EDU602 Midterm Short Notes

Lesson 01 · RELATIONSHIP OF EFFECTIVE SCHOOL WITH LEADERSHIP · Topic 1: Good School

What is a Good School?

“Good School is that which most successfully achieves the targets set by the stakeholders by showing high grades and good results in exams”

What is an Effective School?

A school is effective not because of the specific nature of what is taught (though it is important) but through the manner in which a positive, supportive, richy and frequently interactive atmosphere is created. (Gammage, 1985)

Topic 2: Effective School

Effective Leaders and Effective Schools:

Effective schools can be good schools and good schools can be effective schools-but two are not necessarily the same. (Carl Gickman, 1987)

David Hopkins, a famous researcher on school improvement, tells us about effective schools:

The peaceful and quite corridors, calm and friendly faces, collegial and collaborative staff, clean and committed environment are the basic components of an effective school. Here the students and the staff are full of respect and regard of each other. They are deeply concerned about the future and precisely focused on how to get to that. Doors do not band and breaks do not scream here.

Topic 3: Educational Leaders

The role of the educational leaders will become paramount as the pace of change continues to quicken…. According to David Green, 2000 “Those organizations will survive and flourish which have Change Leaders. These are the individuals who thrive on chaos and actively seek to make future”. Ambiguity of change, complexity of the role, status of the profession and impact on the family life are all the reasons why there is a dearth of candidates seeking leadership roles in schools…… but then remember: Being a head is a great job – especially if you do not weaken. (Brain Caldwell, 2003)

Topic 4: Why Effective Schools?

About 40 years ago, Dr. Lezotte and his colleagues Ron Edmonds, Wilbur Brookover and other effective school researchers identified the common characteristics of successful schools-schools where all children learn. The research of these dedicated individuals refuted the notion that schools had no impact on learning and, in doing so, identified the correlates of Effective Schools. The correlates of effective schools are means of achieving high and equitable levels of students learning. It is expected that all children (whether they be male or female, rich or poor, black or white) will learn at least the essentially needed

• Knowledge · • Concept and · • Skills

So that they can be successful at the next level next year.

Topic 5: The Correlates of Effective Schools

What is unique about the correlates is that they are the only set of research based characteristics of a school’s climate associated with improved and better student learning. They are the only set of research identified concepts with which we can analyse that complex social organization of a school in order to cause the school as a whole to improve.

Correlates of an effective school are:

1. Instructional Leadership
2. Clear and focused mission
3. Safe and orderly environment
4. Climate of high expectations
5. Frequent monitoring of student progress
6. Positive home-school relations
7. Opportunity to learn and student time on task

Topic 6: Instructional Leadership

In the effective school, the principal acts as an instructional leader and effectively and persistently communicates the mission to the staff, parents and the students. The principal understands and applies the characteristics of instructional effectiveness in management of the instructional programme. The effective school practices that the principal is the “leader of leaders” not the “leaders of followers”. A principal cannot be the only leader in a complex organization like a school. The leader creates a community of shared values. The principal and all staff members must take an active role in instructional

Principal plays an important role towards all the correlates.

Topic 7: Clear and Focused Mission

In a focused school there is clearly articulated mission through which the staff share an understanding of and commitment to the instructional goals, priorities, assessment procedures and accountability. Staff accepts responsibility for students learning of the school’s essential curricular goals. An effective mission emphasizes innovation and improvement in providing learning for all – students and educators of all backgrounds. The principal can make a mission effective by being persistent and energetic in sharing her vision with faculty, students and parents to unite their goals.

Topic 8: Safe and Orderly Environment

A school climate that supports learning

School communities that are welcoming and intentionally inviting insist on relationships that sponsor mutual respect and proper conduct among students. The term “safe environment” refers not only to the physical condition of the school, but also means that it is a place which is free from physical or verbal aggression, harassment or discrimination. Students must feel secure in their school community so that their energies can be applied to learning. School mission statements and codes of conduct are major factors in this respect.

Topic 9: Climate of High Expectation

In the effective school, staff believes and demonstrates that all students can master the essential school skills and that they have the ability to help all students attain that mastery. This means that effective teachers make a conscious effort to give equal opportunity for all students to respond during class, provide thoughtful feedback to every student and are willing to re-teach concepts that students have not mastered.

Topic 10: Frequent Monitoring of Student Progress

In the effective school, student academic progress is measured frequently using a variety of assessment procedures. Results are used to improve both individual student performance and instruction.