Teachers and Shared Decision Making: The Costs and Benefits of Involvement

Abstract

The authors conducted a study of teachers' perceptions of the potential costs and benefits of involvement in school decision making. The teachers interviewed rated the potential costs of decision making involvement as low and the potential benefits as high. Nevertheless, many were hesitant to become involved because they saw little possibility that their involvement would actually make a difference.

Facilitative school leadership and teacher empowerment: Teacher's perspectives

“…Recently, educational reformists have recognized the critical role that principal support and democratic-facilitative leadership play in initiating, implementing, and sustaining viable forms of shared decision making and teacher empowerment at the school level (Aronstein, Marlow, & Desilets, 1990;Chapman, 1988;Duke, Showers, & Imber, 1980;Malen & Ogawa, 1988). An orientation Of this nature can be referred to as a "power through" (Dunlap & Goldman, 1991) or a "power with" approach to leadership.…”

Teacher and Administrative Staff Views on Teachers’ Participation in Decision Making Process

“…Results by Duke, Showers and Imber (1980) states that the teachers interviewed rated the potential costs of decision making involvement as low and the potential benefits as high. Nevertheless, many were hesitant to become involved because they saw little possibility that their involvement would actually make a difference.…”

Reforms in Philippine Basic Education Viewed from Key Elements of Successful School-Based Management (SBM) Schools

“…During the last 10 years, the concept of school-based management has been linked to various schooling constructs such as teacher job satisfaction (Duke et al, 1980); student achievement (Marks & louis, 1997;Beck & Murphy, 1998); parental involvement (Beck & Murphy, 1998Fullan & Watson, 2000); teacher empowerment (Gaziel, 1998), and teacher commitment (Nir, 2002). While it is true that SBM shapes and charts the direction of school operations, it is interesting to discuss how a developing country like the Philippines is influenced by this reform strategy as a structural and procedural framework in managing its system of education, particularly, its basic education sector which through the years has been criticized for its alarming state as shown by its performance indicators rates.…”