SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS

There is a growing interest in personal biographies of school leaders as a source of their leadership qualities. However, it is unclear what aspects of the biography informs these qualities as a school leader. This article proposes to focus on experiences of contingency in biographies of school lea...

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Main Authors: J. Copier, C.A.M. Hermans, T. Van der Zee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2020-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
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Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5027
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author J. Copier
C.A.M. Hermans
T. Van der Zee
author_facet J. Copier
C.A.M. Hermans
T. Van der Zee
author_sort J. Copier
collection DOAJ
description There is a growing interest in personal biographies of school leaders as a source of their leadership qualities. However, it is unclear what aspects of the biography informs these qualities as a school leader. This article proposes to focus on experiences of contingency in biographies of school leaders. Previous research has conceptualised various modes of handling contingency experiences: denial, acceptance and receiving. The authors suggest a new definition of the mode of contingency receiving that overcomes the constructivist bias and encompasses both religious and non-religious interpretations. Based on a qualitative analysis of 35 narrative biographical interviews with school leaders, the authors show that all three modes of handling experiences of contingency are present in biographies of school leaders. The redefined category of contingency receiving can be understood as a spiritual experience that includes experiences of religious and non-religious people reporting transformations in their self-understanding, understanding of the world, and what is of ultimate meaning in life.
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series Acta Theologica
spelling doaj-art-bd80c91d53194fe69b5398622b0ee8762025-02-11T09:45:00ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892020-12-0110.38140/at.vi.5027SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDSJ. Copier0C.A.M. Hermans1T. Van der Zee2Radbound UniversityRadbound UniversityRadbound University There is a growing interest in personal biographies of school leaders as a source of their leadership qualities. However, it is unclear what aspects of the biography informs these qualities as a school leader. This article proposes to focus on experiences of contingency in biographies of school leaders. Previous research has conceptualised various modes of handling contingency experiences: denial, acceptance and receiving. The authors suggest a new definition of the mode of contingency receiving that overcomes the constructivist bias and encompasses both religious and non-religious interpretations. Based on a qualitative analysis of 35 narrative biographical interviews with school leaders, the authors show that all three modes of handling experiences of contingency are present in biographies of school leaders. The redefined category of contingency receiving can be understood as a spiritual experience that includes experiences of religious and non-religious people reporting transformations in their self-understanding, understanding of the world, and what is of ultimate meaning in life. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5027ContingencyLife events(Narrative) Biographical interviewsSpirituality
spellingShingle J. Copier
C.A.M. Hermans
T. Van der Zee
SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Acta Theologica
Contingency
Life events
(Narrative) Biographical interviews
Spirituality
title SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS
title_full SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS
title_fullStr SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS
title_full_unstemmed SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS
title_short SPIRITUALITY AND CONTINGENCY IN NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS
title_sort spirituality and contingency in narrative biographical interviews with primary school leaders of catholic schools in the netherlands
topic Contingency
Life events
(Narrative) Biographical interviews
Spirituality
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5027
work_keys_str_mv AT jcopier spiritualityandcontingencyinnarrativebiographicalinterviewswithprimaryschoolleadersofcatholicschoolsinthenetherlands
AT camhermans spiritualityandcontingencyinnarrativebiographicalinterviewswithprimaryschoolleadersofcatholicschoolsinthenetherlands
AT tvanderzee spiritualityandcontingencyinnarrativebiographicalinterviewswithprimaryschoolleadersofcatholicschoolsinthenetherlands