Case Study
Kowalski, T. J. (2012). Case studies on educational administration (6th ed.). Boston, MA:
Pearson.
Read: “Even on Saturdays” – pp. 101-106
Assume that you are the Principal Marshfield. You have been asked to analyze the implications in the case study and make recommendations. Prepare a scholarly narrative report that will analyze the implications of the incident as they relate to the achievement of your school’s vision and mission. Support your position with at least 5-10 peer-reviewed research or literature references (other than your texts for this course). The narrative portion of the assignment must contain the following headings and sections:
Summary of the Case
This section will provide an overview of the case and summarize the key elements of the
case in narrative form.
The Problem
This brief section will identify the problem in a single sentence.
Implications and Recommendations
Refer to the data and information in each category to solve the problem identified in the case, consider the implications, respond to the questions listed below, and make recommendations to address the implications. This section will require you to address the questions to research, consider, and address and the specific data and information from the case .
Questions to Research, Consider, and Address:
- What is the legal concept of in loco parentis? Is this concept relevant to this case? Why or why not?
- Evaluate the position taken by the principal that an event occurring on Saturday away from
the school campus is not the school’s responsibility?
- This case has both a legal dimension and a public relations dimension. What is the legal
dimension?
4. What is the public relations dimension of this case?
5. Do you agree that school officials should not take any action against the students until the
legal charges against the students are resolved? Why or why not?
6. Evaluate the press conference held by the superintendent and principal. Did they handle the
situation properly? Why or why not?
7. Evaluate the advice given to the superintendent and principal by the public relations consultant. What you have advised the superintendent and principal?
8. Determine if the school district in which you work or reside has a policy that would have
been relevant to situations such as the one described in the case. Do you agree or disagree
with those policies? Why? If there is no policy, should there be such a policy? Why or why
not?
9. Most of the students attending the initiation were arrested for underage drinking. Should
such an arrest away from campus on a weekend be grounds for expelling or suspending a
student? Why or why not?
10. What actions could have been taken by the principal to prevent the initiation?
11. What actions can be taken by the superintendent, principal, and other school officials to
repair the high school’s reputation?
12. Is the incident likely to cause irreparable damage to the principal’s relationship with the
superintendent and school board? Why or why not?
13. What would you anticipate the reactions would be from the parents of the students involved?
What would you anticipate the reactions would be from members of the community who did
not have sons or daughters involved in the incident? How would you respond to parents and
community members? Why?
14. Discuss possible lawsuits that may result from the incident. How might these lawsuits affect
the school district, the superintendent, and the principal?
Key Issues
After you have addressed the questions listed in the case study assignment, review and
prioritize the significant information. What are the key issues?
References
