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Job Satisfaction of Principals and Perceived Superintendent Leadership Style in Selected Schools in North Central Texas
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between principal job satisfaction and the principal perception of superintendent leadership style in six school districts located in North Central Texas.
Role Expectations of the Athletic Director as Perceived by Athletic Directors, Superintendents and Principals in the State of Texas
This study examines the extent of agreement or disagreement among and between Texas superintendents, principals and athletic directors toward fifty specifically defined role expectations for the full-time athletic administrator. By defining the athletic director's role expectations, the superintendents, principals and athletic directors may function more effectively in discharging their duties and implementing quality interscholastic athletic programs. Parents and educational leaders are very interested in athletic programs which contribute to the emotional, social, physical, and mental growth of youth. Given the increasing number of athletic programs and participants, it is important to analyze and report data related to athletic administration. The perceptions of the superintendents, principals, and athletic directors to the specifically defined role expectations for the athletic director provided data for analysis to determine the extent of role conflict and the role of the athletic director. The main findings are the following. (1) There is a minimal role conflict for the athletic director based upon the perceptions of the superintendents, principals, and athletic directors. (2) The majority of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed with forty-four of the specifically defined role expectations for the athletic director. (3) The majority of the respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the athletic director being responsible for establishing an athletic program that has a primary objective of producing a financial profit, being responsible for securing advertising to support the game program, directing and supervising the kindergarten through grade twelve physical education and health education programs, reporting directly to the local principal(s), and being responsible for the concession operations at athletic contests. The recommendations, based upon the data from this study, are: (1) Texas school district personnel should review and update their job description for the athletic director in accordance with the specific role functions identified through this study, and (2) the model job description …
A Quasi-Experimental Study of Behavior in the Professional Negotiation Process: An Analysis of the Nigerian Setting
The problem investigated by this study was that of understanding types of behaviors exhibited by participants in negotiations processes and impact of behaviors on collective bargaining in Nigeria. The study's three purposes were to describe the nature and extent of interpersonal conflict that occurs in collective bargaining, to determine the consequences that stem from such conflict, and to suggest the behaviors and performances during the face-to-face negotiations that should exist to enhance labor-management relations in Nigerian public education. This study examined behavior in negotiations by using simulation, i.e., a quasiexperimental method. Four outcomes of negotiations--time required to reach agreement, terms of agreements, verbal behavior exhibited during negotiations, and satisfaction derived by negotiators in negotiations—were examined.
Effects of Citizenship Curriculum Training on Ninth-Grade Discipline-Problem Students
This study was conducted to measure the effects of classroom instruction entitled Citizenship curriculum Training on high school discipline. Data for this study were collected and analyzed for fifty-eight ninth-grade students who had been referred to the principal's office three or more times the semester prior to the experimental treatment. An experimental group of twenty-nine students received citizenship curriculum instruction. The control group of twenty-nine students received only the school's traditional curriculum during second period class. Two teachers presented the citizenship curriculum training which included instructional units on beliefs, attitudes, emotions, anger, decision-making, communications, confrontation, positive attention, stress, peer pressure, authority figures, getting along in school, and the society game. Data were collected relative to grade-point average, absences, discipline referrals, and attitude toward high school as measured by the Remitters High School Attitude Scale. T-tests for correlated samples and analysis of covariance examined the effects of the Citizenship Curriculum Training on the four variables measured. The .05 level of significance was used to test the four hypotheses. The results of the study indicate that Citizenship Curriculum Training does not improve the students' gradepoint averages, absentee rate, lower the number of discipline referrals, and does not improve students' attitude as measured by the Remitters High School Attitude Scale. It is recommended that similar studies be conducted to address the problems of grade-point average, number of discipline referrals to the office, high absentee rate, and attitudes toward high school by teaching discipline students in small classes with a curriculum that aims at improving these specific problems. Future studies should collect the posttest data the first grading period following the experimental treatment to test for immediate results.
