Читать книгу Stories of Caring School Leadership - Mark A. Smylie - Страница 19

Caring is neither aimless nor agnostic in purpose. For actions and interactions to be caring, they must focus on achieving particular purposes. Caring aims to promote the functioning, general well-being, and success of others, as individuals and as groups. Caring addresses particular needs of others and promotes their interests. Caring aims to help others grow and flourish in their own right. Caring is sometimes framed as a response to pain, suffering, and trouble. But it can be proactive and an affirmative expression of joy and celebration. Caring can also be a worthwhile endeavor in itself.

Caring can aim to address particular needs, problems, and concerns. It can aim to achieve tangible benefits, the manner in which and the motivation by which they are provided being as important as the benefits themselves. These benefits can come from what we described earlier as care: particular services and provisions. Caring can aim to promote certain intangible benefits—social, psychological, emotional, and behavioral—that accrue from being in caring relationships and feeling cared for. Finally, caring can aim to promote further caring.

It is not difficult to think about particular aims of education that relate to caring. We consider the general purposes of schooling to provide for students’ safety and nurturance; support their learning, development, independence, self-reliance, prosocial relationships, and ability to function in and contribute to community; promote academic success and general well-being; and prepare students for work, further education, and citizenship.