Leadership in UAE, Essay Example

Introduction

At the foundation of every curriculum, including the preparation, design, and implementation process, is the educational philosophy of those who are directly involved in the process. Often times this influence can greatly affect the direction the school or school district follows with its curriculum instruction. Often times people are chosen who have a diversified instructional style as a way to meet the various learning styles of our children. The philosophy of the worker is reflected in his/her work. Their life experiences, common sense, social and economic background, education and general beliefs are brought into and reflected through their works. We must recognize the pervasiveness of philosophy; it determines our view of reality, what values are worthwhile to us, and we must remember that no one philosophy should serve as the exclusive guide for making decisions about curriculum.I believe I am more of a traditionalist. The traditional orientation would be seen as a school whose curriculum consists of carefully put together subject matter in the traditional subjects and where the school would emphasize hard work, strong ethics and discipline. Students are expected to store the knowledge they learn and use it to apply to rational thought throughout their schooling and life.

New Look of Teaching

Traditionally, teaching was a process of dispensing information. Teachers were told what, when, and how to teach. They were required to educate every student in exactly the same way, and were not held accountable when many failed to learn. They were expected to teach using the same methods as past generations, and any deviation from traditional practices was discouraged by supervisors or prohibited by educational laws and regulations. Thus, many teachers simply stood in front of their classes and delivered the same lessons year after year. Many teachers today, however, are encouraged to adapt and adopt new practices that acknowledge that all students do not learn in the same manner. The most important role of the teacher is to get to know each student as an individual in order to comprehend his or her unique needs, learning styles, social and cultural background, and interests, all of which affect the child’s learning ability.

Ethics in Leadership

Ethics and morals are often associated with types of religion, but schools often provide important lessons in ethical behavior. Nevertheless, there’s a fear that somehow teaching ethics in school will steer students towards a particular religious viewpoint. However, ethics must be taught and are being taught because schools are producing tomorrow’s leaders. It’s impossible not to teach ethics in a school. When schools have a code of conduct, they are teaching ethics. When teachers have classrooms rules, they are teaching ethics. By the time a child reaches middle school, his or her leadership qualities have began to emerge. All leaders began with having a vision. Leaders who changed their organizations were proactive and took risks. They recognized shifts in the interests or needs of those they were serving and anticipated the need to change. Educational leaders of change have specific characteristics. Society demands that teacher leaders work to influence and support colleagues to improve teaching practices in their classrooms; thus serving as models for professional group learning and continuous individual improvement. Those who are grade level chairs are team leaders; they are called upon to lead the work of their specific teams by publicly sharing how students in each classroom are progressing through the curriculum.

Vision

All leaders began with having a vision. Leaders who were able to change their organizations were willing to take risks in the best interests of stake holders. These leaders sought to make changes for the greater good even if some stakeholders were unhappy. Effective leaders have many of the same characteristics.  Society demands the teacher leaders work to influence and support colleagues in improving teaching practices in their classroom; thus serving as models for professionals group learning and continuous individual improvement. Those who are grade level chairs are team leaders; they are called upon to lead the work of their specified teams by publicly sharing how students in each classroom are progressing through the curriculum. All teacher leaders must also help create demand for changes in school, department, and grade level policies that increase student success, even those that are at the expense of teacher preferences, comfort, and convenience. For example, many teachers with no formal leadership training are able to influence students and co-workers in a positive manner. These teachers as leader are effective in doing so because they draw on diverse sources of power beyond formal authority. Teacher leaders can lead the way to a better future by stepping up, accepting responsibility for the learning of each and every student they encounter, acting as models for their colleagues, and to guiding and supporting them in the continuous improvement of classrooms and schools.  Ironically, when classroom teachers do embrace leadership challenges in his/her schools are often chastised by fellow teachers for exhibiting the desire to control and have power.

Commitment

Leadership is a role requiring courage and commitment.  Nonetheless, many teachers fear taking leadership roles because the essence of leadership lies in the capacity to deliver messages. It is imperative that these roles are filled in every school. If all the responsibility is left to administrators, public education is doomed. Nonetheless, when filling these roles of leaders, teachers must be aware able to do the following:  A good leader must be able to communicate, a good leader must have Godly characteristics, a good leader must have the type of character that motivates people to follow, a good leader must have a Godly goal in mind, a good leader must avoid the deadly leadership sins, and a good leader must be mature enough to reap the benefits of being a good leader.

Communication

Communication plays a key role in the success of any relationship. Good communication in the workplace helps achieve the desired outcomes for the employees and the organization in a variety of ways. When considering why communication is important, the bottom line is- if you’re a good communicator, you more likely to succeed in life. Good communicators are able to influence people, negotiate effectively, and provide valuable feedback. God conveys the importance of being able to effectively communicate with other through his teaching in proverbs. There are endless scriptures from proverbs that warn of the power of the tongue. Good communicators convey their ideas better to their students, they make interesting conversation with their co-workers, and they can speak to groups of people with self-confidence and credibility. The importance of communication skills cannot be understated. Likewise, it is the duty of good leaders to speak the truth even when it could possibly cause harm to themselves or position. A good leader should never use his or her communication skills to lead people away from the goal at hand. Clear communication with all members of the group is a vital component to success of teacher leaders. Boundaries must be communicated between teachers and students, principals and staff, and most importantly between man and God.

Characteristics of Leadership

I believe that modeling, inspiring, challenging, and encouraging – these are the four practices of Godly leadership that each leader should continue to develop. Godly leadership involves modeling the way. Personal credibility is the foundation. The real test to modeling the way is whether your words and actions line up. A leader must ask himself if what he says and what he does are the same. Consistency is a direct reflection of your character. Leaders must be clear about the values that guide them. Spending time with people, sharing your heart, being there and being visible during times of uncertainty are ways leaders model good leadership qualities. Handling difficulties with grace and calmness communicates your Godliness to others. Godly leadership involves inspiring a shared vision.

Conclusions

Having goals, vision and objectives of where you are headed as an organization are important. Others on the team need to share that vision. Vision is the ability to see in the invisible realm what God intends to accomplish in the visible realm, and then make it apparent (real) for others. Godly leaders are constantly helping others see God’s purpose and intention so they can become part of its accomplishment. Leaders inspire a shared vision by envisioning the future and enlisting others in a common vision. Leaders cannot command commitment; they can only inspire it.Leaders get tested every day.  Decisions must be made, problems must be solved, and actions must be taken. Of all the tests they face, however, the most critical to success revolve around the people they lead and how they lead them. There are plenty of temptations that lurk around every corner. They are the deadly sins of leadership.  Commit one, and leaders lose a key element of a dynamic team. If a leader commits them all, the team completely falls apart.Successful instructional strategies are the key to achieving high student out-put.  Schools that perform well are successful because they have ensured that their curriculum meets high learning expectations and consequences for those who do not meet standards. Students will meet high standards through scrupulous, strategic instruction by competent teachers who have students’ best interest at heart.Some students in a classroom may grasp and learn quickly, while others have to be repeatedly taught using different techniques. On the other hand, there are those students who believe school is merely for entertainment and put forth very little effort to learn; students must desire to learn in order to be taught. Teaching these students can be very difficult. Nonetheless, a positive relationship with students will not necessarily control of all the disruptive behaviors a teacher may encounter in the classroom. Yet, have the ability to lead is a great asset to help the teacher turn that classroom into an environment that is conducive to learning. Students want structure and routine in their classrooms and tend to learn more adequately in a well structured classroom.