Issue Number 9, September 1997
School improvement, especially through a schoolwide approach, is neither easy nor
simple. It requires a potent mix of careful planning and collegial interchange. Successful
improvement occurs when the structures needed to change are in place and when a strong,
collaborative school culture that inspires staff and community exists to support change.
It demands both management and leadership on the part of principals, teachers, and often,
parents and students.
In this issue we look at the technical and symbolic sides of school improvement. We will
see how they are both an integral part of this process. That they must be blended and
strengthened in schools for school improvement to be successful.
The Technical Side of School Improvement
The technical or structural side of school improvement is the one most educators know and
understand. This involves the formal planning and implementing part of school reform.
The Technical Side involves the following:
This process is organized and managed collaboratively in many schools. It requires
thoughtful reflection , careful planning, and understanding of the difficulties of the
change process. This is the carefully structured and managed view of school improvement.
It is important and useful, but it is only half of the process. To make school improvement
work, a school should also pay attention to the symbolic side of the process. This
involves knowing and working with the culture of the school.
The Symbolic Side of School Improvement
While the technical/structural side focuses on organizing, planning, and implementing
school changes, the symbolic side highlights the importance of working with the complex,
human aspect of school culture. School culture is the underlying set of norms, values, and
beliefs held by staff, the traditions and rituals that celebrate purpose, and the cultural
network of visionaries, storytellers, and heroines who keep hopes, dreams and
communication flowing. The school culture can either make or break school reform efforts.
School leaders, teachers and principals, must understand and nurture a culture that
supports improvement, collaboration, and a focus on student learning.
The Symbolic Side of school improvement involves:
The school culture needs to be understood, nurtured, and, if necessary,
changed. How do educators accomplish this? Do a history of the school and look at current
practices. Identify what norms and beliefs fit with a positive vision for the school,
encourage and discuss them. Create transitional rituals such as retreats, community
celebrations, or deep discussions of purpose to move on to new norms and values. Work
closely with the informal leaders and "historians" of the school to focus on the
positive, supportive ideals of the school. And hold regular times to assess where you are,
move past mistakes, and celebrate accomplishments. Make the culture nurture the school
improvement process.
Combining the Technical and Symbolic Elements of Improvement
School improvement requires both careful planning and supportive school cultures. Formal
and informal leaders provide the energy and vision to help the school blend and balance
these two elements of improvement. Without a vision and values, a plan is dry and
heartless. Without a plan that is implemented carefully, a vision remains a lost hope.
Combining both technical and symbolic elements can make schoolwide programs work
effectively and with a deeper purpose.
References
This article is adapted from Terrence E. Deal and Kent D. Peterson (1991), "The
Principal's Role in Change: Technical and Symbolic Aspects of School Improvement."
Madison, WI. Wisconsin Center for Educational Research. (Used with permission.)
Deal, Terrence E. and Peterson, Kent D. (1994). The Leadership Paradox: Balancing Logic
and Artistry in Schools. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass Publishers.
Wilson, Bruce and Firestone, William. (1987). "The Principal and Instruction:
Combining Bureaucratic and Cultural Linkages." Educational Leadership, v. 45,
n. 1.
This column is prepared by Kent D. Peterson, Ph.D., Senior Training and Research Specialist for this Center and Professor of Educational Administration, University of WisconsinMadison. He has written extensively for both scholarly and practitioner publications and worked with schools and leadership institutes across the country. His current book is The Leadership Paradox coauthored with Terrence Deal.
The activities reported in this document were supported by the U.S. Department of Education under grant number #S283A50012-95B funded by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, and by the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER), School of Education, University of WisconsinMadison. The opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of OESE or of WCER.
Top of the page