This book is an edited collection of original papers which challenge in a very direct manner the dominant behviourist and functionalist views that have come to entrap those who live, work and conduct research in the areas of educational leadership, and focusing instead on the structures and processes within schools as organisations that frustrate, distort and ultimately stifle educative relationships the writers provide a much needed way of reconceptualising both thought and action in so-called acts of educational leadership.

John Smyth is Associate Professor in Social and Administrative Studies and Chair of the Education Studies Centre at Deakin University.

Leadership, power, and symbols in educational administration / Peter Watkins ; Toward a critical practice of leadership / William Foster ; New leadership and the possibility of educational reform / Lawrence Angus ; Educational leadership, a feministcritique and reconstruction / Jill Blackmore ; Leadership and the rationalization of society / Richard Bates ; Educational leadership as reflective action / John Codd ; A pedagogical and educative view of leadership / John Smyth ; In defence of organizational democracy / Fazal Rizvi.