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组建具有创造力的城市公立学校联盟

时间:2023-07-16 理论教育 版权反馈
【摘要】:(一)董事会联盟的组织结构董事会联盟是美国最大的城市公立学校系统所组成的联盟,旨在改善城区学生的教育,领导和管理城市公立学校,激励和增强公众的信心,帮助学生达到最高的学术标准,把学生培养成具有创造力的成功人士。董事会不仅要为自己成为有效的董事会成员而负责,还要为有效的学校体制负责。

组建具有创造力的城市公立学校联盟

(一)董事会联盟的组织结构

董事会联盟是美国最大的城市公立学校系统所组成的联盟,旨在改善城区学生的教育,领导和管理城市公立学校,激励和增强公众的信心,帮助学生达到最高的学术标准,把学生培养成具有创造力的成功人士。[33]为了解决某些特定问题,董事会联盟建立了五个特别工作组[34]:财政工作组,试图找到解决城市学校资金不均衡的途径;英语语言学习者与双语教育工作组,关注英语语言学习者所遇到的问题;成绩工作组,用来降低不同学生之间的学术成绩差距;领导和管理工作组,处理学校领导和管理问题;专业发展工作组,向教师和管理者提供最新的工具和技术来改善学生成绩。[35]

为了提供财政和管理的支持,董事会联盟在执行委员会内设三个小组委员会:规章制度小组委员会,在适当的法律和规章的框架下,界定董事会联盟的任务、职责和构成;审计小组委员会,复查和研究预算问题,确保财政收入的正确使用;成员资格小组委员会,设定合适的会员资格,招募、筛选、推荐新成员。[36]

(二)董事会联盟的职能及思考

联盟通过电视台和广播电台,提出新一轮的公共服务声明和视频,支持共同核心标准,推出一系列新手段,帮助学区选择与新标准一致的高质量的教材。联盟也研发一套独特的标准,帮助学区选择英语语言学习者急需的教材,鼓励出版商改善教材的质量和严谨性。[37]

联盟通过法规、交流、研究、技术援助,让美国的立法者、媒体和公众了解大城市学校取得的进步和存在的问题。联盟对课程、研究、测验、财政、管理运行、人力、技术、法规、交际、与其他组织和政府决策者合作等领域也都有一定的责任。[38]联盟已在2008年对美国42个学区进行调研,2014年对美国53个学区进行调查。

综上,董事会管理的特色在于:

1.追求管理的效率

董事会在管理过程中,在坚持关注学生学术成绩的前提下,注重制定多样的管理标准与政策,提高董事会的决策能力、领导能力,积极进行财政预算。有效化解来自社区、职员和学校管理者的压力。董事会要避免出现只知道履行审批手续,机械式地盖公章的行为。董事会的有效领导主要依据政策进行管理、制定有效的管理规划与责任方案。

2.维护伙伴关系

这种伙伴关系不仅体现在董事会成员内部,尊重各个成员的价值观念,也体现在董事会重视保持与督学、州和地方机构、社区之间有效的关系,让社区参与项目的战略规划,利用有利条件,主动实现学区目标。在做出最终决策前,获得公共的支持。在学校共同体的外部(如社区)和内部(如教师)推动消息的流动,通过内部通讯、新闻稿、互联网以及任务发布会,全面解释董事会目前的行为和被提议的行为。

3.注重董事会成员的核心素养

董事会要求成员信守秘密,充分认识到自身被界定的成员角色。招募未来董事会成员,公职竞选或填充空额[39]。根据适当的自我评估,定期考察董事会的表现,坚持足够的培训。[40]

当然,董事会的管理也会遇到一些问题,例如,由于联邦和州的责任和评估的变化以及新的教育需求,学区正面临许多挑战。在解释政策、分配资源、调整专业发展、采用课程和教学实践等方面,董事会的有效领导将成为一个决定性的因素[41]。为了让董事会展现出有效的领导力,成员必须分辨出学区中的政策角色和管理角色,但在实际的管理过程中容易混淆政策角色与管理角色,很难真正厘清各自在管理体制中的角色和职责。

针对以上对美国城市公立中小学董事会的管理政策的研究,有以下几点经验值得思考:

第一,重视董事会自身的培训。应为成员提供与其供职的角色相关的各种实质性培训,提供自我评价报告、政策手册、教育报告、立场文件、国家和地方培训项目、学校法规等培训资源。董事会应积极参加团队的专业发展和培训,努力建构共享的知识、价值观和义务,为新当选的董事会成员举办上岗培训研讨班[42],通过正规培训,让新成员了解董事会的职能、政策与程序,重视成员在建立目标、制定指标、调整资源与目标、监督过程及公众交流等方面的作用,重视成员的正规和非正规学习活动的价值。

第二,加强董事会的核心素养。董事会不仅要为自己成为有效的董事会成员而负责,还要为有效的学校体制负责。通过尽责的管理行为和集体能力,履行自身的义务和职责[43],实现学校的有效管理。

第三,坚持集体商讨。董事会要关注政策,在政策制定、预算、适当的评价及培训等方面,与督学、其他地方机构及公众建立良好的关系。制定学区发展的远景计划,创造优质的氛围,确保财政责任与项目责任,开发课程标准,依靠政策进行管理。

【注释】

[1]L.A.Karoly,C.W.A.Panis.The 21st Century at Work:Forces Shaping the Future Workforce and Workplace in the United States.Santa Monica,CA:Rand.2004:xviii.

