Role of Staff Development Systems: TO MAKE SCHOOLS BETTER

No matter how people view their school, most believe in the principle that the capacity to make things better is a good theory.

Proposals for school renewal come from 4 frames of reference Proposals for school renewal come from 4 frames of reference. These frames differ in terms of who is pictured as the source of the renewal process.

4 FRAMES 1. Individual practitioner 2. School site 3. District office 4. Governing agencies

Frame #1: Individual Practitioner Teachers teach themselves to learn what they need to know: Take classes Read Experiment Collaborate

Catch-22 Teachers are most knowledgeable people about problems they face No built in time Very little assistance

Frame #2: School Site Individuals alone cannot effect school renewal. School climate and curriculum can only be coherent if all faculty are working together toward a better school.

Frame #3: School District Political unit must use a wider lens to examine schools and teachers with objectivity and generate new ways of improving education.

Frame #4: Government Agencies They, too, have advantage of perspective. The biggest picture Political agendas

CAVEAT Any initiative from only ONE of these four sources will probably fail because: 1. Goals can’t be reached without support of an extensive and potent staff development system. 2. Coordination and effort by all four are requisite to build adequate staff development.

Solution Field of staff development is evolving from patchwork of courses and workshops into a system ensuring that educational professionals regularly enhance their academic knowledge, professional performance, and image as professionals.