Examining
Administrative Philosophies
& Types of Administrators
PE 416
Dr. Kostelis

Philosophy & Administration
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“ Investigation of causes and laws underlying reality; inquiry into the nature of things based on logical reasoning rather than empirical investigation; or the system of values by which one lives ”
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Philosophy dictates course of action

Ethics – principled right & wrong behavior
Beliefs – “ I believe . . . “
Values – “ I value . . . “
Written
Rules
Principles – “ I will not . . .
Or I will always try to . . . . “
Unwritten Rules
Actions – “ I will follow this rule of . . . “

Ethics
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Need to develop ethical principles that monitors own actions

What is your Administrative
Philosophy?
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How do you envision a PE Program being run?
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What are some of your own goals and objectives?

What activities do you feel are important to help achieve your goals of the program?

Basis for Philosophy
IDEALISM
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Reality depends on mind & spirit
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Develop body through spirit and mind
Truth from ideas
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Focused on developing character, thus evaluation is subjective
Value static & unchanging; foundation for life
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Resist change, follow traditional paths

Basis for Philosophy
IDEALISM
Sports supported are those that
emphasize mental discipline

Basis for Philosophy
REALISM
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Reality is based on science
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Develop body in measurable ways
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Truth gained through physical world & experience
Value is something objective
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Organized systematic health & fitness-testing; use computers and comparative standards (objective skill tests and performance)

Basis for Philosophy
REALISM
Sports supported are those that can use statistics showing measurement and gains in strength and other measurable factors

Basis for Philosophy

(experimentation or instrumentalism)
Reality is experienced, ever-changing
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Truth is discovered by experience, go with what works, just adjust & be practical!
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Value is predicted on judgment, based on experience and good of the society

Basis for Philosophy
PRAGMATISM
Sports supported are the ones that are most popular with spectators and allow “play”, such as dance and
rhythm activities
“What works best!”

Basis for Philosophy
EXISTENTIALISM
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Reality lies within individuals & experience of being, freedom of choice & responsibility for morals
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Decisions are based on previous experience, sometimes inconsistent and nonconforming
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Truth through personal experiences
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Freewill, but weighs moral issues
Values determined through self-examination, choices toward self-realization and selfdetermination

Basis for Philosophy
EXISTENTIALISM
Sports supported are the individual sport vs. team sport and those
making no comparisons to norms or
standards
Also movement education, rhythms, modern dance, and cooperative group activities to allow selfexpression and allows discovery

Basis for Philosophy
ECLECTISM

Adopt several philosophies
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Need workable philosophy
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Need philosophy that consistently
points in the direction for important administrative decisions (if not then will end in court!)

What is your Administrative
Philosophy?

How do you envision a PE Program being run?

What are some of your own goals and objectives?

What activities do you feel are important to help achieve your goals of the program?

Types of Administrators
LAISSEZ-FAIRE –
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“Hands off”
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Low Profile, organization to operate on own
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Usually results from negative, poorly prepared, insecure, lazy administration

Types of Administrators
LAISSEZ-FAIRE
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Positive Aspects
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Young, energetic, can try innovative ideas
Older can initiate new or terminate programs
Higher ranking has little pressure or conflict
Negative Aspects
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Lacks leadership
Poor, ineffective, weak workers continue to function
“ don’t rock the boat ”
Young and inexperienced lost in shuffle
No drive for excellence or long-range plans

Types of Administrators
AUTOCRATIC OR AUTHORITARIAN
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Administrator functions as boss not leader, thus is equivalent to
“benevolent despot”
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High degree of uniformity, controlled variables, narrow objectives

Types of Administrators
AUTOCRATIC OR AUTHORITARIAN
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Positive Aspects
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Efficient, especially when understaffed
Few meetings, little debates
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Changes without delay
Inexperienced usually function well
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Negative Aspects
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Lose synergy and power of group thinking
Staff of “yes”
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Decisions without all information
Policies and programs as good as leader
When mistakes, they are usually large
Young do not usually benefit in growth

Types of Administrators
DEMOCRATIC
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“Creative ideas that a group of individuals can generate in a lively meeting will be far greater than the same group might identify if they were all working independently”
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“Group Dynamics” – participatory governance

Types of Administrators
DEMOCRATIC
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Positive Aspects
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Determine own destiny
Young gain experience on committees
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All work together
Group decisions
Negative Aspects
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Inefficiency, committee on committees
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Many compromises needed, thus maybe unworkable

Types of Administrators
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Often times democratic as cornerstone and mix other approaches as special situations arise

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What type of administrator will you be?