Providing systemic change for schools: Towards professional development through moral conversation

This paper briefly reviews the criticisms of current reform efforts; defini tions of educational culture, moral purpose, and change processes; and form s of conversation. Such a discourse naturally concludes by developing the p remise that disciplined conversation, especially of a moral nature, is the critical variable in successful change. Recommendations are given for profe ssional development within a systemic context that will provide organizatio nal and procedural continuity, and facilitate stakeholder development. Copy right (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.