Leadership, education and diversity
Leadership, education and diversity
The ever changing demographics undoubtedly have both current and future impacts on education system. The increased diversity can impact the society either positively or negatively thus knowledge and capacity should be developed for education leadership that is one of the most diversified sectors of the society. It is encountered in various fronts and categories revolving around: organization, individual and program levels. In multicultural settings, mechanisms exist to ensure social justice without any form of discrimination.
In the contemporary world, leadership is viewed as an interactive social process despite its complexity. The dynamic leadership approaches require informed and inclusive mechanisms to ensure success of the system. Leadership plays a critical role either in practice, theory or research thus it is expected that it influences the lives of a diverse group of people. In a given context like a learning institution or organization, leadership models ought to reflect that the members are both leaders and followers in spite of being distinct (Bishop, 2005).
Educators regardless of their racial and cultural associations need to be equipped with competencies and pedagogies to effectively manage the dynamic population of students. Native teachers have their own cultural affiliations which coupled with unique personal stories, form a basis in creating a general mix of a school’s diversity. Teachers can best establish an inclusive and comfortable learning environment if their leaders use engagement strategies that are nonjudgmental. It should be acknowledged that racial, cultural, and economic differences exist and have an impact on the education system. Brown (2004) explains that the transformative learning, adult learning and critical social theories are significant in increasing sensitization and action plans in preparing transformative leaders. The theories are closely interrelated with the
The ever changing demographics undoubtedly have both current and future impacts on education system. The increased diversity can impact the society either positively or negatively thus knowledge and capacity should be developed for education leadership that is one of the most diversified sectors of the society. It is encountered in various fronts and categories revolving around: organization, individual and program levels. In multicultural settings, mechanisms exist to ensure social justice without any form of discrimination.
In the contemporary world, leadership is viewed as an interactive social process despite its complexity. The dynamic leadership approaches require informed and inclusive mechanisms to ensure success of the system. Leadership plays a critical role either in practice, theory or research thus it is expected that it influences the lives of a diverse group of people. In a given context like a learning institution or organization, leadership models ought to reflect that the members are both leaders and followers in spite of being distinct (Bishop, 2005).
Educators regardless of their racial and cultural associations need to be equipped with competencies and pedagogies to effectively manage the dynamic population of students. Native teachers have their own cultural affiliations which coupled with unique personal stories, form a basis in creating a general mix of a school’s diversity. Teachers can best establish an inclusive and comfortable learning environment if their leaders use engagement strategies that are nonjudgmental. It should be acknowledged that racial, cultural, and economic differences exist and have an impact on the education system. Brown (2004) explains that the transformative learning, adult learning and critical social theories are significant in increasing sensitization and action plans in preparing transformative leaders. The theories are closely interrelated with the
References: Brown, K. M. (2004). Leadership for Social Justice and Equity ? Weaving a Transformative Framework and Pedagogy Martin, J. L. (2011). Women as leaders in education: Succeeding despite inequity, discrimination, and other challenges McDonald, V. L. (2009). Multicultural Educational Leadership in Canada. Merriam, S. B., Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L., (2007). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide Kumashiro K.K. (Ed.). (2000). Troubling Intersections of Race and Sexuality: Queer Students of Color and Anti-oppressive Education Kumashiro K. K. (Ed.) (2000). Review of Educational Research. Toward a Theory of Anti- Oppressive, 70(1): 25-53