Challenges and Problems

By understanding why past attempts at changing schools have failed, one can avoid some of the pitfalls encountered during the change process. Fullan (1993) points out several challenges and problems associated with school change:

"Being in the limelight of change may bear no resemblance to substantial enduring reform. Put another way, projects with less fanfare may be doing more.
"The core culture of teaching and learning is extremely difficult to change, partly because the problems are intractable, and partly because most strategies fail to focus on teaching and learning.
"Change in teaching for most effective learning requires major transformation in the culture of the school, and in the relationship of the school to other agencies - an incredibly complex undertaking.
"Unanticipated changes in the course of any plan or project are guaranteed. They are not abnormal intrusions but part and parcel of the dynamic complexity of present society." (p. 54)

References