Examining the relations among Social Justice Leadership, Attitudes towards School and School Engagement

Abstract

In the present study, the relations among social justice leadership, attitudes towards school and school engagement were examined based on the high school students’ opinions. 530 students from 11 high schools located in 7 districts in the province of Ankara participated in the study. Participants filled in the Scale for Social Justice Leadership (SSJL), Scale for Attitudes towards School (SAS) and Scale for School Engagement (SSE). Data were examined with descriptive statistical techniques including arithmetical mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation and structural equation modelling (SEM) together with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis as well. Findings showed that principals perform social justice leadership moderately. Similarly, participants’ scores for attitudes toward schools and school engagement are also moderate. It was observed that there is a positive, moderate and significant correlations among research variables. The analysis of SEM revealed that social justice leadership is a significant predictor of attitudes towards school and school engagement. Path analysis results indicated that attitudes towards school has a partial mediating effect between social justice leadership and school engagement. It was concluded that social justice leadership is one of the crucial factors in shaping the students’ attitudes towards school and school engagement.