Leadership and Democracy in Three Culturally Diverse Preschools in Iceland

• In Event: Roundtable Session 44
  In Roundtable Session: An International Perspective on Social Justice

Abstract

Educational systems are today challenged by increasing immigration worldwide. Increased immigration has resulted in social distance between the mainstream culture and minority groups. The mainstream culture has a tendency to demand minority groups to assimilate to the mainstream resulting in increasing marginalization. This leaves schools with the challenge to promote inclusion and social justice within their school community.
This paper explores how principals in three culturally diverse Icelandic preschools address the challenge of implementing inclusion and social justice in their schools. The schools have successfully managed to be inclusive towards immigrant children and their families resulting in positive view on multiculturalism in the school communities.
The findings shows that democratic leadership practices play an important role in the school success.

Authors

• Helgi Þorbjörn Svavarsson, University of Iceland

• Hanna Ragnarsdottir, University of Iceland

• Hildur Blondal, Iceland University of Education

• Fríða Bjarney Jónsdóttir