Differences in School Districts' Decision-Making Processes Before and After Tax Limitation Elections: A Case Study
Using a case study approach, this investigation focused on the decision-making processes involved in developing budgets in two Texas school districts following a tax limitation, or rollback, election. Factors influencing the decision-making processes included the rollback election's outcome in each district, the participants, the perceptions participants held of themselves, the perceptions participants held of others in the district and community, the decisions made, and the factors influencing participants' decisions. Two Texas school districts were selected as subjects of this study which used qualitative data collection methods. In one school district, the rollback election passed. In the other, it failed. Data collection included observations of school board meetings and budget workshops. Structured interviews of school board members and administrators, pro- and antirollback proponents, and newspaper editors were conducted. Questions focused on the budgetary decision-making processes before and after the rollback elections. They also solicited information fromsubjects regarding rollback elections, the factors precipitating the rollback elections and the impact of the rollback election campaign upon each school district. Document analyses were triangulated with the observations and interviews to identify the factors influencing the budgetary decision-making process. Following the rollback elections, school officials in both districts adopted a conservative approach to budgetary decision-making. In both districts, school board members and administrators listened more carefully to citizens' concerns. Citizen finance committees were formed in both districts following the rollback elections to receive community input into the 1989-90 budgets. The decision-making processes in both districts were influenced by school board members' and administrators' personal philosophies, the presence or absence of long-range district goals, and pressures to finance unfunded and underfunded state mandates. The budget documents produced in both districts following the rollback elections reflected a commitment to funding curricular rather than extracurricular programs. School officials protected teachers' and support staffers' salaries, recognizing the importance of …
An Experimental Investigation into the Interaction Between Modality Preference and Instruction Mode in the Learning of Spelling Words by Upper-Elementary Learning Disabled Students
This study investigated the effects of selected spelling teaching methods on spelling mastery of upper-elementary, learning disabled students. It also examined the value of assessing learning disabled students' modality preferences for diagnostic/prescriptive purposes.The study's significance is that it sought to (a) determine whether students classified as learning disabled can identify their preferred learning modes; (b) determine whether matching modes of instruction to students' modality reference(s) results in greater achievement; and (c) identify a systematic way of prescribing instruction for learning disabled students.
A Qualitative Study Describing the Relationship and Mediating Factors Between Junior High School Mathematics Achievement and Computer Expenditures
Using a case study approach, this investigation focused on the nature of the relationship between computer related expenditures and student achievement in mathematics, with consideration given to the mediating factors influencing the relationship. Some of these factors included the types of computers and software being used, the objectives of computer instruction, teacher preparation in the use of the computer as an instructional tool, the amount of time individual students had access to a computer during the school year, and the socioeconomic status of pupils. Two of the twenty-five largest school districts in Texas were selected as the subjects for this study. Numerical data were collected from existing documents including general ledgers, bid tabulations, test score tables, and records showing the numbers of students participating in the free and reduced price lunch programs. Specific information regarding the implementations of the instructional programs was gathered through observations and 2 interviews with principals/ teachers, and students in four— teen junior high schools in each of the two school district. The districts exhibited more differences than similarities in the approaches to using computers for instruction in mathematics. One district, for about two hundred dollars per student, purchased a prepared, copyrighted, and patented program consisting of mini-computers and sixteen terminal remote labs used exclusively for the remediation of students two or more years behind in achievement in mathematics. The other district purchased microcomputers at a cost of about ten dollars per student and introduced a three to six weeks unit on computer programming into the eighth grade mathematics curriculum. Although neither district demonstrated clear patterns of increased achievement, tendencies did emerge which would suggest some linkage between concentration of the program and achievement. Other factors emerging from the fortythree taped interviews indicated that achievement test scores of students should not be the only measure of …
Impact of Funding Changes on Selected Education Service Centers Considerations for Programming and Staffing for Continued Effectiveness in Equlizaing Educational Opportunities
The purpose of this study was three-fold: 1. To determine the amount and direction of changes in sources of funding for the Regional Education Service Centers from 1979 to 1984. 2. To determine the percent of change in programming expenditures of the Regional Education Service Centers from 1979 to 1984. 3. To rate the changes in quality of programming as perceived by the superintendents of the local school districts receiving services from 1979 to 1984. A review of the literature and a brief history of the Regional Education Service Centers of Texas were followed by tabular and narrative descriptions of the findings. Deflated data, to account for inflation, were derived by applying Bureau of Labor statistics formulas to dollar amounts supplied by the Regional Education Service Centers. Each of the five Education Service Centers included in the study experienced a decrease in total funds, due chiefly to a cut in federal and state support. Although local contributions increased in four out of five of the Regions during the five-year period, the net result to the Centers was a decrease in funding ranging from 23.2 percent to 51.8 percent. The impact on programming was severe. Of the nine major services on which data was gathered—media services, data processing, counseling/guidance, special education, migrant education, bus driver training, staff development, drug education/crime prevention, and bilingual education— two had been eliminated in all of the Regions included in the study by 19 84, and some of the Regions had discontinued services in other areas as well. Surveys for rating the services of the Education Service Centers were sent to 126 current superintendents who held the same position in 1979. The results indicated that although fewer dollars had been expended and some services had been eliminated, the quality of programming had not diminished from 1979 …
An Analysis of the Current Texas School Finance System to Determine to What Extent it Meets Criteria for Equity Concerning School Finances
The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Texas House Bill 72 on equalization of finances in the public school districts of Texas. House Bill 72 is a finance reform bill which was passed by the Texas Legislature during the Summer of 1984. This study involves basically three steps. First, current criteria for equity as defined by school finance "experts" and recent definitive court decisions were determined. Second, financial data from the Texas Education Agency were statistically analyzed for the 1984-1985 school year. Third, the statistical analysis was used to determine if the current Texas school finance plan meets the current criteria for equity. The population used in the study was 1,068 school districts. Based on the findings of this study the following conclusions were drawn. 1. The use of a per capita flat grant by the Texas Public School Finance System contributes to the unequalizing of financial resources available to school districts. 2. School districts with greater property index values are required to exercise very little effort toward the support of their public schools. 3. School districts with high property index values tend to have lower effective tax rates and high per-pupil expenditures. 4. School districts of least wealth exercised substantially more local tax effort in support of educational programs in their schools than more wealthy school districts. 5. School districts with low property index values are almost entirely dependent upon the Foundation School Program monies to provide the educational opportunities available within the school district. 6. The disparities in local tax effort, per-pupil expenditures, and revenues are attributable primarily to the school district's heavy reliance on local property wealth. 7. A completely perfect system of equalization would be full state funding with monies distributed to districts on an educational needs basis.
