The Art of Middle School Management in Secondary Schools: A Guide to Effective Subject and Team Leadership

Citation

Atherton, B. (1999), "The Art of Middle School Management in Secondary Schools: A Guide to Effective Subject and Team Leadership", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 136-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijem.1999.13.3.136.2

This book is extensively embellished with graphic examples of competent management and successful change. A distinguishing aspect of the book is its direct and readable style. While the title implies the potential readers will be those in the secondary phase of education, there is much here that will be of value to those in the primary sector of education. This book will clearly be an invaluable introductory guide to educational management, for both the practitioner and student. The initial chapter exploring what is middle management is very insightful; this is followed by ten chapters that more than adequately cover the spectrum from communications through to meetings.

A major weakness of such books, and unfortunately this one is no exception, is the lack of critical analysis and exploration of the ideas used to support management theory. Yet this is probably a simple reflection of the fact that teachers are really in this age produced to be technicians. However, it is disappointing to see Maslow presented again without the issues of how his theory is a reflection of middle‐class values in the 1960s America being examined. Also the confident acceptance of the effective school paradigm ignores the research of John Elliot at UEA, and in particular the findings of Doyle and Wells at the University of Cambridge.