Refocusing educational leadership in an age of overshoot : embracing an education for sustainable development

Bottery, Michael

Abstract

This article argues that many of the aims and objectives of educational leadership need to be re-focused upon a largely neglected issue, that of an education for sustainable development (ESD). Research suggests that the concept of ESD - and particularly the interrelationships between environmental, social, and economic sustainabilities - is not fully appreciated by many school leaders, and yet this is an essential precondition for educational action. This article suggests one way in which this area might be conceptualised, and argues that an appreciation and development of more sustainable schools should lead to a refocusing of the work of educational leaders. Such refocusing would also present new challenges for educational leaders, for it will initiate debates about what constitutes a 'good society', about permissible levels of economic growth and consumption, about how to address current and future problems, and what actions need to be taken to achieve these.

Citation

Bottery, M. (2011). Refocusing educational leadership in an age of overshoot : embracing an education for sustainable development. International studies in educational administration, 39(2),

• Publication Date: 2011-06
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 26, 2016
• Journal: International studies in educational administration
• Print ISSN: 1324-1702
• Publisher: Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 2
• Keywords: Educational leadership
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/436980
• Publisher URL: http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/65389635/refocusing-educational-leadership-age-overshoot-embracing-education-sustainable-development
• Additional Information: This is an authors accepted version of an article published in International studies in educational administration, 2011, v.39 issue 2.