This article explores the alternate ways ethical school leadership in the best
interests of students is conceptualized in the educational leadership literature
from several foundational perspectives including philosophy, psychology, critical
theory and case law. Perspectives which are grounded solely in theory are
differentiated from those grounded in research and practical field applications. An
argument is made for the merits of applying multiple ethical perspectives. The
findings of existing research on the valuation processes of school principals and
their ethical leadership practices are also discussed with a particular focus on
their explicit or implicit interpretations of the meaning of `best interests of
students'. A genuine regard for student best interests emerges as a major influence
on principal leadership practices in two ways: principal valuation processes are
heavily oriented towards rational consequentialist orientations; the best interests
of students figures prominently as a meta-organizer and ultimate influence on their
decision making.
Aristotle
(1989) Nicomachean Ethics, trans. M. Ostwald.
New York: MacMillan Publishing Company
.
2.
Barth, R.S.
(1990) Improving Schools From Within.
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
.
3.
Beck, C.
(1999) `Values, Leadership and School Renewal', in
P.T. Begley
and
P. Leonard
(eds) The Values of Educational Administration , pp.
223—321.
London: Falmer Press
.
4.
Beck, L.G.
(1994) Reclaiming Educational Administration as a Caring
Profession.
New York: Teachers College Press
.
5.
Beck, L.
and
Murphy, J.
(1994) Ethics in Educational Leadership Programs: An
Expanding Role.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press
.
6.
Beckner, W.
(2004) Ethics for Educational Leaders.
Boston: Pearson
.
7.
Begley, P.T.
(1988) `The Influence of Personal Beliefs and Values on
Principals' Adoption and Use of Computers in Schools'. Unpublished doctoral
dissertation.
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
8.
Begley, P.T.
(1996) `
Cognitive Perspectives on Values in Administration: A Quest for Coherence
and Relevance
', Educational Administration Quarterly32(3):
403—26
.
9.
Begley, P.T.
(2004) `
Understanding Valuation Processes: Exploring the Linkage Between Motivation
and Action
', International Studies in Educational Administration32(2):
4—17
.
10.
Begley, P.T.
(2006) `
Self-knowledge, Capacity and Sensitivity: Prerequisites to Authentic
Leadership by School Principals
', Journal of Educational Administration.
44(6):
570—89
.
11.
Begley, P.T.
and
Johansson, O.
(1998) `
The Values of School Administration: Preferences, Ethics and Conflicts', TheJournal of School Leadership8(4):
399—422
.
12.
Bitensky, S.
(1992) `
Theoretical Foundations for a Right to Education Under the U.S.
Constitution: A Beginning to the End of the National Education Crisis
', Northwestern University Law Review86(3):
550—642
.
13.
Buber, M.
(1958) I and Thou, trans. R.G. Smith.
New York: Scribner
.
14.
Coombs, C.P.
(2004) `
Developing Reflective Habits of Mind
', Values and Ethics in Educational Administration1 (4):
1—8
.
15.
Davis, N.
(1993) `Contemporary Deontology', in
P. Singer
(ed.) A Companion to Ethics, pp.
205—18.
Malden, MA: Blackwell
.
16.
Diamond, S.
(1981) `
The First Amendment and the Public Schools: The Case Against Judicial Intervention
', Texas Law Review59(3):
477—528
.
17.
Dillon, R.
(1992) `
Respect and Care: Toward Moral Integration
', Canadian Journal of Philosophy22(1):
105—31
.
18.
Dupre, A.
(1996) `
Should Students Have Constitutional Rights? Keeping Order in the Public Schools
', George Washington Law Review65(1):
49—105
.
19.
Eshelman, A.
(2004) `Moral Responsibility'. Available at:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-responsibility/ (accessed 7
December 2004).
20.
Evers, C.W.
and
Lakomski, G.
(1991) Knowing Educational Administration.
Toronto: Pergamon Press
.
21.
Foster, W.
(1999) `Administrative Science, the Postmodern, and
Community' , in
P.T. Begley
(ed.) Values and Educational Leadership, pp
97—113.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
Furman, G.
(2003) `
Moral Leadership and the Ethic of Community', Values and Ethics
in Educational Administration2(1):
1—8
.
24.
Gilligan, C.
(1982) In a Different Voice.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
.
25.
Goldstein, J.
,
Freud, A.
and
Solnit, A.
(1979a) Beyond the Best Interests of the Child,
2nd edn.
New York: Free Press
.
26.
Goldstein, J.
,
Freud, A.
and
Solnit, A.
(1979b) Before the Best Interests of the Child.
New York: Free Press
.
27.
Goldstein, J.
,
Solnit, A.
,
Goldstein, S.
and
Freud, A.
(1996) The Best Interests of the Child: The Least Detrimental
Alternative.
New York: Free Press
.
28.
Griggs, R.F.
(2003) `Applying Military Leadership Principles in the
Development of Educational Leaders'. Unpublished master's research paper,
The Pennsylvania State University, University
Park, PA.