The Role of the Elementary School Counselor in Texas as Perceived by Elementary Principals and Elementary School Counselors
The problem of this study was to answer the question, of whether or not there is congruence between Texas elementary school counselors' and elementary principals' perceptions of the role of Texas elementary school counselors. Research questions were formulated to carry out the purpose of this study. A review of related literature revealed that only two studies of the role of the elementary school counselor had been conducted in Texas. Both studies polled only elementary school counselors; therefore, Texas elementary principals' perception of the role of the elementary counselor was unknown. Christian's Elementary Counselor Inventory (ECI) was the instrument used in this study. The ECI contains 60 items describing tasks likely to be part of the counselor's role. Respondents were asked to consider each task twice; once according to the ideal role (should this be part of the counselor's role?), and once according to the actual role (is the elementary school counselor actually performing this function?).
Superintendents' Value Perceptions Regarding P.L. 94-142 as it Applies to Texas School Districts
This study addressed superintendents' value perceptions of nineteen component parts of P.L. 94-142, The Education For All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. In addition, the study sought to determine whether relationships existed between superintendents' value perceptions of P.L. 94-142 and (1) school district size and (2) total years experience as a superintendent. As a result of this research, twenty-one conclusions were drawn, consisting of Texas superintendents' perceptions of several aspects of P.L. 94-142 such as: its effectiveness, appropriateness, process hearing costs, funding, time/cost efficiency, feasibility, and ultimate goal. Additionally, there was no significant relationship between the total number years served as a superintendent, or the size of school districts served, and the superintendents' value perceptions concerning P.L. 94-142. In summary, twenty-one conclusions were reached regarding superintendents' value perceptions of P.L. 94-142. A total of seven implications were drawn from the conclusions. Finally, seven recommendations for future study were made.
A Study of Community Education in the State of Texas
The problem of this study was to determine the effectiveness of community education in Texas as perceived by the superintendents, community education directors, and selected laymen in the participating school districts. The sources of data included a review of the literature and supplemental materials. The survey technique, employing a jury—validated questionnaire, was used to collect the perceptions of superintendents, principals, teachers, and college professors in the State of Texas. A total of 121 educators and lay participants responded to the questionnaire. As a result of the study, it appears that according to the perception of those surveyed, that the community education programs in Texas are accomplishing at least 83 percent of all the goals purported in the nationally-circulated literature. Based on the study, it appears that the ongoing community education programs in Texas are perceived to be effective by those most closely associated with them and therefore deserve to continue to receive special considerations and funding.
Relationship of Bureaucratic Structure to Communication Satisfaction of Teachers in a Suburban Texas School District
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of bureaucratic structure to communication satisfaction of teachers in a suburban school district in north Texas. This study compared seven components of communication satisfaction of teachers in Authoritarian schools with those of teachers in Professional schools.
The Role of Assistant Principals in Large High Schools in Texas
The purpose of this study was to determine the role of high school assistant principals as perceived by principals, assistant principals, and teachers. The population in this study consisted of the principals, assistant principals, and teachers in Class 5A high schools in Texas during the 1985- 86 school year. One hundred and twenty of the Class 5A high schools were randomly selected to participate in the study. One principal, one assistant principal, and one teacher from each school were asked to respond to the survey. A questionnaire was designed to measure the perception of the three groups under study and contained seventy-seven job responsibilities which were divided into six major areas. The six areas were school management, staff personnel, community relations, student activities, curriculum and instruction, and pupil personnel. Eighteen items were eliminated through clarity, appropriateness, and reliability studies. Each respondent was asked to rate the degree of involvement of assistant principals for each job responsibility listed in two columns labeled current and ideal. Five hypotheses were developed for the study. Three hypotheses were tested by a multivariate one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures, and two were tested using a univariate one-way analysis of variance. The .05 level of significance was used to determine if any significant differences existed. This study concluded that currently assistant principals have had moderate to considerable involvement in all six areas of job responsibility. The three groups in the study differed significantly in their perceptions about the current role of assistant principals. The four areas that showed a significant difference were staff personnel, student activities, curriculum and instruction, and pupil personnel. Results from the study indicated that principals and teachers agreed that ideally assistant principals should have more involvement in all six areas of job responsibility. Assistant principals indicated that ideally they should have …
Responsibilities of Department Chairpersons as Perceived by Exemplary High School Principals
The problem of this study was to identify a means for improving the administration of curriculum and instruction by exploring the utilization of leadership personnel in addition to the principal. This study focused on the determination of the responsibilities that should be delegated chairpersons and the degree of autonomy that should be associated with each responsibility. Major implications were as follows. 1) Job descriptions should be developed for department chairpersons listing responsibilities and specifying guidelines within which department chairpersons should function. 2) Effective communication channels must exist between principals and department chairpersons and between department chairpersons and teachers to insure that department chairpersons perform their duties in accordance with the will of the principal. Teachers must understand the position of department chairperson for optimum use of the departmental organization. 3) Another implication is that department chairpersons should be provided in-service training to assist them with understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities . Additionally, evaluation procedures should be developed based on assigned responsibilities to provide a means of improving effectiveness. 4) A major implication is that by effectively utilizing department chairpersons, principals will experience some relief and assistance . This would allow principals to function more effectively in supervising the instructional program and accomplishing other administrative duties.
