Humanistic Leaders in Education: Learning fromthe Leaderships of Gandhi, King, And Ikeda

Abstract

Today, our world is being attacked by the coronavirus and brutal wars as well as associated issues like inequality in access to education and racial discrimination. School leaders must make every effort a cause for the future and transform school environments for the better. Refreshing perspectives grounded in humanity will help school leaders tackle the root of problems that cause people to suffer and help students lead fulfilled lives. In this article, we explore three exemplary leaders who have created lasting and profound impacts on education and society: Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), and Daisaku Ikeda (1928-). Our research study addresses two research questions: 1) What humanistic values are demonstrated by Gandhi, King, and Ikeda? 2) What are the implications of these humanistic values in education? The humanistic values demonstrated by Gandhi, King, and Ikeda include compassion, social justice, nonviolence, youth engagement, and appreciation toward women. The implications are twofold. First, school leaders must develop genuine character by confronting challenges in daily life. Second, when striving to build a society for the creation of life values, school leaders will find a profound mission in their roles as leaders and make their leadership more refined and effective.