parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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From this short overview ofthe structural characteristics ofa school and the nature
ofan organisation, it would appear that the school is an organisation within which
people are grouped together in an orderly, hierarchical authority (Theron 1992:5;
Badenhorst (ed.), 1993:7-8).
A school is a complex organisation characterised by uncertainty as a result of the
ambivalent nature and outcome of its task (Van Schalkwyk, 1994: 14).
Uncertainty, instability, uniqueness, conflict of values and the lack of a single
technology or teaching method are characteristic of the Context of the organisation
within which principals function - nor will these characteristics simply disappear
or necessarily be reduced as a result of good management (Van der Westhuizen
(ed.), 1995:1-2; Badenhorst 1993:1-3). Principals (educational managers) should
always be aware of these Characteristics and so equip and manage the school that
teaching and learning can take place effectively. Therefore, principals should note
the different ways in which the school can be thought of as an organisation - and
be capable of understanding and interpreting the different realisations of this
organisation in order to carry out their task effectively (Owens & Shakeshaft.
1992:11). Bush (1989:3) expresses it succinctly as follows: "There is no single
all-embracing theory of educational management. Rather several different
perspectives compete to explain events and behaviour in schools."
Pri'ncipals manage the school as an enterprise for the realisation of the functional
task of the school, teaching and learning (Kruger, 1995a:7). In order to manage
the school as an organisation, principals should execute certain management
functions such as planning, policy-making, organising, leadership, controlling,
decision-making, motivation and communication within certain areas of
management. School management can therefore be regarded as all the
management activities or management tasks ofprincipals, in conjunction with their
management teams, within particular areas of management, with the intention of
facilitating effective teaching and learning by creating a culture of learning