PUBLIC CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL

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PUBLIC CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL

• EDL 660

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THE SCHOOL

• A publicly supported institution in a
  democratic society
• The cause, continuance, and preservation of
  democracy
• Power to manage schools resides with the people
• State level - legislature
• Local - school board, elected, parents and
  students right to be heard

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PUBLIC CHARACTER, CONTD.

• Concept of shared ownership - stockholders
• Importance of communication of accurate
  information
• Importance of understanding prevailing attitudes
  and opinions in the community

4
THE MEANING OF PUBLIC OPINION

• Soviet Union, first satellite in
  space
• Definition - a collection of individual
  viewpoints held more or less is common by members
  of a group regarding some person, condition, or
  proposal - possibly controversial

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THE CHALLENGE

• Keeping parents and taxpayers
  informed concerning the schools needs and
  activities and developing policies and programs
  that reflect popular interests and desires

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EVOLUTION -SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• Publicity
• School public relations
• Social interpretation - two-way communication
• School- community relations - emphasizes the more
  active involvement of citizens

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SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• Way of life expressed daily by
  staff
• Planned communication - internal, external
• Planned activities to determine what citizens
  think of schools and their expectations for their
  children
• Active involvement of citizens in decision-making

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MODELS

• Press agentry/publicity - one-way
  propaganda as purpose
• Public information - one-way - dissemination of
  truthful info.
• 2-way asymmetric - scientific persuasion
  communicator gets feedback from public, applies
  latest theory to persuade
• 2-way symmetric- understanding- communicator is
  go-between

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PLANNED RELATIONSHIPS

• Many programs are sporadic, poorly planned
  and executed
• School community relations must be planned,
  systemic, integrated.