[2]D.Hornbeck,L.M.Salamon.Human Capital and America’s Future.Baltimore,MD:Johns Hopkins University Press,1991:1-28.

[3]Sergio Alfredo Canal.California School Boards:Professional Development and the Masters in Governance Training.University of Southern California,2013:35.

[4]The Council of the Great City Schools.“Urban School Board Survey:Characteristics,Structure,and Benefits,Second Survey and Report”.Urban Indicator,Fall 2009:3.

[5]The Council of the Great City Schools.“Urban School Board Survey:Characteristics,Structure,and Benefits,Second Survey and Report”.Urban Indicator,Fall 2009:12.

[6]Sergio Alfredo Canal.California School Boards:Professional Development and the Masters in Governance Training.University of Southern California,2013:41.

[7]Eugene R.Smoley.Effective School Boards:Strategies for Improving Board Performance (1st ed.) .San Francisco:Jossey-Bass,1999:4-5.

[8]Deborah Land.“Local School Boards under Review:Their Role and Effectiveness in Relation to Students’ Academic Achievement”.Review of Educational Research,2002 (2):229-278.

[9]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:180-182.

[10]The Council of the Great City Schools.“Urban School Board Survey:Characteristics,Structure,and Benefits,Second Survey and Report”.Urban Indicator,Fall 2009:10.

[11]外展服务,是一种组织的活动,它是向社区的人们提供服务或者建议,尤其是对不能或者不喜欢到医院、办公室等地方寻求帮助的人群,在服务机构之外的场域所提供的社区服务等。

[12]The Council of the Great City Schools.“Urban School Board Survey:Characteristics,Structure,and Benefits,Second Survey and Report”.Urban Indicator,Fall 2009:9.

[13]审计员,是检查董事会业务和财政记录的人员。(www.xing528.com)

[14]The Council of the Great City Schools.“Urban School Board Survey:Characteristics,Structure,and Benefits,Second Survey and Report”.Urban Indicator,Fall 2009:6-8.

[15]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:205-207.

[16]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:207-209.

[17]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:191-209.

[18]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:192-196.

[19]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:192-196.

[20]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:192-196.

[21]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:196-199.

[22]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:196-199.

[23]The Council of the Great City Schools.“Urban School Board Survey:Characteristics,Structure,and Benefits,Second Survey and Report”.Urban Indicator,Fall 2009:11.

[24]National Commission on Excellence in Education.A Nation at Risk:Findings and recommendations.http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/index.html,2016-09-10.

[25]Sergio Alfredo Canal.California School Boards:Professional Development and the Masters in Governance Training.University of Southern California,2013:35.

[26]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:175-177.

[27]Sergio Alfredo Canal.California School Boards:Professional Development and the Masters in Governance Training.University of Southern California,2013:18.

[28]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:199-201.

[29]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:199-201.

[30]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:201-203.

[31]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:201-203.

[32]The Council of the Great City Schools.“Urban School Board Survey:Characteristics,Structure,and Benefits,Second Survey and Report”.Urban Indicator,Fall 2009:9.

[33]The Council of the Great City Schools.Annual Report 2014-2015.http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/16/Annual%20Report%20finalwebsite.pdf,2016-07-14.

[34]特别工作组(task forces):是指为解决某些问题而成立的特殊工作小组。

[35]The Council of the Great City Schools.Annual Report 2014-2015.http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/16/Annual%20Report%20 final-website.pdf,2016-07-14.

[36]The Council of the Great City Schools.Annual Report 2014-2015.http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/16/Annual%20Report%20 final-website.pdf,2016-07-14.

[37]The Council of the Great City Schools.Annual Report 2014-2015.http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/16/Annual%20Report%20final-website.pdf,2016-07-14.

[38]The Council of the Great City Schools.Annual Report 2014-2015.http://www.cgcs.org/cms/lib/DC00001581/Centricity/Domain/16/Annual%20Report% 20 final-website.pdf,2016-07-14.

[39]Rickey Joe Williams.Practices of Board Presidents and Superintendents in Academically High-achieving Texas Urban School Districts.The University of Texas at Austin,2008:38.

[40]Deborah Land.“Local School Boards under Review:Their Role and Effectiveness in Relation to Students’ Academic Achievement”.Review of Educational Research,2002 (2):229-278.

[41]Sergio Alfredo Canal.California School Boards:Professional Development and the Masters in Governance Training.University of Southern California,2013:38.

[42]这种培训研讨班主要是任职前的培训与训练。

[43]J.P.Danzberger,M.W.Kirst,M.D.Usdan.Governing Public Schools:New Times New Requirements.Washington,D.C.Institute for Educational Leadership,1992:82.

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