"Leadership for Civics Teaching": Principals' and Teachers' Perceptions of "Good Citizens" Across Different Patterns

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers' Perceptions of Teaching and Learning

Abstract

This study employed a qualitative approach to examine principals’ and teachers’ perceptions of “good citizens”. The results showed that the complex historical-cultural and socio-political contexts of Hong Kong have influenced principals’ and teachers’ perceptions of “good citizens”. When school leadership lacked a clear vision of citizenship education, Knowledge Characteristic and Conservative Characteristics of “good citizens” were stressed. When school leadership mediated the diverse needs of school stakeholders, Knowledge Characteristic, Social Characteristics, Conservative Characteristics of “good citizens” were emphasized. When school leadership had a clear vison of the school’s civic mission, the results differed across schools. These findings suggested that holistic characteristics would be emphasized to prepare for the polarized and pluralized societies like Hong Kong.

Author

• Koon Lin Wong, The Education University of Hong Kong