Scholarship

(Re-) Constructing a Movement for Social Justice in Our Profession

By: Steven Jay Gross

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to describe the emergence of the New DEEL (Democratic-Ethical Educational Leadership) and the role it is attempting to play in confronting the excesses of the current accountability movement typified by massive standardized testing and No Child Left Behind legislation in the United States. This article depicts the choice facing the field of educational leadership that pits a top-down control regime, modeled after corporations on the one hand against a progressive, democratic-ethical alternative on the other hand. A brief account of the historic traditions of the latter and its ties to the cause of social justice is also offered. Representing the democratic-ethical tradition in this era, The New DEEL movement, originating in university departments of educational leadership and policy studies in the US, Canada, Australia, is portrayed. This account includes the New DEEL’s mission, emerging set of educational leadership skills, and recent accomplishments.

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International Electronic Journal For Leadership in Learning
Volume 10, Number 30
December 15, 2006
ISSN 1206-9620