This book examines the theoretical foundations relevant to existential issues in educational leadership and management, taking inspiration from Munch’s painting The Scream.
The book considers internationally relevant topics such as the growth of neoliberalism, globalisation, cultural shifts, forced migration and the digitalisation of the socio-cultural sphere and uniquely positions these crises as existential threats, rather than simply political, cultural, or social. The volume explores this complex set of dimensions in existential experience and outlines the implications for research and teaching in educational leadership. By exemplifying the narrative and introspective nature of existential research, the book addresses major aspects of the field including the impact such threats have on organisational studies, policy, administrative structures and practices, and leadership.
This timely collection on existential issues in administration and leadership will appeal to academics, scholars, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. It will also be of great interest for students in teacher education programmes and graduate courses in educational administration and leadership, organisation studies, and educational ethics for broad international use.
Author(s): Eugenie A. Samier
Series: Routledge Research in Educational Leadership
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 216
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Contributors
1. Existential Threats, Crises, and Disciplinary Responses: Educational Administering and Leading in an Emerging Zeitgeist of Angst
Introduction
What is Existentialism?
The Rise of Existentialism in Other Disciplines and Fields
Existentialism in Education
Volume Overview
References
Part I: Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations
2. Standing at the Edge of Abysses: Existential Threats to Education and its Administration and Leadership, or, Communing with Kafka in the Abyss
Introduction
Origins of the Metaphor: What is an Existential Abyss?
Contemporary Abysses
Education
Conclusion: Whither Educational Administration
References
3. The Sublime, Affect Phrasing, and Les Petits Narratives in Educational Leadership
Introduction
Lyotard and Language Games
The Sublime, Event, Affect Phrase, and Les Petits Narratives
Affect phrases
The event/les petits narratives
The sublime
Conclusion: Phrasing Educational Leadership
Notes
References
4. Creating and Sustaining a Politics of Outrage and Indignation, While 'Screaming' Back at Educational Leadership as a Bullshit Idea
The Time for Being Silent is Over...
What then, Makes Educational Leadership such a Bullshit Idea?
Who Else is Speaking Back to Bullshit Educational Leadership?
Why Are We Continuing to Have this Bullshit Language Driving the Discourse of Educational Leadership?
Arsehole Management... Bullshit Leadership's Close Accomplice
Remaking Educational Leadership
References
Part II: Teaching and Researching Crises
5. Out of the Shadows: The Power of Art to Transform Conversations in Leadership
Introduction
Personal Positioning
Distinguishing Features Of Aesthetics and Art
Framing The Arts-Aesthetic Attitude
'Making special'
Seeing differently
Art and Aesthetics in Educational Administration
Higher Education: Promise and Pitfalls
Arts-As-Action in The Leadership Classroom
Sharing The Knowledge Base: Educational Administration and Adult Education
Theories of 'conscientization'
Ethos of teaching/learning
Sensitivity to personal taboos
Healing dichotomies of mind and body
Global responsibility
The pleasure principle
Arts in Practice: Research, Pedagogy, and Community Outreach
Arts-based research as leveller
Pedagogy: Insights into lesser-known subjects
Community outreach
Further Thoughts On Application
Coda
Note
References
6. The 'Why' Matters Most: A Framework for Activist Art Making to Transform School Communities to Promote Social Justice
Introduction
Critical Dialogue
Social critique and action
Mariel
Joshua
Christa
Bottom line
Leshun
Social justice art making and empowerment
Mariel
Joshua
Christa
Leshun
Creating spaces to challenge injustices
Mariel
Joshua
Christa
Leshun
Discussion
Conclusion
References
7. Educating Administrators and the Fear of Freedom in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Introduction
The Fear of Freedom
Digital Transformation As The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Educating School Administrators and Teachers in The Age of Ubiquitous Computing: The Need for Anthropological Education
Note
References
Part III: Contemporary Issues and Cases Internationally
8. The Meaning of Voice in our Search for Authenticity
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
Professional Learning Communities
The Characteristics of A Professional Learning Community
Nurturing A Collaborative Culture
End Note
References
9. The Scream and the 'Dependent Beauty' of Betsy DeVos
Introduction
Background: The American Federal Department of Education
The Royal Rich in Western Michigan
Christian Nationalism: Doing God's Work
Becoming Trump's Federal Secretary of Education
The Devos Debacle Before The Senate Sub-Committee
Betsy Devos At Work
The issue of for-profit universities and student debt
The issue of sexual assault on college campuses
A failure to take a stand on guns in schools
A refusal to cut funding to schools that discriminate
Withdrawing support for transgendered students
School choice pushed even in the midst of a pandemic
The End of The Existential Scream
References
10. The Stoic Leadership of Dialogic Engagement: Expressionist Reflections on Surviving the Scream Against Toxic Leadership and Management in Higher Education
Introduction
The Scream as Metaphor of Resistance in Higher Education Workplaces
Methods
At risk of Disappearing: Critical Thinking, Freedom of Speech, and Resistance
Toxic Leadership and Management in Higher Education
Results
Trust and Leadership Forum
Trust and Leadership Interviews
Selected Trust and Leadership Survey Responses
Conclusion: Analysing Discernible Elements of Stoic Leadership
Notes
References
Afterword: Or, how to cling to the abyssal edge
References
Index