Texas Public School District Legal Costs and Preventive Law Practices
The purpose of this study was to compare the legal costs of Texas public school districts during the school years 1980-81, 1981-82, and 1982-83 with the preventive law practices utilized by those districts. A survey was made of Texas superintendents' knowledge of school law. The data were contrasted with legal costs and the preventive law practices of the district. Two survey instruments were developed, and the case study approach was utilized. A survey was sent to the 1,101 Texas public school superintendents. The twenty-five item instrument was designed to solicit information regarding the amount of money spent by districts and the types of preventive law practices that school districts use to reduce legal costs. A legal awareness questionnaire was developed and administered to 72 of the 542 superintendents who responded to the first survey instrument. Three school districts were selected to be case study sites. The data from the instruments were analyzed to determine if a relationship existed between a district's legal costs and its preventive law practices, a district's legal costs and the superintendent's knowledge of school law, and a superintendent's knowledge of school law and the district's preventive law practices. The major conclusions of the study were as follows: (1) The larger the school district, the more money the district spends on legal costs. (2) Districts that incorporate preventive law activities do not necessarily have lower legal costs. (3) The differences in legal costs of a district and the types of preventive law activities utilized by the district are generally associated with district size, rather than with the absence of presence of the specific preventive law activity. (4) The legal knowledge possessed by the superintendent does not have an impact on the legal costs of the district. (5) The superintendent's knowledge of school law does not affect the …
An Exploratory Study of the Perceptions of Texas Public School Superintendents on Occupational Sources of Stress
The purpose of this study was to determine the stress factors which create the most difficulty for the superintendent; to determine which, if any, groups are most responsible for generating these stress factors? to determine if variables in the personal life of the individual superintendent are related to the amount of stress felt by him; and to suggest ways in which the amount of stress may be reduced. The population of this study was the school superintendents in Texas. The instrument used in this study was a two-part questionnaire consisting of thirty-five items designed to elicit perceptions of superintendents toward those situations that were most bothersome on their job.
An Analysis of Administrative Competence Needs in Selected Texas Public School Districts
The problem of this study was to determine the perceived needs of selected Texas public school administrators in the areas of competence addressed in the PEEL (Performance Evaluation of the Educational Leader) definition of administrative competence. The conclusions included the following: 1. Between levels of administrative activity, differences were indicated in the high indexes of perceived need on the competency statements between the superintendency-level staff members (superintendent and his advisory staff who hold "line" positions) and the building-level administrators (elementary principals, junior high principals, and senior high principals). 2. Superintendency-level staff members tend to exhibit higher perceived needs on the competency statements relating to instruction and student-oriented responsibilities than do building-level administrators. 3. The size of a school district in which an administrator is employed, the number of years that an administrator has in educational administration, and the highest degree earned by an administrator cause no significant differences to appear in the manner in which an administrator assesses his perceived need on a particular competency statement.
Perceptions of Texas Public School Teachers and Principals Regarding Recommendations for Educational Reform
The problem of this study was the perceptions of Texas public school teachers and principals regarding recommendations for educational reform made in April, 1983, by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. Purposes included determining those perceptions and investigating differences between them, differences among teachers1 perceptions, and differences among principals' perceptions relative to specific categories of recommendations and specific biographic variables. A random sample of 460 teachers and 180 principals, stratified equally among the state's twenty education regions, was selected from the population of public school teachers and principals on computer at the Texas Education Agency, Austin, Texas. The actual number of respondents included 224 teachers and 91 principals, or 49 percent and 51 percent respectively. The instrument used was an attitude scale developed by the investigator. The thirty-nine original recommendations made by the Commission were converted into 118 specific recommendations, more precise and easier to read according to a jury of experts. An. analysis of variance was calculated for hypotheses one, two, five, and six, and t values were calculated for hypotheses three and four. The study was organized into five chapters including the "Introduction," "Review of the Related Literature," "Procedures for Collection and Analysis of Data," "Analysis of Data," and "Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations." The Appendix includes a sample of the instrument used, the overall mean scores on each individual item for teachers, principals, and all respondents combined, and the total mean scores.
