Contextual Influences on School Leaders in Australia: Some Data from a Recent Study of Principals' Ethical Decision-Making

In this article we present a discussion of micro-contextual and macro-contextual influences on principals' decision-making compiled from survey and interview data gathered from an extensive study into the ethical decision-making of school principals in Queensland during 2000. We show that there are a number of micro-contextual influences at play and that principals utilize various consultation networks close to the school when faced with ethical issues. We contend that principals are left underprepared and often unsupported when they are confronted with decisions that are influenced by macro political, social and market-oriented forces. We suggest that there is a need for the identification and implementation of professional development strategies that recognize this deficiency and conclude by offering some suggestions.