Styles of Educational Leadership for Modernist and Postmodernist Approaches

Some researchers have identified differences in educational approaches depending on whether a modernist or postmodernist worldview is used. Furthermore, societies in different countries can also take a predominantly modernist or postmodern worldview, with Western countries being primarily postmodernist. Given that situation, there may be leadership styles that are more appropriate to an educational context that is predominantly modernist or postmodernist. Even though postmodernism suggests no “best” style of leadership is possible, since that requires being able to objectively measure leadership effectiveness, there may still be approaches that are most consistent with the postmodernist worldview. This paper explores such a possibility, examining differences between the worldviews and what factors are appropriate in each for educational leadership. Then, two case studies of different countries -Canada for a postmodernist education, and Iran for a modernist education -are briefly presented so that the exploration becomes more concrete.