An Assessment of the Effect of a School-Wide Positive Approach to Discipline and Classroom Management in a Suburban Junior High School
The findings of this investigation support the following conclusions concerning junior high schools. 1. A positive approach to discipline can be expected to have a significant positive impact on students' opinions of school. 2. A positive approach to discipline can be expected to have a significant positive impact on teachers' opinions of school. 3. A positive approach to discipline can be expected to have a significant positive effect on school atmosphere as evidenced by fewer discipline cases and increased student involvement. 4. A positive approach to discipline will result in increased teacher participation in areas such as sponsorship of student clubs, mini-courses and other extracurricular activities. 5. A school-wide positive approach to discipline will result in increased direct teacher involvement with students. 6. A school-wide positive approach to discipline will result in increased parent-school communication. 7. A school-wide positive approach to discipline will result in fewer truancy problems. 8. A school-wide positive approach to discipline will result in fewer serious behavior problems resulting in Reassignment School or suspension.
The Perceptions of Secondary School Principals in Oyo State, Nigeria Toward Selected Educational Issues
Nigeria's educational environment has witnessed rapid and wide-spread changes within the last five years to the extent that enormous pressures are being put upon the practitioners. The introduction of universal free primary education in 1976 and the establishment of the national policy on education in 1977 are two of the major reasons for these changes. Educational critics have discussed issues affecting education in Nigeria generally and in Oyo State particularly. The practitioners have continuously come under severe attack for the apparent shortcomings brought by these changes. It was viewed that principals could speak out regarding the seriousness of such educational issues which the critics have repeatedly emphasized. The two purposes of this study were to determine the perceptions of secondary school principals regarding the seriousness of selected educational issues; and to determine whether there were significant differences in the perceptions that could be ascribed to zonal location of schools, age of principals, enrollment, and years of experience as principals.
Attitudes and Other Concerns Related to Women Being Employed as Public School Administrators in Texas
Interest in this study was evoked by concern over the small percentage of women employed as school administrators. Despite recent legislation, this situation has not changed markedly. This study was needed to determine the current status, attitudes, and concerns of women certified as administrators in Texas with those of the superintendents of Texas public school districts? and to compare the differences of the two concerning this situation. It was concluded that not only did a larger percentage of the women prefer to be employed as elementary school administrators, but also the superintendents felt they would be more likely to be employed at that level. It was further concluded that a majority of the superintendents were likely to give women substantial consideration for employment as elementary school administrators, but were unlikely to hire them as chief administrators of their secondary schools. Many of the women also perceived that Texas school districts are still "in effect" participating in sexually discriminatory hiring practices whether or not the superintendents are aware of the situation. The attitudes of the women and the superintendents very clearly differed concerning opportunities available for female administrators in Texas.
Professional Development Needs of Elementary School Principals Implementing Site-Based Management in an Urban School System
The problem of this study was to identify professional development needs of elementary school principals who are implementing site-based management. The purpose was to develop a prioritized list of developmental needs of principals participating in site-based management in the evaluation of teacher performance, instructional knowledge, behavioral life styles, and other needs as identified by a decentralized decision-making questionnaire. The population for this study was the sixty-one elementary school principals in a large urban school district. The principals were encouraged by the central administrative staff to assume the responsibility of site-based managers during the 1981-1982 school year. Three priority areas involving decision making at the school site evolved. These three areas were personnel, instruction, and budgeting. During the three succeeding years, additional areas of decision making have been added, such as building-level staff development, implementation of flexible student schedules, and provisions for specialized summer programs. Findings of the study showed that there was normality in the assessment of teaching skills by principals, that a significant correlation existed between principals' knowledge of instruction and principals' teacher evaluation scores and that a significant correlation existed between principals' teacher evaluation scores, female principals being more consistent. The findings showed that no correlation existed between evaluation scores and training and age, that there was normality of principals' scores in instructional knowledge, and that there was not a relationship between knowledge of instruction and experience or training. It is recommended that staff development be provided to principals on the philosophy of site-based management and on the role of the principal and that this staff development be given for one to two years prior to implementing site-based management. It is recommended that specific training be provided principals in improving their instructional knowledge, understanding of the authority, and an understanding of the responsibilities that accompany site-based management.
