REFLECTIVE JOURNAL TWO: PURPOSE OF SCHOOL 1
Reflective Journal Two: Purpose of School
Deborah Schloemer-Frazer
Liberty University
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL TWO: PURPOSE OF SCHOOL 2
Reflective Journal Two: Purpose of School
The purpose of school changes through the years as if it were a pendulum, sometimes
swinging too far in either direction. It is difficult to find a middle ground, especially in diverse
settings that present many different values and accessibility options. Even with all of the
complexities of schools, most would agree that school is meant to educate our students and
promote success in their future. I believe the purpose of education is to provide learning
opportunities for students through rigorous standards while still making accommodations and
modifications for students who need more or less rigor.
I believe in this purpose of education because of my experiences and learned knowledge.
As a growing and somewhat newer leader, I have already learned information that has developed
my viewpoint about education within the past five years. The message “Your world as an
educator has changed” (Harvey et al., 2013, p. 1) was powerful because I can already see it
changing. My growing understanding of educational components that are considered when
integrating practices, along with my personal experiences of being a student and educator, has
built a foundation for my view of the purpose of education.
Leaders around the world utilize different strategies from their foundational perspectives.
Every leader has their unique style based upon their characteristics, values, strengths, and
weaknesses. These variables build leaders that often have similar approaches based on their
styles. It seems that successful leaders carry qualities from different administrative theories. I
seem to relate most with transformational leadership, which incorporates the “leadership role of
uniting teachers, parents, and students” (Coley, 2006). It is beneficial for a student’s team to all
collaborate.
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL TWO: PURPOSE OF SCHOOL 3
My viewpoint on the purpose of education has developed as I have learned more over the
years; I can now define my purpose and support it. As a leader, it is important to understand the
historical trend of education along with the trends and events affecting leaders’ focus and
decisions. While different leadership philosophies have their own strengths in different fields,
education is a unique field with many components to consider.
People look to their leaders for the right answers, so being knowledgeable and caring is
important while also staying focused on the goal. As a future administrator, I hope to use my
administrative philosophy to guide a school system and to guide myself. My goal is to include
the teachers and empower them with the knowledge of leadership, which improves many areas
of education (Louws et al., 2020).
It is important to keep direction, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10
(English Standard Bible, 2001). I agree with Harvey et al., 2013, when they explain how there
have been reforms for over half of a century, but it is time to address “the hard issues, and we
have approached them timidly. Now, we must confront them forcefully” (Harvey et al., 2013, p.
7). As an administrator, my philosophy will lead me to address the hard issues, not by myself but
by finding a team of teacher experts with the best hands-on knowledge (Harvey et al., 2013).
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL TWO: PURPOSE OF SCHOOL 4
References
Coley, K. S. (2006). The Helmsman: Leading with courage and wisdom. Colorado Springs, CO:
Purposeful Design. ISBN: 9781583310731
English Standard Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Harvey, J., Cambron-McCabe, N., Cunningham, L. L., & Koff, R. H. (2013). The
superintendent’s fieldbook: A guide for leaders of learning (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks,
CA: Corwin.
Louws, Zwart, R., Zuiker, I., & Meijer, P. (2020). Exploring school leaders’ dilemmas in
response to tensions related to teacher professional agency. Professional Development in
Education., 46(4).
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