The political participation of public school teachers in new democracies has generated heated debates. In some countries, teacher strikes shutter schools for months each year; in others, teachers' unions have become powerful political machines and have even formed new political parties. To explain these contrasts, Mobilizing Teachers delves into changes in education politics and the labor movement. Christopher Chambers-Ju argues that union organizations fundamentally shape teacher mobilization, with far-reaching implications for politics and policy. With detailed case studies of Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico, this book is the first comparative analysis of teacher politics in Latin America. Drawing on extensive field research and multiple sources of data, it enriches theoretical perspectives in political science and sociology on the interplay between protests, electoral mobilization, and party alliances. This title is part of the Flip it Open Programme and may also be available Open Access. Check our website Cambridge Core for details.

This book explores the new roles required of principals of dynamic schools. The first chapter examines the following forces that shape principals' activities: teachers are becoming teacher-leaders; parents are more vocal and action-oriented advocates; student bodies are more diverse; the social and technological contexts of schools are more complex; and state and federal reform mandates are setting priorities. Chapter 2 develops the image of a dynamic school as the place where "principals-in-charge" work and describes the characteristics that define this type of principal. The next three chapters examine new roles for principals-in-charge: those of facilitator, balancer, and flag bearer and bridger. Respectively, these chapters: discuss the professional relationships that principals-in-charge develop to facilitate teacher leadership in dynamic schools; discuss how the principal-in-charge negotiates within the system hierarchy, and develop cooperative relationships with their superiors; and show how the principal-in-charge takes on the role of entrepreneur for the school in the community. Chapter 6 and 7 offer new approaches to assessing and preparing the principal-in-charge, pointing out that dynamic schools are evaluation-minded schools and discussing ways of enabling principals to maintain their momentum of continuous growth. The role of the principal-in-charge as a leader of change is discussed in the final chapter. Each chapter introduces a scenario that depicts the principal-in-charge of a dynamic school, presents empirical data and supporting literature, and offers chapter highlights. The appendix describes the methods used in the Classroom Alternative Process (CAP) study, the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) study, the case study for the Coalition of Essential Schools, and the High School and Beyond (USDE, 1984) data set. (Contains 216 references.) (LMI)