Logic and semantics tell us our school Director should be the designated decision maker in charge of the day-to-day affairs at our International School. When this is true a school is most likely run as a serious academic institution focused on providing students the best education possible while supporting and valuing teachers.
Behind the scenes, some International Schools may have unseen forces at play, thus relegating the school head to the position of a “right hand man” charged with implementing the agenda of an individual or group of stakeholders. In countries where labor laws are lax or non-existent, where the wealthy and powerful are used to getting their way, the real power may not be where it should be.
3 examples:
1. As expressed in various ISR School Reviews, some International Schools are reported to be controlled by a small group of well-connected, wealthy, influential parents who exercise their clout to coerce the Administrator to bend their will. Relaxing grading procedures and even disciplinary consequences for the worst offenders, some of whom may be their own children, often top the agenda.
2. Groups of students are sometimes in control. Excessive socializing and the use of cell phones in the classroom, bullying, plagiarizing, cheating on exams and a host of other school rules expressly prohibited are flagrantly broken with little to no consequences. (see #1 above)
3. International Schools owned by a wealthy individual or family may have expressly hired the Director to serve as their CEO, who they have tasked with implementing a business strategy well hidden behind an International School facade. This is a recurring theme in some ISR School Reviews. Even the most well intended and qualified Admin will be forced to leave or follow orders.
Fortunately, not all International Schools fall into the above scenarios. Many schools are operated with the utmost of integrity with a well qualified Director at the helm. These are desirable institutions at which to teach. Research is the key to finding the right school for you.
What are the power dynamics at your school?
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Yes, the international education sector offer an array of experiences. A person’s level of adaptability, integrity and, let’s be honest, bank balance plays a significant role on how certain behaviours, business direction and practices are tolerated or accepted.
One either applies the:
No profession or job is perfect.
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The Inspired group are financed by private
equity and are focused on making money not education. The individual who started the company has ideas of education from the 1800’s
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Most schools in Middle East are run by parents and learners.
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It should be the board putting people in their right place, communicating in the interview honestly what their values are (both for staff and students), and then leaving the executive to execute the plan. From my experience, too many boards take a tactical approach, when their perspective should be experience.
But their school, their rules I guess.
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I meant strategic, not experience.
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Many International education and even voucher schools in some states are for-profit business run, not by educators or administrators trained to manage schools as institutions of learning, but rather as cash cows for greedy owner(s). Avaricious and manipulative non-educators (and some educators) far too often open un or take over an existing school and turn it into a cashcow where anyone is accepted, grades are manipulated for “compensations”, staff are intimidated and excesses condoned by the owner(s). These are “International” schools in name only and ISR member written reviews reveal their duplicity to its membership. How many time have I seen teachers say they wish they’d taken ISR evaluations seriously!
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I taught at the International Schule am Rein in Germany a few years ago. Unfortunately the school went into insolvency and was bought by a man who owned a trucking company. He assumed complete control both financially and academically. Anyone who did not fit his personal agenda was axed, creating a very toxic atmosphere for teachers as well as students. I think the school has expanded and seems to be surviving quite well. I am very glad to have gotten out of there.
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This is surprisingly common in Germany. The international schools there are just not very good.
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