Teaching Educational Administration: Reflections on Our Craft

I wish to talk about one aspect of our work in educational administration—specifically, the preparation of practitioners who will head schools, school districts and other educational organizations. Most of what I will say will focus on pre-service or, at least, relatively early study in our field. One might question the wisdom of exposing one’s views on that topic before this particular audience; who has as much experience with, and knowledge about, the education of school administrators as those who attend UCEA meetings? Participants in this association—in contrast to many academic groups—pay serious attention to teaching issues. I decided to take the risks involved in order to reap the benefits of informed, and, I hope, interested listeners.