Friday, September 26, 2008
Chapter 6
In the summary for Chapter 6, Olivia states, "The curriculum worker should be able not only to formulate his or her own statement of aims but should also be knowledgeable about historic and significant statements of aims." Is a principal a curriculum worker? Presumably, the wide majority of us hope to become principals (as opposed to curriculum specialists), so, what should be a principal's role in terms of curriculum? What would your statement of the aims of education be?
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Yes, a principal is a curriculum worker in schools. Some smaller divisions may not have curriculum specialists for every subject, so most definately the principal serves that purpose in some capacity. Regardless of whether there are curriculum workers are not, the principal is the person in the buiding at all times, the go to person with questions. I feel the principal needs to be knowledgable of material. A principal needs to feel comfortable discussing curriculum and instructional practices. I also feel principals need to know the audience and the recipients of the material. My aim of education statement is to know the learner and the subject matter while increasing an awareness for the community.
Yes, an effective principal will be a curriculum worker within the school. The role of the principal should be as a facilitator of the process and a monitor to keep the process of curriculum development moving. Also, the principal should be an advocate for the curriculum work that is being done and to communicate these objectives effectively to the community and all stakeholders. My aim of education would be to develop an academic program within the school that promotes the success of every child.
Yes, the principal is the instructional leader of the building and should be knowledgeable about curriculum development, etc. Before participating in or leading a group though this process, he should have his own philosopy and be able to articulate this to the faculty and others that are working on the curriculum. I think the principal has a vital role in this...but I don't he/she has to be "the leader"...just part of the process. The principal needs to collaborate with grade level specialists (classroom teachers), subject or curriculum area specialists (teachers and/or central office instructional specialists), community members, and others to make sure all stakeholders are part of the process. My aim of education statement would be one that includes differentiation. Differentiation of content and instructial strategies that meet the learning needs of all students.
The principal wears many hats, including that of a curriculum worker. As a building administrator, it is important to know what is going on in the school. A principal is an instructional leader and should be involved in curriculum matters. It may not be necessary to be the leader, but it is important that he/she act as a guide through the development process.
My aim of education would be to create a community of learners, from teachers and students to parents and the greater community. I would also want to create an environment where all children feel welcome and respected.
The principal of the school should be an active participant in curriculum development, but does not necessarily have to lead the development. The principal needs to involve as many educators in each department as possible. The principal needs to be knowledgeable about all curriculums in the school. The principal can help the curriculum committee by providing important test data to each department as well as best instructional practices. The data can be used to determine what has worked in the past and what needs to be worked on to improve the success of every child. The data will help educators understand what topics students need the most remediation in. The principal needs to be able to communicate effectively to all stakeholders and community members the educational program and expectations that will be implemented into the educational program. My educational statement: Principals need to be knowledgeable of all curriculums, instructional methods of teachers, test data, and what students are learning/should be learning/how they are being remediated and how the principal can provide experience, test data, and instructional professional development activities to promote the success of every child.
The principal plays a direct and indirect role in curriculum decisions made in schools. He/she serves actively as leader in the process of curriculum development and serves passively by delegating leadership responsibilities to others. The principal should be somewhat knowledgeable of the subject matter and masterful in the processes needed to attain the goal. He/she is a major role player in even the smallest decision.
My aim in education would be to provide every student with the academic, social, and emotional skills necessary to allow them to become productive citizens, promote self worth and dignity, and become life long learners.
I think that the principal is a curriculum worker in the school but I also think each staff member is also a curriculum worker as well. Although the principal serves actively as leader in the process of curriculum development he also must delegate leadership responsibilities to others. The principal should also be somewhat knowledgeable of the subject matter; people can pick up on it when they are not. My aim of education statement: Principals need to be knowledgeable of EVERYTHING. If not they better surround themselves with people who are. Also, create an environment where every learner recognizes their self worth to society and provide the necessary skills to be productive members of society.
Clay Moran
A GOOD principal must have a hands on role in curriculum development. We all know principals who have been (and are thus strong educational leaders) and unfortunately most of us have known those principals who are not active in curriculum development. As Loren said the principal is responsible for what is going on in their building, in order to have a true grasp they must be actively involved...I think the real trick is being involved in some form in the curriculum of all subject areas, not just the tested core subjects. I do agree with Clay, it should be the principals job, but not theirs alone, every teacher in the school should bear some responsibility.
Yes, the principal is the instructional leader of the building and should be knowledgeable about curriculum development. I believe that he/she should have his/her own philosophy about curriculum (development) and instruction. The principal should be able to articulate these philosophies to the faculty and others that are working on the curriculum. However, I feel as those there should be shared ideas about curriculum amongst the faculty as opposed to the principal forcing his philosophical beliefs on the staff. The principal can aid the curriculum committee by providing important test data to each department as well as best instructional practices. All teachers need to play a role so that there is ownership and support for the curriculum goals.
