NZEALS President’s Research AwardS 2003

Dr. Richard Smith

Richard completed his Ph.D on the politics and efficacy of the Education Review Office (ERO) in 2002. He presently lecturers in the educational management and education studies postgraduate programmes in the School of Education at UNITEC.

Richard’s research focused on the ERO’s ‘treatment’ of Kura Kaupapa schools, as findings in his Ph.D research revealed an uneasy relationship between these organisation’s and a perception that the ERO conducted far more follow-up reviews of these institutions than any other type of school. The present research whilst noting this former position also highlighted the changing relations between these organisations, into a more supportive and more positive situation whereby the ERO and the Kura’s national organisation the Council of KKM Te Runanganui o Ngä Kura Kaupapa Mäori o Aotearoa worked together to change the methodology which was more culturally appropriate for KKM.

The research drew Richard into familiar territory as a long-term critical commentator of the ERO, as well as some new and less comfortable research arenas. It was new and challenging because of the foray of a Pakeha researcher with little Te Reo investigating kura (and the perception that this might create, as research on, rather than research with, in collaboration with Tangata Whenua.)

The research chronicled the long-standing commitment by the ERO to be a bi-cultural organisation with a large proportion of personnel conversant in Te Reo. This provided a background context for the more critical and crucial aspects. These involved reviewing the history of negatively perceived ERO reviews of kura. The actual research analysed some 79 ERO KKM reports and drew upon intensive interviews with KKM national personnel, Maori academics and Maori bureaucrats from central agencies. It was concluded that the ERO is in the process of changing its philosophy of review in this sector and thereby building more positive relationships with KKM. In this sense it is becoming more of a treaty partner with Maori as well as continually representing the interests central of the State/Crown. It was surmised that in the future there is the distinct possibility of establishing a separate Maori education review agency and thereby endorsing policies of Tino Rangatiratanga.

Richard’s work furthers the aims of NZEALS and contributes to the growth of quality educational administration and leadership in New Zealand.

Dr Marian Court

Marian’s doctoral research explains why and how co-principalships emerged in Aotearoa/New Zealand during the 1990s. Case study narratives of three primary school initiatives and discourse analyses of these and the state policy and regulatory environment, were developed between 1994-2000. These analyses show how groups of women teachers and their school boards grasped opportunities for change that had opened up in contradictions between market managerial, professional collaborative and feminist approaches to school leadership.

While the study illustrates how innovative practices can be constrained by governmental policy and regulations, as well as by social and material inequalities in school communities, it documents how democratic and inclusive forms of school leadership can be successfully established. The research identifies flaws in assumptions that a generic model of ‘strong’ management can be imposed across all schools, with assumed uniform results. It highlights the significance for educational leadership of issues around trust, openness, relationships, emotional management, communication, ethical behaviour, recognition and equal valuing of difference, professional collegiality and mutual accountability.

Marian’s work furthers the aims of NZEALS and contributes to the growth of quality research in educational administration and leadership in New Zealand.

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