Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, Educational Philosophy
- 1. 101 30 814 Educational Philosophy THE WAYS OF KNOWING THROUGH THE REALMS OF MEANING and LEADERSHIP Introduction The Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (Kritsonis, 2007) offers a pragmatic framework to educational leadership that will move educational organizations to develop the entire person. The educational organization must implement Dr. Kritsonis’ (2007) six fundamental patterns of meaning designated respectively as symbolics, empirics, esthetics, synnoetics, ethics, and synoptics. Educational leadership must include a strategic plan intertwining the six fundamental patterns of the Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (Kritsonis, 2007) constructs with innovative, analytical, and critical thinking that will improve and enhance the performance within the educational organization. Purpose The purpose of this essay is to discuss ways in which an educational leader can implement the Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (Kritsonis, 2007) into the curriculum and the strategic plan to create a high performing educational organization. Skilled strategic planning makes a current assessment of needs, develops the educational organization’s future thinking, build’s commitment, and serves as the guiding document for the educational organization. All leadership decisions are assessed according to the leader’s axiology (values). In turn the leadership tone then establishes the campus’ metaphysics (ultimate reality) and epistemology (meaning). The epistemology (meaning) must also consist of ontology (hard core reality).
- 2. 101 30 814 Educational Philosophy Symbolics The first realm of meaning is symbolics. Effective leadership is the cornerstone of an educational environment. Eaker and Gonzalez (2007) write that the learning leader creates systems to engage collaborative teams of teachers that support learning by communicating, planning, and working together. Educational leaders must use symbolics and the strategic plan to clearly communicate the vision of the educational organization and to guide the direction of the organization. As a means of setting a central goal that the educational organization will aspire to reach, the vision helps to provide a focus for the mission of the organization. The vision should resonate with every member of the organization. The educational leader must clearly communicate the organizations expectations so that members are able to perform effectively. Empirics The second realm of meaning is empirics. Empirics encompass facts and discovering the truth. The educational leader should use strategic planning, with an emphasis on empirics, to provide an understanding of the design of the educational organization’s assessment of needs, finances, and allow the organization to set specific data-driven priorities. The educational organization is obligated to be data driven to aide accountability within the organization. Assessment is required to constantly improve the strategic planning and ensure the execution of the educational organization’s vision. Esthetics Esthetics contains the various arts, such as music, the visual arts, the arts of movement, and literature (Kritsonis, 2007). Dr. Kritsonis says that health means wholeness which may be regarded as personal wholeness (2007). It is essential that
- 3. 101 30 814 Educational Philosophy strategic planning of an educational organization include a commitment to the development of the whole child. The educational leader should make a personal commitment to the individuals within the educational organization. Faculty and staff should feel valued. The educational leader should make an effort to be culturally proficient. The leader should take the time to familiarize themselves with people within the organization, acknowledge birthdays, birth of babies, and/or death in families. When people feel valued, they perform better. Synnoetics The fourth realm is synnoetics. It is imperative that an educational organization understand its present position to understand its future aspirations. Critical analyses of the educational organization’s internal and external environments provide information to assess the organization’s current needs and needs for future planning. Dr. Kritsonis clearly states, “A person is a being who both remembers and anticipates. He is related not only to himself as present, but also as past and as future” (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 397). The educational leader must also understand that learning is constant, the external environment is constantly changing and the educational organization must change. Ethics The fifth realm is ethics. Ethical standards are important to ensure that the educational leader and organization operates within the law and is viewed by the public as an ethical organization of learning. Codes of ethics within educational organization are necessary for promoting ethical teaching practices. The educational leader must always be ethical. Ethics provide the base upon which the vision, mission, and values are created.
- 4. 101 30 814 Educational Philosophy Synoptics Synoptics is the sixth realm. Dr. Kritsonis says this about synoptics, “This term comprises meanings having an integrative function, uniting meanings from all realms into a unified perspective that is, providing a “single vision” on “synopsis” of meanings” (2007, p. 483). Dr. Kritsonis relates that history is concerned with the understanding of past events and the historian must describe, order, and interpret events (2007). By reviewing the organization’s history, the leader builds upon past accomplishments or failures to broaden the organization’s reach. Concluding Remarks In conclusion, education is a focal point for American society today. The No Child Left Behind Act has expanded the federal government’s role in education. This came about because of the wide concern about the state of education. This legislation is expected to target every public school in America. At the core of the No Child Left Behind Act are a number of provisions designed to ensure broad gains in student achievement and student progress. The constant challenges in education and pressures of student achievement will be guided by a well-developed strategic plan that serves as an integral part of day-to-day leadership and future aspirations in educational organizations. Dr. Kritsonis’ Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (2007) provides a pragmatic framework that connects educational leadership to the six realms of meaning. The six realms provide the foundations for strategic planning that will be vision, mission, and value driven which will create a successful educational organization. The strategic planning aligns the organization with the environment and explores perspectives and cultures from around the globe to achieve long-term stability. Strategic planning is an ongoing process. Strategic planning in an
- 5. 101 30 814 Educational Philosophy educational organization will provide a framework to support high-quality, student- focused education. References Eaker, R., & Gonzalez, D. (2007). Leading in professional learning communities. National Forum of Educational Administration and Supervision Journal, 24(1), 6-13. Kritsonis, W. (2007). Ways of knowing through the realms of meaning. Houston, TX: National FORUM Journals.
- 6. 101 30 814 Educational Philosophy educational organization will provide a framework to support high-quality, student- focused education. References Eaker, R., & Gonzalez, D. (2007). Leading in professional learning communities. National Forum of Educational Administration and Supervision Journal, 24(1), 6-13. Kritsonis, W. (2007). Ways of knowing through the realms of meaning. Houston, TX: National FORUM Journals.