Principals’ Views on Civic and Parental Participation in School Governance in Switzerland
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Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2017
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Type
01A - Journal article
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Parent work
Educational Administration Quarterly
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
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Series
Series number
Volume
35
Issue / Number
Pages / Duration
1-31
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SAGE
Place of publication / Event location
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Abstract
Purpose: The study is focused on the question of how principals in Swiss
compulsory schools evaluate civic and parental participation in education
governance. Public management reforms in Switzerland have led to
the implementation of semiautonomous school administration and the
encouragement of professional leadership. Thus, the traditional role of school
boards has come under scrutiny. Research Methods/Approach: Using the
theoretical framework of actor-centered institutionalism, the study compares
patterns of education policies in Swiss cantons and analyzes data of a principals’
survey by structural equation modelling. Findings: The views of principals
concerning lay participation in school governance reveal a multifaceted picture.
Principals affirm lay participation on the levels of the right to be informed, the
right to be heard, and the right to volunteer; they regard with skepticism
the authority of lay participants to make decisions. Implications for
Research and Practice: Principals tend to insist on professional discretion
and opt against the blurring of boundaries between schools and their social
environment. This implies the self-justification of professional leadership. That
such self-justification does not derive from a neutral perspective, but is an
expression of stakeholder interests, has to be taken into account.
Keywords
participation, school governance, education policy, public management
Subject (DDC)
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ISBN
ISSN
0013-161X
1552-3519
1552-3519
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
License
Citation
Quesel, C., Näpfli, J., & Buser, P. (2017). Principals’ Views on Civic and Parental Participation in School Governance in Switzerland. Educational Administration Quarterly, 35, 1–31. http://hdl.handle.net/11654/25104