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parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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[148 J<br />

Creat<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>culture</strong> <strong>of</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>volves the creation <strong>of</strong> accountability. This<br />

means the development <strong>of</strong> a common purpose or mission among <strong>parents</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>pr<strong>in</strong>cipals</strong>, with clear, mutually agreed <strong>and</strong> understood responsibilities<br />

(Department <strong>of</strong> Education, 1995:22).<br />

2.25 More than three quarters <strong>of</strong> the <strong>parents</strong> (77,5%) were <strong>in</strong> agreement that the<br />

pr<strong>in</strong>cipal is accountable to them for creat<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>culture</strong> <strong>of</strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g. Pr<strong>in</strong>sloo<br />

& Beckmann (1995:42-43) ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> that <strong>parents</strong> are compelled by law to<br />

delegate some <strong>of</strong> their rights <strong>and</strong> duties to the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal (school), Under<br />

modern conditions <strong>of</strong> life, <strong>parents</strong> must send their children to school <strong>and</strong><br />

entrust <strong>pr<strong>in</strong>cipals</strong> <strong>and</strong> teachers with the education <strong>of</strong> their children. The<br />

education that t1kes place <strong>in</strong> the school should be a cont<strong>in</strong>uation <strong>of</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />

should l<strong>in</strong>k: up with, the spirit <strong>and</strong> direction <strong>of</strong> the education provided by<br />

<strong>parents</strong>. The pr<strong>in</strong>cipal's authority <strong>as</strong> a secondary educator (that is, one<br />

who is <strong>in</strong> loco parentis - a common law pr<strong>in</strong>ciple) is also b<strong>as</strong>ed on<br />

statutory law (Bondesio et al., 1989:104). The fact that <strong>parents</strong> are<br />

empowered legally to delegate certa<strong>in</strong> rights <strong>and</strong> duties to the school,<br />

renders the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal accountable to the <strong>parents</strong> for steps taken to create a<br />

<strong>culture</strong> <strong>of</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g (cf. 4.3.4 (3».<br />

2.26 More than half <strong>of</strong> the <strong>parents</strong> (54,5 %) disagreed with the statement that<br />

they feel every possible sacrifice is made by the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal for the sake <strong>of</strong><br />

their children's education. The primary t<strong>as</strong>k <strong>and</strong> responsibility <strong>of</strong> the<br />

pr<strong>in</strong>cipal rema<strong>in</strong>s the management <strong>of</strong> all <strong>as</strong>pects <strong>of</strong> the school <strong>as</strong> a complex<br />

organisation <strong>in</strong> such a way that it can contribute to the actualization <strong>of</strong><br />

effective teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g by creat<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>culture</strong> <strong>of</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g (Lemmer<br />

& Squelch, 1994:10-11). Recent research shows that <strong>pr<strong>in</strong>cipals</strong> can also<br />

have considerable <strong>in</strong>fluence on teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g despite the fact that<br />

these activities occur <strong>in</strong> the isolation <strong>of</strong> the cl<strong>as</strong>sroom, away from their<br />

colleagues. The pr<strong>in</strong>cipal should be a good teacher so that he or she

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