Title: Teaching, leadership and school culture – from loose to tight couplings

Authors: Steen Beck, Lars Frode Frederiksen

Addresses: Institute of Philosophy, Education and Study of Religions, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. ' Institute of Philosophy, Education and Study of Religions, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark

Abstract: The Danish upper secondary school system is undergoing remarkable changes these years. The teacher|s role and the fundamental structure of the organisation are changing as comprehensive reforms put new structures into the individual school. The reforms create new frames of teaching in the everyday life of the teachers. In this paper, our aim is to contribute theoretical and empirical considerations, focusing on teachers| behaviour under conditions characterised by pressure from several internal and external stakeholders. We will present empirical findings leading to theoretical perspectives, considering the teachers| position towards central aspects of the reform.

Keywords: school reform; upper secondary schools; Denmark; cross-disciplinary teaching; teacher work; organisation theory; loosely coupled systems; team collaboration; learning methods; teacher behaviour; organisational structure; secondary education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2008.016227

International Journal of Management in Education, 2008 Vol.2 No.1, pp.1 - 13

Published online: 10 Dec 2007 *

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