioned molds are largely obsolete, leaving the principal to seek new views of leadership.Although some administrator preparation programs separate courses for the principalship into elementary, secondary, and in some cases middle levels, we contend that the important competencies are common to all levels. We do not wish to reinforce the administration of "things' as opposed to leading a community of learners. We do want to emphasize the principalship as a legitimate career field of its own.As an educational leader, the principal stimulates and uses input from all people affected by the school and in turn provides them with leadership toward the future. This book describes processes that are workable, responsible, and responsive yet not so rigid or brittle that they shatter under the inevitable stress faced by those who propose to lead. Examples of theories, principles, and practices are intended not to be formulas for success but rather to stimulate the reader to make practical applications appropriate to his or her organization and cultural, social setting.The overriding message of this book is the simple but often neglected principle that student learning is the supreme reason for the school's existence. The principle's leadership is paramount. Organization and administrative details must be considered to be means, not ends. Yet those details are not to be ignored; therefore, we include many topics and issues faced daily by nearly every principal at every level. The principal works with teachers, students, parents, and the community at large continually to refine and expand a vision of excellence to be achieved. It is from this viewpoint that this book is directed to principals, superintendents, those who want to be principals, and those who prepare prospective principals. NEW TO THIS EDITIONTopics new to this edition include the questions and issues all schools face regarding the implementation of IDEA 97 for special needs students; collaborative ventures with community agencies to meet mutually identified needs and the challenges of shared authority involved; full-service schools; evaluation as affected by the standards movement and high-stakes testing; and many other topics principals will face from day to day. Case studies have been added dealing with topics such as teacher morale, gay rights, and pressures resulting from mandated testing. The book provides the reader and the instructor a wealth of real challenges for a principal, which can lead to the formation of personal views of what are the right things to do as well as how to do things right.