Promoting social justice in schools: principals’ political strategies

Abstract

This article describes a study that explores the ways in which principals use their political acumen to promote social justice in their schools. Employing face‐to‐face interviews with 28 principals who have worked in a variety of schools, the study examines the principals’ efforts to understand their political contexts, the manner in which they employ their knowledge in the strategies that they use and the ways in which they strategically monitor their actions as they work towards their equity goals. The study concludes that principals need to acknowledge the importance of engaging in political activity in their organizations. More than this, however, they need to combine their intellectual and strategic abilities with personal and social qualities like courage, boldness and care if they are to move their social justice agendas along.