Being an effective instructional leader, the principla is at the forefront of curriculum work. Principals should monitor and evaluate the curriculum, but also be an advocate for teachers to ensure resources are available and teachers have all they need for our students.
My aim would be to create an educational program of high expectations, where the status quo is no longer good enough, and where each child can be successful each day.
I do believe that the principal is a curriculum worker; however, the principal's role as the most experienced and knowledgeable about curriculum matters no longer matches the reality of the role filled by most educational leaders. Unfortunately, as we have witnessed firsthand, the principal’s role has shifted to more of a managerial one and away from curriculum and instruction. It takes many people to develop, implement, and steward a curriculum. It is the principal who gives leadership and support to the other curriculum workers by providing a supportive culture in which they can work. My statement of the aims of education would include developing a curriculum which responds to both the needs of every student and the needs and interests of the community in order to support the success of every child.
Principals certainly have an important role in the development and presentation of curriculum. Thought the curriclum specialist is generally the person to steward the development of curriculum, the principal should also be aware of the outcomes desired in order to best steward the vision of his or her school. In order to best evaluate the instructional practices of the faculty, the principal will need to consider the content being taught, and the audience to whom it is being taught.
Yes, I believe that an effective principal must be a curriculum worker. Principals need to have knowledge of curriculum in order to lead staff members towards completion of school goals. My statement of aims would be: The goal of education is to provide each learner with the tools he/she needs to be successful both inside the classroom and in the world.
I agree with most everyone the principal need to be a curriculum leader. Not only does he or she need to know what needs to be taught but as a leader the best method to accomplish his. It is really easy to say reach and teach each child, but it is not that easy. As a curriculum leader I would use data to help determine the needs of the students and us mentoring to help reach our children with extra needs.
I believe that a principal is a curriculum worker and will be the educational leader of all curriculum workers, the teachers. To that end, the principal will need to formulate his philisophical beliefs and articulate them to his staff, students and parents. He will also facilitate the development of a schoolwide philosophy based on the exchange of views by the staff. The principal must be ready to periodically examine his own philosophy and be ready to adjust when necessary. One statement of aims of education for me would be "Every child is afforded the opportunity to learn and succeed".
Yes, I believe that the principal as an instructional leader is also a curriculum worker in schools. The building principal has many roles in the school and it is his or her responsibility to know what is going on in that building and the curricula that are impacting and enhancing student learning. I also think that the principal should be able to serve as a point of reference for teachers in the building and be knowledgeable about the material that is being presented to the students. My personal goal in education would be to create a larger community of learners which would include students, staff, parents, and community members. I also would want to be certain that students are being prepared for their larger role in life as productive citizens and future leaders in their communities.
I believe that the principal has a pivotal role in curriculum development and implementation. He/she is present in the building and is the person who is primarily responsible for oversight. It is certain that the principal needs to be aware of the components of the curriculum to be able to observe, evaluate, and discuss practices within the school community. The Principal also has the role of stewarding a vision for the school community. He/she needs to be able to visualize and define good practices which include curriculum alignment, monitoring, professional development, and planning for change and modification.
I do believe a principal is a curriculum worker, a participant in many areas of curriculum development. I would say the principal should serve first as the facilitator and then as a collaborator especially in the development of philosophy and the statement of aims. ISLLC Standard 2 states the principal should be committed to advocating and nuturing a school culture and instructional program. Promoting collaboration among faculty and staff in curriculum development is vital to positive school culture and effective curriculum development. Based on my understanding of aims of education as presented in the textbook, I would say my statement of aims would be that every child have access to a rich, rewarding educational experience based on his/her needs in an environment that is safe and conducive to learning.
In the summary for Chapter 6, Olivia states, "The curriculum worker should be able not only to formulate his or her own statement of aims but should also be knowledgeable about historic and significant statements of aims." Is a principal a curriculum worker? Presumably, the wide majority of us hope to become principals (as opposed to curriculum specialists), so, what should be a principal's role in terms of curriculum? What would your statement of the aims of education be?
A prinpical is curriculum worker. S/he would have tobe to be a good and effective principal. They are part of the ball rolling. They need to faciliate the curriculum process. A principal should be very in touch with their philosophy and utilize that the create what they envision for their school. my statement of aims would include creatin glife lon learnera. I feel it would be vital to invovle parents, teachers and the community in order to grow, succeed and learn.
I agree with others that have stated that good principals are active participants in curriculum development. The principal has to be an active curriculum worker; otherwise he/she cannot claim to be the instructional leader. He/she needs to be able to facilitate all the parties involved in the curriculum development process. As the ISLLC states we need to work toward the success of every child, and one way that we can do that is to assist in making the curriculum the best it can possibly be.
