• Semester 2 (External)

Synopsis

Education  is delivered in a highly political environment.  Australia,
as  a  dominantly pluralist/multi-cultural democracy  accepts  a  wide
variety  of  views  about the purpose and role of  education  and  the
manner in which it should be delivered.  At the same time, educational
administrators at all levels are "under pressure to accept  particular
views  of  particular groups in society as the correct definition  and
purpose of education" (Kemp, 1987).

In  order  to  establish  their views and have  decisions  made  which
reflect  their  views,  groups  and individuals  employ  a  number  of
political tactics.

In  such an environment, the administrator must be able to analyse and
evaluate  diverse  points of view and political  tactics,  and  decide
"rightness".   This  unit  presumes that increased  knowledge  of  the
political  environment  of  schooling,  and  increased  awareness   of
political  skills, will assist administrators to make  decisions  that
are professionally and ethically sound.