29.
Grogan, M.
and
Smith, F.
(1999) `A Feminist Perspective of Women Superintendents'
Approaches to Moral Dilemmas', in
P. Begley
(ed.) Values and Educational Leadership, pp.
273—88.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
30.
Gross, S.
and
Shapiro, J.
(2004) `
Using Multiple Ethical Paradigms and Turbulence Theory in Response to
Administrative Dilemmas
', International Studies in Educational Administration32(2):
47—62
.
31.
Guardini, R.G.
(1965) The World and the Person, trans. S.
Lange. Chicago, IL
: Henry Regency Company.
32.
Heise, M.
(1995) `
State Constitutions, School Finance Litigation, and the “Third
Wave”: From Equity to Adequacy
', Temple Law Review68(3):
1151—76
.
33.
Hodgkinson, C.
(1978) Towards a Philosophy of Administration.
Oxford: Blackwell
.
34.
Hodgkinson, C.
(1996) Administrative Philosophy.
Oxford: Elsevier
-
Pergamon
.
35.
Johansson, O.
(2003) `School Leadership as a Democratic Arena', in
P.T. Begley
and
O. Johansson
(eds) The Ethical Dimensions of School Leadership , pp.
201—19.
Dortrecht: Kluwer Press
.
36.
Johansson, O.
and
Bredeson, P.
(1990) `Value Orchestration by the Policy Community for the
Learning Community—Reality or Myth', in
P.T. Begley
(ed.) Values and Educational Leadership, pp.
51—72.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
37.
Kant, I.
(1966) The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of
Ethics, trans. O. Manthey-Zorn.
New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts
.
38.
Kohlberg, L.
(1981) The Philosophy of Moral Development: Moral Stages and
the Idea of Justice, Vol. 1.
San Francisco
,CA:
Harper and Row
.
39.
Kohlberg, L.
(1987) `Conscience as Principled Responsibility: On the
Philosophy of Stage Six', in
G. Zecha
and
P. Weintgartner
(eds) Conscience: An Interdisciplinary Approach, pp.
3—25.
Dordrecht: Reidel
.
40.
Langlois, L.
(2004) `
Responding Ethically: Complex Decision-making by School District Superintendents
', International Studies in Educational Administration32(2):
78—93
41.
Langlois, L.
and
Begley, P.
(2005) Mapping Out Literature and Research on Ethics and
Valuation.
University Park, PA
: Willower Center for the Study of Leadership and Ethics,
Penn State University
.
42.
Lapointe, C.
,
Godin, J.
and
Langlois, L.
(2005) `
Educational Leadership in Official Linguistic Minority Settings: Searching
for a Relevant Theory
', Journal of School Leadership15(2):
143—58
.
43.
Lawrence-Lightfoot, S.
(1999) Respect: An Exploration.
Reading, MA: Perseus Books
.
44.
Leithwood, K.A.
and
Steinbach, R.
(1995) Expert Problem Solving.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
45.
Leithwood, K.
,
Jantzi, D.
and
Steinbach, R.
(1999) `Transformational Leadership as a Place to
Begin' , in Changing Leadership for Changing Times, pp.
3—20.
Buckingham: Open University Press
.
46.
Leonard, P.
(1999) `Examining Educational Purposes and Underlying Value
Orientations in Schools', in
P.T. Begley
(ed.) Values and Educational Leadership, pp.
217—235.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
47.
Levesque, R.
(1996) `
International Children's Rights: Can They Make a Difference in American
Family Policy?
', American Psychologist51:
1251—4
.
48.
Lickona, T.
(1991) Educating for Character: How Our Schools Can Teach
Respect and Responsibility.
New York: Bantam Books
.
49.
Lynch, T.
(1998) `
Note, Education as a Fundamental Right: Challenging the Supreme Court's Jurisprudence
', Hofstra Law Review26(4):
953—73
.
50.
Maxcy, S.J.
(2001) `
Educational Leadership and Management of Knowing: The Aesthetics of Coherentism
', Journal of Educational Administration39(6):
573—88
.
Nash, R.J.
(1996) Real World Ethics: Frameworks for Educators and Human
Service Professionals.
New York: Teachers College Press
.
53.
Noddings, N.
(1984) Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral
Education.
Berkeley, CA: University of California Press
.
54.
Noddings, N.
(2002) Educating Moral People: A Caring Alternative to
Character Education.
New York: Teachers College Press
.
55.
Noddings, N.
(2003) Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral
Education, 2nd edn.
Berkeley, CA: University of California Press
.
56.
Norberg, K.
(2004) `
Constitutive Values and Daily Practice in a Swedish School', Values and
Ethics ofEducational Administration1(3):
1—8
.
57.
Ozar, T.
(1986) `Rights: What They Are and Where They Come From
', in
P. Werhane
(ed.) Philosophical Issues in Human Rights: Theories and
Applications, pp. 9—10.