Bureaucratic Orientations as Related to the Need Fulfillment Deficiencies of Teachers in a Medium Size School District in Texas
The purpose of this study was to determine the direction and strength of the relationships that exist among teachers between bureaucratic orientation (the criterion) and each of the five human need variables that include security, social, esteem, autonomy, self—actualization, and four demographic factors that include sex, experience, educational level, and age. This study was also concerned with determining if the bureaucratic orientation of teachers is affected by deficiencies in their human needs and by their demographic differences. Determination of these relationships was accomplished by using an intercorrelation matrix of product-moment correlations and stepwise multiple regression.
A Study of the Relationship of Student Participation in the Activities Program to Student Achievement, Attendance and Scores on College Admissions Examinations
This investigation studied the impact of male student involvement in selected school activities upon grade-point averages, rates of attendance and college entrance examination scores. The main purpose of this study was to provide data for state officials, school administrators, and school boards as they seek to make decisions concerning the activities program and its place in the educational system. The specific purpose was to determine if involvement in selected school activities had any relationship to the variables grade-point average, attendance, and scores on college entrance examinations. The study was carried out in four large Texas high schools with a total student population of 6,456. Male participants in seven major school activities were randomly selected. This process produced a total sample of 280 male students representing participation in seven activities in four high schools. Each activity was represented by a sample of forty male students. The conclusions were drawn that (1) there is a positive relationship between participation in the activities program by male students and attendance rate, grade-point average, and scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and (2) there was no negative relationship between participation in the activities program and the participants' ability to receive a high school education.
An Analysis of Teacher Performance Evaluation Policies and Criteria in Texas Public Schools
The purposes of this study were to identify the procedures and criteria used for conducting teacher performance evaluation in Texas public schools, to determine the degree to which teacher performance evaluation procedures and instruments reflect the stated evaluation policies of Texas public schools, and to determine the degree to which teacher performance evaluation instruments used in Texas public schools reflect presage criteria (teacher characteristics) as opposed to process criteria (teacher behavior) as opposed to product criteria (student change or gain) as opposed to general job performance requirements (job expectations). The main findings include the following. (1) Teacher performance evaluation is required in all Texas public school districts and is often performed several times a year by more than one observer. The building principal is the key person involved in this process. (2) Although all school districts stated the supervisory function of the improvement of instruction as the major purpose of their teacher performance evaluation policy, a large number of school districts utilize teacher performance evaluation for the administration functions of serving as a basis for retention or dismissal. (3) If in reality teacher performance evaluation were construed as the improvement of instruction or teaching performance, it should be predictable that process criteria (teacher behavior) would account for the majority of items in the evaluation instruments. However, these items accounted for only about one-fourth of the total number. At the same time, items relating to general job requirements accounted for over 50 percent of the items. This exhibits a maintenance rather than teaching thrust. (4) The data gathered on current teacher performance evaluation instruments appear to be highly pertinent to maintaining the school as an organization and appear to be helpful in making personnel decisions. (5) Teacher performance evaluation instruments in Texas public schools are much more heavily weighted toward assessing …
The Relationship Between Tax Relief Implementation and Public School Finance in the State of Texas
The problem of this study is to determine whether or not Texas public schools lost revenue when constitutionally mandated tax relief measures were implemented. The study also traces the evolution of tax relief legislation in Texas from 1969 to 1980. Superintendents from randomly selected school districts identified educational program adjustments required if revenues were reduced. Superintendents also identified educational and property tax issues of concern to district constituents.
A Study of Organizational Climate Using the Departmental Structure of Selected High Schools
The problem of this study is to determine if school climate perceptions are stable among the departmental subgroups of the high school. In addition, the study seeks to determine if the subject area of the department or patterns of leadership behavior of the department head (as perceived by teachers in the department) have a significant relationship to how teachers within a department perceive the climate of their school.
A Study on the Aspirations of Women Teachers to Become School Administrators
The problem with which this study is concerned is that of the gross under representation of females in educational administrative positions. Answers to the following questions were sought. (1) What are the reasons there are not more female administrators in education? (2) What are the reasons that more female educators do not aspire to become administrators? (3) What are effective means by which capable female educators can be encouraged to qualify themselves for positions in educational administration? Findings showed that the participants perceived that administrators are drawn from a predominantly male candidate pool and that women are not encouraged to compete for administrative jobs by their school district administrators. Most effective means for encouraging women to become administrators were encouragement by various people who have personal contact with the teacher, provision of role models, awareness of opportunities through on-the-job work, appointment of women to legitimate rather than token administrative positions, provision of financial encouragement, and administrative internship programs. Conclusions included (1) Women teachers do not perceive that women have chosen administration as a career field to the extent that men have. (2) Women teachers do not perceive women as lacking in ability to become administrators. (3) People who have personal contact with a woman teacher can greatly influence her. (4) Most of the reasons given why women are not and do not aspire to be administrators were not determined to be of great impact when considered individually in this study.
The Effects of Grade Retention on the Academic Achievement of Elementary School Pupils
This study was undertaken in order to assess the effects of elementary school grade retention on the academic achievement of pupils. For each analysis in the study, norm-referenced standardized achievement tests were used as the dependent variable. Percentile rank score means in reading, language, and mathematics served as achievement indicators.