An effective principal is directly involved in the design and implementation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices. The principal should be knowledgable in the best instructional practices and work to ensure the instruction at their school is reflective of the changing needs of society. My personal aims would be to support the instructional program of my school through attainment of resources, professional development opportunities, and setting an environment of high expectations for the success of all students and faculty.
The principal is a curricula worker since the principal is the instructional leader in the school. Yhe principal must have vision, and has the responsibility for the instruction in a school. It is the principal who should make sure that the curricula is proper for the school, community , and the learners.
I feel that the aim of education is to provide well-informed citizens, who are intelligent, and can make proper life choices.
Yes, a leader of an effecitve school is very much a part of the curriculum process. My statement would be to develop a community where achievment is shared, cultured, and expected by all members and our shared school community.
I think a principal must be a curriculum worker if a school is to be successful. I agree with terri in that, a principal should over see the continuing development of curriculum. It is his or her responsibility to promote the success of every child, and effective curriculum is a big part of that success.
No matter what the curriculum is it will not guide the learning process unless the building administrator leads his/her faculty. Therefore the building administrate is in essence a curriculum worker. My education aim is as follows:
To provide educational experiences that will produce well-informed, questioning, open-minded young people that are highly productive and thoughtful, and possess the education and want to follow not only personal interests, but also the skills needed to complete their social and community obligations.
Most definetly a principal is or should be the curriculum worker in a school. They should be knowledgeable or willing to learn more about instructional programs, materials, or resources located within their school. They should be ready to disucss instructional pracitces or aspects of curriculum with their faculty.
My aim of education statement: to create a positive school climate where teachers are empowered to be invovled in the decision making process and to reflect and improve upon their teaching practices in order to promote the success of every child.
It's nice to see that virtually everyone agrees that principals should be curriculum workers. I just hope that I can keep this in mind if I ever become a principal, because there are so many other managerial tasks that eat up school administrators' time, I'm afraid that it would be easy to lose sight of the curriculum piece.
Yes, I agree with many that a principal is a curriculum worker with in a school (and perhaps within the division). A school administrator should make personal visions and philosophies known so that other curriculum workers within the school have knowledge of such. Other roles include leading the process, delegating responsibilities, supporting effective changes, evaluating effectiveness, improving awareness and use of best instructional practices for self and faculty, etc.
My aim is to be an instructional leader who is visible, who is approachable, who is positive, and who advocates for the best equitable education for each child on a daily basis.
A principal should be a curriculum worker. Although it would be difficult as a principal to be an expert in all subject areas and benchmarks, a principal should be familiar with curriculum expectations and effectively use curriculum guides. When forming curriculum review committees a principal should be able to provide guidelines for effective review of the curriculum regardless if he or she is highly knowledgeable abut the subject area.
A principal is definitely a curriculum worker. He/she is certainly not an expert of all gradel levels and materials, however he/she should have a working knowledge of the curriculum being taught in the school, knowledge of "experts" to turn to with curriculum questions, and some working knowledge of the needs of the community in which the school resides.
My statement of aims would be to create a welcoming school where all children feel safe and are able to be successful.
As an instructional leader it is imperative that a principal has a voice in the curriculum design process as it effects his/her school. This does not mean that the principal must sit in on every committee and prepare every guide. However, it is important for the principal to be informed and aware of changes in the curriculum.
A principle IS a curriculum worker. As principle you are an instructional leader, and to be an instructional leader you must be actively involved with the curriculum.My aim of education would be to educate each child with the strategies necessary for each child to succeed.
The principal is definitely a curriculum worker as s/he is the leader of the school and the curriculum and is responsible for what occurs in the school. Whether the district is large enough to have curriculum specialists or not, it is still the principal's responsibility to make sure what is being developed and taught is appropriate. My aim of education is to have high expectations that all students can and will achieve and that they will learn skills in school that they can transfer to their everyday lives.
A principal is a curriculum worker for the district and her school. Her role as a curriculum leader would be to communicate her philosophy and expectations to staff. The principal would collaborate with teachers, curriculum specialists, staff, parents, and students. The principal would help establish a curriculum team. It is ultimately her responsibility to ensure students are learning curriculum to prepare them for end of year assessments.
My aim of education is for all students to learn and be successful in life.
I believe that a principal is a curriculum worker. The principal is "in charge" of the teachers. The teachers have a job of instructing the curriculum to the students. The principal needs to know the curriulum and help teachers as needs arise. If the principal does not have knowledge of the curriulum then the leadership of the principal will not be successful leading the teachers. When the principal does not know the curriculum that his/her teachers are teaching then the respect the teachers have for the principal is lessened.
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