New York: McGraw-Hill College
.
58.
Rawls, J.
(1999) A Theory of Justice.
Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard
University Press
.
59.
Richmon, M.J.
(2004) `
Values In Educational Administration: Them's Fighting Words!
', International Journal of Leadership in Education7(4):
339—56
.
60.
Roche, K.
(1999) `Moral and Ethical Dilemmas in Catholic School
Settings', in
P.T Begley
(ed.) Values and Educational Leadership, pp.
255—272.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
61.
Rossow, L.F.
and
Stefkovich, J.A.
(2005) Education Law: Cases and Materials.
Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press
.
62.
Rossow, L.F.
and
Stefkovich, J.A.
(2006) Search and Seizure in thePublic Schools
, 3rd edn.
Dayton, OH: Education Law Association
.
63.
Rousseau, J.J.
(1967) The Social Contract and Discourse on the Origin of
Inequality.
New York: Simon & Schuster
.
64.
Sergiovanni, T.J.
(1992) Moral Leadership: Getting to the Heart of School
Improvement.
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
.
65.
Shapiro, J.
and
Stefkovich, J.A.
(2005) Ethical Leadership and Decision Making in
Education, 2nd edn.
Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
.
66.
Soltis, J.
and
Zubay, B.
(2005) Creating the Ethical School: A Book of Case
Studies .
New York: Teachers College Press
.
67.
Starratt, R.J.
(1994) Building an Ethical School.
London: Falmer Press
.
68.
Starratt, R.J.
(2004) Ethical Leadership.
San Francisco : Jossey-Bass
.
69.
Stefkovich, J.A.
(2006) Best Interests of the Student: Applying Ethical
Constructs to Legal Cases in Education.
Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
.
70.
Stefkovich, J.A.
,
O'Brien, G.M.
and
Moore, J.
(2002)
`School Leaders' Ethical Decision Making and the “Best Interests
of Students
”'. Paper presented at the 7th Annual Values and
Leadership Conference, Toronto , Canada.
71.
Stefkovich, J.
and
Shapiro, J.
(2003) `Deconstructing Communities: Educational Leaders and
Their Ethical Decision-making Processes', in
P.T. Begley
and
O. Johansson
(eds) The Ethical Dimensions of School Leadership, pp.
89—106.
Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Press
.
72.
Strike, K.A.
,
Haller, E.J.
and
Soltis, J.F.
(1988) The Ethics of School Administration.
New York: Teachers College Press
.
73.
Sun, J.P.
(2004)
`Understanding the Impact of Perceived Leadership Styles on Teacher Commitment'
, International Studies in Educational Administration32(2):
18—31
.
Thro, W.
(1988)
`Note, To Render Them Safe: The Analysis of State Constitutional Provisions
in Public School Finance Reform Litigation'
, Virginia Law Review69:
1641—42
.
Thro, W.
(1998)
`A New Approach to State Constitutional Analysis in School Finance Litigation'
, Journal of Law and Policy48:
525—40
.
74.
Walker, A.
(2003) `Developing Cross-cultural Perspectives on Education
and Community', in
P.T. Begley
and
O. Johansson
(eds) The Ethical Dimensions of School Leadership, pp.
145—160.
Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic Press
.
75.
Walker, A.
and
Dimmock, C.
(1999) `
A Cross-cultural Approach to the Study of Educational Leadership: An
Emerging Framework
', Journal of School Leadership9(4):
321—48
.
76.
Walker, K.
(1995) `
The Kids' Best Interests'
, The Canadian School Executive15(5):
2—8
.
Walker, K.
(1998)
`Jurisprudential and Ethical Perspectives on “The Best Interests
of Children”
', Interchange29(3):
283—304
.
77.
Walker, K.
and
Shakotko, D.
(1999) `The Canadian Superintendency: Value-based Challenges
and Pressures', in
P.T. Begley
(ed.) Values and Educational Leadership, pp.
289—313.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
78.
Walsh, T.J.
(1993) `
Education as a Fundamental Right Under the United States Constitution', WilliametteLaw Review26:
279—96
.
79.
Wang, T.
(2002) `Cultural Dissonance and Adaptation: A Study of
Chinese Immigrant Teachers Coping with Cultural Differences in Toronto
Schools '. Unpublished doctoral thesis,
University of Toronto , Toronto, Ont.
80.
Willower, D.J.
(1999) `Values and Valuation: A Naturalistic Inquiry' ,
in
P.T. Begley
(ed.) Values and Educational Leadership, pp.
121—38.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press
.
81.
Yudof, M.
(1995) `
Tinker Tailored: Good Faith, Civility, and Student Expression', St. John'sLaw Review69:
365—77
.
82.
Yudof, M.
(1998) `
Personal Speech and Government Expression
', Case Western Reserve Law Review38:
671
.
83.
Zaretsky, L.
(2004) `
Reaction to Policymakers' Perceptions of Social Justice Training for Leadership
', Journal of School Leadership14(4):
564—72
.
