THE ETHICAL BUILDING LEADER

MAS 5080Dred D. Scott, Ed. D.

Session

4

Welcome Guest Speakers Mrs. Janet Gibbs – retired

principal

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Leadership and Ethics Ethical Theory

Provides a system of rules or principles as a guide in making decisions about what is right/wrong and good/bad in a specific situation

Provides a basis for understanding what it means to be a morally decent human being

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FRAMING THE ISSUE Ethic of Care

“The first job of schools is to care for our children.” Noddings, 1992

Who is hurt? What are long-term effects of the decision? Caring, concern, connection Decision-making requires leaders to consider multiple voices.

Consequentialism The moral worth of an action is determined by its resulting outcome, and that one can only weigh the morality of an action after know all its consequences.

The Principle of Benefit MaximizationWhenever we are faced with a choice,

the best and most just decision is the one that results in the most good or greatest benefit for the most people.

Of all the things a person might do at any given moment, the morally right action is the one with the best overall consequences.

ConsequentialismConsequentialism is based on two principles:1. Whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of that act

2. The more good consequences an act produces, the better or more right that act

It gives us this guidance when faced with a moral dilemma: A person should choose the action that maximizes good consequences

Different forms of consequentialism differ over what the good thing is that should be maximized.

Utilitarianism states that people should maximize human welfare or well-being (which they used to call 'utility' - hence the name).

Hedonism states that people should maximize human pleasure.

Utilitarianism A form of Consequentialism

Ethical theory holding that the proper course of action is one that maximizes the overall “happiness” of those impacted by the decision.

Idealism Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) Gives priority to ideals, principles, values, and goals over concrete realities.

View the world as it might or should be.

Treat people as an end not a means to an end.

THE TROLLEY DILEMMA

Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham, best known for his advocacy

of utilitarianism“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on the other the chain of causes and effects, are fastened to their throne. They govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think...”

— Jeremy Bentham, The Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789) Ch I, p 1

Non-consequentialism Does not rely solely on consequences of an

action Also takes into consideration the dignity

(equal respect) of the persons impacted by the action

The Principle of Equal RespectRequires that we act in ways that respect

the equal worth of moral agents. It requires that we regard human beings as having intrinsic worth and treat them accordingly

The Golden Rule

Ethic of Care Often viewed as the opposite of the Ethic of Justice

Justice aims at a society and at personal relationships in which people are treated fairly, where they get what they are due, in which they are respected as equals, and where mutually agreeable conditions of cooperation are respected.Caring aims at a society and at personal relationships in which nurturance and relationships are highly valued.

-K. Strike (1999)

Ethic of Care“The first job of the schools is to care for our children.”

“Caring is the very bedrock of all successful education and…contemporary schooling can be revitalized in its light.”

-Noddings (1992)

Ethic of Care“Caring – as a foundational ethic – addresses concerns as expressed by many persons; that it, in a sense, transcends ideological boundaries.”

-Beck (1994)

Ethic of Care Who will benefit from what I decide?

Who will be hurt by my actions?

What are the long-term effects of a decision I make today?

If I am helped by someone now, what should I do in the future about giving back to this individual or to society in general?

Ethic of Care Closely linked to Utilitarianism The concept of the greatest happiness of the greatest number

Gives less scope to a kind of moral philosophy modeled on law, with its hidden and complex structures and formulae known only to the initiates

Ethic of Care in the Educational Context In the past, educational leaders were trained using military and business models Value hierarchy, top down, being in command and in charge of subordinates

Rules, policies, and standard operating procedures

Ethic of Care in the Educational Context Educational leaders need to recognize the importance of leadership styles that emphasize relationships and connection

Encourage collaborative efforts between staff and students

Involve others in the education process and decision making

EQ v. IQ Emotional Intelligence

TURBULENCE THEORY

Turbulence Theory as a Metaphor Steve Gross Story (Ch. 3)

Turbulence experienced in flight

Turbulence experienced by objects in water

Turbulence is not always negative

Gross’ Questions How might the levels of disturbance facing innovating schools be described so that different degrees of challenge could be compared?

How might the emotional strength of that disturbance be more thoroughly understood?

How might the school look at its own disturbance in a measured way so that reasoned action could be more likely?

Might there be a positive aspect to disturbances facing schools that decide to innovate? Or, was turbulence always a detrimental force always to be avoided or at least diminished?

Definitions of TurbulenceShapiro p. 8 Light Turbulence Moderate Turbulence Severe Turbulence Extreme Turbulence

Positionality (p. 44) Cascading (p. 46) Stability (p. 47)

Turbulence Theory Cycle

Step One: Consider the level of

turbulence in the dilemma

Step Two: Think through all of the ethical paradigms.

Which one(s) inform your

decision best?

Step Three: Consider how an action resulting

from ethical paradigms may affect the

turbulence level

Case Studies Group 1

Case Study 10.1 (When Enthusiasm Is Not Enough) pp. 197-198

Answer questions 1-5*ignore reference to Ethic of Profession

Group 2 Case Study 10.2 (Whose Values Should We Accept?) pp. 199-200

Answer questions 1-4