A Cultural Challenge for School Administrators

Abstract

The job of a school administrator has changed over time from one of primarily administrative processes and functions to that of competencies and proficiencies. Incorporated within these competencies and proficiencies is the ability to understand the aspects of group dynamics, group and individual process skills, collaborative action, team building and, of course, cultural diversity. However, the understanding that cultural diversity exists at a school is not enough; the school administrator must understand the characteristics and expectations of the different cultural groups within the school community, including faculty, parents, and students. The Administrator must also develop a proactive strategy to address any potential "cultural" conflicts and misunderstanding that might arise. This paper reviews and introduces the reader to current research about individualism and collectivism as two important and diverse types of cultural characteristics through defining "culture", presenting the characteristics of individualistic and collectivist societies, addressing the importance of the school administrator understanding cultural differences, and presenting of effective tips for the school administrator to use in improving school-community understanding between cultures.