Crawley, J (2017) 'Principalities of people: destabilizing the prince’s power through acts of connection.' In: Daley, M, Orr, K and Petrie, J, eds. The principal: power and professionalism in FE. Trentham Books, London. ISBN 9781858568447
Abstract
Machiavelli recognises that ruling by absolute power is often the approach taken when principalities are unstable, although he understands this is unlikely to gain the goodwill of the people, and he doesn’t advance this as the best strategy. The use of absolute power has been the favoured approach of governments, and often that of local princes or princesses (principals) to FE. Few would admit to this, but the experience on the ground tells a different story. This chapter argues that overthrowing or overpowering the princes, their principalities and their absolute power would be exhausting, unlikely to succeed, potentially fatal (at least professionally), and more damaging to many than helpful to some. Not wishing to dampen spirits however, the chapter proposes that there is another way which is far more likely to achieve some success, and may even help practitioners to find more enjoyment and potentially empowerment as professionals working in FE. In a nutshell the idea is based on groups of teachers coming together to carry out small ‘acts of connection’ which they have agreed and planned themselves and which they think could make a difference to their teaching and their students’ learning. If the acts of connection and those carrying them out could be further connected to others, they could build into larger connections or a ‘principality of people'.
| Item Type: | Book Chapter or Section |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2361 Curriculum L Education > LC Special aspects of education > LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education |
| Divisions: | School of Education |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Oct 2017 10:51 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Aug 2021 09:47 |
| URI / Page ID: | https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/10109 |
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