Existential Crises in Educational Administration and Leadership : Existential Anxiety and Loss of Meaning in the Gaze of Munch’s ‘The Scream’

This book examines the theoretical foundations relevant to existential issues in educational leadership and management, taking inspiration from Munch’s painting The Scream__.__ The book considers internationally relevant topics such as the growth of neoliberalism, globalisation, cultural shifts, forced migration and the digitalisation of the socio-cultural sphere and uniquely positions these crises as existential threats, rather than simply political, cultural, or social. The volume explores this complex set of dimensions in existential experience and outlines the implications for research and teaching in educational leadership. By exemplifying the narrative and introspective nature of existential research, the book addresses major aspects of the field including the impact such threats have on organisational studies, policy, administrative structures and practices, and leadership. This timely collection on existential issues in administration and leadership will appeal to academics, scholars, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. It will also be of great interest for students in teacher education programmes and graduate courses in educational administration and leadership, organisation studies, and educational ethics for broad international use. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Contributors 1. Existential Threats, Crises, and Disciplinary Responses: Educational Administering and Leading in an Emerging Zeitgeist of Angst Introduction What is Existentialism? The Rise of Existentialism in Other Disciplines and Fields Existentialism in Education Volume Overview References Part I: Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations 2. Standing at the Edge of Abysses: Existential Threats to Education and its Administration and Leadership, or, Communing with Kafka in the Abyss Introduction Origins of the Metaphor: What is an Existential Abyss? Contemporary Abysses Education Conclusion: Whither Educational Administration References 3. The Sublime, Affect Phrasing, and Les Petits Narratives in Educational Leadership Introduction Lyotard and Language Games The Sublime, Event, Affect Phrase, and Les Petits Narratives Affect phrases The event/les petits narratives The sublime Conclusion: Phrasing Educational Leadership Notes References 4. Creating and Sustaining a Politics of Outrage and Indignation, While 'Screaming' Back at Educational Leadership as a Bullshit Idea The Time for Being Silent is Over... What then, Makes Educational Leadership such a Bullshit Idea? Who Else is Speaking Back to Bullshit Educational Leadership? Why Are We Continuing to Have this Bullshit Language Driving the Discourse of Educational Leadership? Arsehole Management... Bullshit Leadership's Close Accomplice Remaking Educational Leadership References Part II: Teaching and Researching Crises 5. Out of the Shadows: The Power of Art to Transform Conversations in Leadership Introduction Personal Positioning Distinguishing Features Of Aesthetics and Art Framing The Arts-Aesthetic Attitude 'Making special' Seeing differently Art and Aesthetics in Educational Administration Higher Education: Promise and Pitfalls Arts-As-Action in The Leadership Classroom Sharing The Knowledge Base: Educational Administration and Adult Education Theories of 'conscientization' Ethos of teaching/learning Sensitivity to personal taboos Healing dichotomies of mind and body Global responsibility The pleasure principle Arts in Practice: Research, Pedagogy, and Community Outreach Arts-based research as leveller Pedagogy: Insights into lesser-known subjects Community outreach Further Thoughts On Application Coda Note References 6. The 'Why' Matters Most: A Framework for Activist Art Making to Transform School Communities to Promote Social Justice Introduction Critical Dialogue Social critique and action Mariel Joshua Christa Bottom line Leshun Social justice art making and empowerment Mariel Joshua Christa Leshun Creating spaces to challenge injustices Mariel Joshua Christa Leshun Discussion Conclusion References 7. Educating Administrators and the Fear of Freedom in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism Introduction The Fear of Freedom Digital Transformation As The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Educating School Administrators and Teachers in The Age of Ubiquitous Computing: The Need for Anthropological Education Note References Part III: Contemporary Issues and Cases Internationally 8. The Meaning of Voice in our Search for Authenticity Introduction Theoretical Framework Professional Learning Communities The Characteristics of A Professional Learning Community Nurturing A Collaborative Culture End Note References 9. The Scream and the 'Dependent Beauty' of Betsy DeVos Introduction Background: The American Federal Department of Education The Royal Rich in Western Michigan Christian Nationalism: Doing God's Work Becoming Trump's Federal Secretary of Education The Devos Debacle Before The Senate Sub-Committee Betsy Devos At Work The issue of for-profit universities and student debt The issue of sexual assault on college campuses A failure to take a stand on guns in schools A refusal to cut funding to schools that discriminate Withdrawing support for transgendered students School choice pushed even in the midst of a pandemic The End of The Existential Scream References 10. The Stoic Leadership of Dialogic Engagement: Expressionist Reflections on Surviving the Scream Against Toxic Leadership and Management in Higher Education Introduction The Scream as Metaphor of Resistance in Higher Education Workplaces Methods At risk of Disappearing: Critical Thinking, Freedom of Speech, and Resistance Toxic Leadership and Management in Higher Education Results Trust and Leadership Forum Trust and Leadership Interviews Selected Trust and Leadership Survey Responses Conclusion: Analysing Discernible Elements of Stoic Leadership Notes References Afterword: Or, how to cling to the abyssal edge References Index "This book examines the theoretical foundations relevant to existential issues in educational leadership and management, taking inspiration from Munch's painting The Scream. The book considers internationally relevant topics such as the growth of neoliberalism, globalisation, cultural shifts, forced migration and the digitalisation of the socio-cultural sphere and uniquely positions these crises as existential threats, rather than simply political, cultural or social. The volume explores this complex set of dimensions in existential experience and outlines the implications for research and teaching in educational leadership. By exemplifying the narrative and introspective nature of existential research, the book addresses major aspects of the field including the impact such threats have for organisational studies, policy, administrative structures and practices, and leadership. This timely collection on existential issues in administration and leadership will appeal to academics, scholars, researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. It will also be of great interest for students in teacher education programmes and graduate courses in educational administration and leadership, organisation studies, and educational ethics for broad international use"-- Provided by publisher