A Study of the Goals for Public School Education in Texas
The problem with which this study was concerned was that of determining which of the "Goals for Public School Education in Texas" were perceived as appropriate by local educators and students in smaller school districts and to determine the degree to which each of these goals was being implemented. This study had a two-fold purpose. The first was to compare the differences between appropriateness and implementation as perceived by senior students, teachers, administrators, and the composite group. A comparison between the three groups regarding both appropriateness and implementation was also made. The second purpose of the study was to determine if sex, ethnic background, and geographic location were factors when comparing perceptions concerning the appropriateness and implementation of the "Goals for Public School Education in Texas." The comparison between students, teachers, and administrators revealed a significant difference between the groups on each, of the eighteen goals regarding appropriateness. With regard to implementation, there was a significant difference between groups on eight of the goals. Differences were generally between students and teachers and students and administrators. The comparison between male and female students revealed that the female students perceived the goals to be more appropriate than did the male students. There were no significant differences between their perceptions regarding implementation. There were significant differences between Anglos, Blacks, and Mexican Americans on ten of the eighteen goals with regard to appropriateness and on three of the eighteen goals regarding implementation. Generally the Anglos perceived the goals to be more appropriate than the other two groups. Geographically there were significant differences between the regions regarding both appropriateness and implementation. Differences varied regarding perceived appropriateness. Central Texas generally perceived implementation higher than the other regions and West Texas generally perceived implementation lower.
A Study of the Organizational Climate of Elementary Schools in the Province of Sukhothai, Thailand
The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of determining the extent to which the elementary schools in the province of Sukhothai, Thailand, reflect an open or closed organizational climate. This study has two purposes. The first is to identify the organizational climate of elementary schools in the province of Sukhothai, Thailand, as measured by the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ). The second is to determine the differences between the organizational climate of elementary schools with enrollments of 300 students or less and elementary schools with enrollments of more than 300 students. The conclusions of the study indicated that the climate of the elementary schools in the province of Sukhothai, Thailand tended to be more closed than open. Principals tend to perceive the climate of the school to be more open than do the teachers. Teachers in elementary schools with enrollments of 300 or less perceived the climate of the schools to be more open than do teachers in elementary schools with enrollments of more than 300 students. And when the school size increases the climate is more likely to be closed.
The Effect of an Instructional Program on the Creative Thinking Skills, Self-Concept, and Leadership of Intellectually and Academically Gifted Elementary Students
This study sought to determine the effectiveness of an instructional program for developing creative thinking, a positive self-concept, and leadership among intellectually and academically gifted elementary students in grades four, five, and six. The purposes of the study were to determine the effect of experimental treatment on test scores measuring creativity, self-concept, and leadership; to compare the performance of the moderately intellectually gifted with that of the highly intellectually gifted; to determine whether boys or girls benefited more from instruction; and to determine whether fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-grade students achieved greater test gains after experimental treatment.
A Comparison of Environmental Climates in Elementary Schools
The problem of this study was to compare schools that utilize individualized instruction with schools that utilize a traditional or group-oriented approach to instruction. Comparisons were made relative to student perceptions of the schools' environmental climates, expectancy for school success, and promotion and non-promotion practices. The sources of data included a review of the literature related to traditional elementary education, the history and development of individualized instruction, humanistic aspects of individualized instruction, and the role of school personnel expectancy in individualized instruction. The Elementary School Environment Survey was used to collect the perceptions of 1,600 fifth-grade students about their school environments. A teacher self-report questionnaire, as well as a principal self-report questionnaire, provided data pertaining to expectancy for school success and non-promotion practices. Sixty-two fifth-grade teachers and twenty elementary principals responded to the questionnaire. The data gathered in this study indicated that fifth-grade students have similar perceptions of their school climate related to involvement, independence, morale, equity, and resources. Students in the traditional or group-oriented schools perceived their schools as being more humanistic. Elementary principals and teachers in individualized instruction schools and in traditional group-oriented schools do not differ in their expectations for school success. Schools utilizing individualized instruction non-promote a much lower percentage of their students.
