Being a Principal of premier schools in India (and may I add abroad as well!), has exposed me to some extraordinary human beings ,with very different mind sets than mine .Principals as a class of people are highly self opinionated. They believe that they are always right .The quicker they get out of this fantasy and dream world –the better they will be as Principals .There are some very basic things a Principal must adhere to .First and foremost is to avoid being a rebel .There are no Che Gueveras in education .Its impractical to have them .Managements and Prncipals will differ in their objectives .The management will always look at the revenues( and rightly so ) –the Principal will look at academic excellence .Thats the only thing that will save his skin in a very complicated social activity like education .In schools there are children whose parents are buruacrats .politicians ,policemen ,income tax officials ,land and liquor mafias etc.He is answerable to them .He has to manage them .The pressures on him are enormous –to conform to a system that is far removed from the idealism of the books .The Principal cannot take on the management and ignore what is a different perception altogeather .Here is where communication skills could help .If you are a good communicator ,then perhaps you can change a degree here or there about how your boss thinks .But by and large –you have to deliver .Admissions must keep happening .It brings in the money .Excellence get you the admissions ,but sometimes you have to admit some children who are not so excellent .Its a catch 22 situation .It is tightrope walking .And a excellent Principal is a trapeze artist !!
Forget about “revolutions” in schools .Thats alright when we used to sip coffee at the Indian Coffee House while we were in college . Concentrate on what you can do which does not cross anyone elses path .Do the things that only you can and are authorized to do .Make sure that there is conformity to the rules of the school.Make sure that what your expectations are from the teachers are clearly spelt out in terms of tangibles .Dont use too many adjectives –“ I want the result in English to be good .” – instead say “ I want the average aggregate of English this year to be 85 percent .Last year it was 82” .Make sure teachers are going to classes in time .Make sure that teachers are improving their skills .Motivate them -teach them .They may know more than you ,but you have more experience .Experience cant be learnt or bought -one acquires it with age .Avoid having sycophants –oh they are such a spineless and despicable lot. Make sure you are in charge of the situations .Are the school kids coming in uniform ? If yes ,they respect the rules of the school ,if no the school has a problem of non compliance .Get these kind of things in place and the chances are you will make a excellent Principal .
In short –avoid being a Arvind Kejriwal .Be a Amitabh Bacchan who respects what a Director tells him ,but does his part of acting ( which only he can do ), to perfection .Thats why he has lasted so long and made such a huge impact !! Principals who are rolling stones make the least impact .Longevity is the hall mark of a good Principal .!!
Forget about “revolutions” in schools .Thats alright when we used to sip coffee at the Indian Coffee House while we were in college . Concentrate on what you can do which does not cross anyone elses path .Do the things that only you can and are authorized to do .Make sure that there is conformity to the rules of the school.Make sure that what your expectations are from the teachers are clearly spelt out in terms of tangibles .Dont use too many adjectives –“ I want the result in English to be good .” – instead say “ I want the average aggregate of English this year to be 85 percent .Last year it was 82” .Make sure teachers are going to classes in time .Make sure that teachers are improving their skills .Motivate them -teach them .They may know more than you ,but you have more experience .Experience cant be learnt or bought -one acquires it with age .Avoid having sycophants –oh they are such a spineless and despicable lot. Make sure you are in charge of the situations .Are the school kids coming in uniform ? If yes ,they respect the rules of the school ,if no the school has a problem of non compliance .Get these kind of things in place and the chances are you will make a excellent Principal .
In short –avoid being a Arvind Kejriwal .Be a Amitabh Bacchan who respects what a Director tells him ,but does his part of acting ( which only he can do ), to perfection .Thats why he has lasted so long and made such a huge impact !! Principals who are rolling stones make the least impact .Longevity is the hall mark of a good Principal .!!
( The above views are personal .I am sure every Principal has his /her view about how a Principal should manage their schools .I respect their views ! I have at best been a very average Principal .)
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