Bureaucracy and Social Interaction: A Study in the Perceived Interaction Between a Superintendent and Campus Principals
Effective relationships among the levels of educational administrators will support the emphasis on academic excellence at national, state, and local levels. Recognizing the factors involved and understanding the interactions of those factors is a complex process. This study examined the bureaucratic leadership style of a superintendent in the organizational structure and the social interaction between the superintendent and campus principals in that organization as perceived by the principals. Quantitative data were collected by using two instruments: (1) the Administration Organi zationa1 Inventory to define the superintendent's bureaucratic leadership style and (2) the Perceived Social Interaction Questionnaire to determine the degree of social interaction between the superintendent and the campus principals. The study included the superintendent and the forty-three principals of a Texas suburban public school. Data analysis examined the leadership style and its relationship to the social interaction and both style and social interaction in relationship to age, sex, elementary or secondary level, and years of experience as a principal. Results of the study did not clearly define the superintendent's leadership style in a bureaucratic organization and indicated no significant difference between the style and social interaction and the four biographical variables. However, analysis of the data revealed that more principals perceived the superintendent as a Professional with a high degree of expertise and low degree of authority when biographical data were considered. Principals who perceived the superintendent as having a high degree of expertise also indicated they had a warm and friendly social relationship with the superintendent. Further analysis revealed that older, male, secondary principals with more than ten years of experience had a warm and friendly social interaction with the superintendent. This study attempted to provide greater knowledge of the organizational structures and the inward workings of a school system so that other administrators might better understand essential …
A Comparison of Stress as Measured by Heartbeat Rate of Sixth-Grade Students During Teaching-Learning Activities in Solving Verbal Problems in a Classroom Setting
The problem of this study was to measure, to compare, and to analyze the amount of stress, as indicated by heartbeat rate, experienced by students during teaching-learning activities in sixth-grade mathematics in a regular classroom. The bases for comparison were the heartbeat rates of selected students as recorded by a cardiotachometer and achievement scores on pretests and posttests dealing with verbal problems. All data were analyzed using the t-tests for the significance of the difference between the means. Findings of the study showed that students did experience increased heartbeat rates while solving verbal problems in sixth-grade mathematics. Also, during the teaching-learning activities, students who solved verbal problems using the realistic approach did not experience more stress than students who solved problems using the standard approach. The standard group did not perform significantly better than the realistic group on the standard pretest-posttest. However, students who were involved in the realistic method achieved better on all types of problems than did students who were taught by the standard method.
The Positions, Roles, and Perceptions of Black Elected Public School Board Members in Mississippi
The problem of this study is that of discerning the board positions, the roles, and the perceptions of Black elected public school board members in Mississippi as perceptions relate to racial discrimination, interpersonal relationships, and primary education interests. Major problems in education as perceived ranged from "racism" to "finances." Major contributions to education in Mississippi in the last five years as perceived ranged from "court decisions" to "election of Blacks to education positions." General conclusions are that less racial discrimination exists in school systems with Blacks represented on school boards; however, some racism is still perceived by Black board members.
Teacher Competency Testing: Practices and Perceptions in Selected States in the Nation
The problem of this study was to analyze the utilization of teacher competency testing in the eleven states that originally enacted legislation requiring teacher competency testing. A questionnaire was developed, validated, pretested, and finally submitted to state and local superintendents in eleven states. Thirty-three questionnaires were returned representing 75 percent of the questionnaires mailed. Responses were reported in percentage tables. An analysis of variance program was conducted on all data to determine whether the perceptions of the state and local superintendents were significantly different on each question. An analysis of the findings of this study led to the following conclusions. 1. The benefits of teacher testing to state agencies, schools of education, school districts, and society outweigh the disadvantages of increased budgets and larger educational bureaucracies and the possibility of teacher shortages. 2. Teacher competency testing procedures are used primarily for entrance to and graduation from teacher education programs and for certification purposes. 3. Characteristics of a comprehensive teacher competency testing program include a written assessment of acquired knowledge, procedures for evaluating an applicant during student teaching, a probationary period prior to permanent certification, additional training or assistance for teachers, and provisions for retaking of failed examinations. 4. Evidence indicates that although state-created tests are desirable, locally-created and nationally-developed tests are utilized in testing programs. 5. Legal problems will be encountered by testing programs in the areas of minority discrimination and cutoff scores, and political opposition from teacher organizations will continue.
The Relative Impact of Oral Reading Combined with Direct Teaching Methodology on Reading Comprehension, Listening and Vocabulary Achievement of Third-Grade Students
The problem of this study was to measure the impact of a read-aloud approach combined with direct teaching methodology on student achievement/attitudes and school expenditures. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, the study was to determine the relative impact of three treatments on student reading and listening skills, vocabulary development, and attitude towards reading. The first treatment was read-aloud based on specific recommended texts combined with direct teaching methodology. The second treatment was read-aloud based on specific recommended texts. The third treatment, the control, was simply a read-aloud-based program. The second purpose of the study was to compare the relative cost and effort required by the three treatments. The 226 subjects in this study were selected from the population of third—grade students from three metropolitan early childhood centers. The subjects were pretested and posttested with the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), a criterion-referenced vocabulary test and the Estes Attitudinal Scale. Analyses of covariance and after F-test multiple comparisons were used to compare the relative impact of the three treatments on a preselected set of criterion variables.
A Study of Executive Professional Leadership of Principals within the Elementary Schools of Texas
This study investigated the relationship of Executive Professional Leadership of principals in the elementary schools of Texas with specific factors which influence the quality of instruction. The primary purpose was to determine the significance to which the level of Executive Professional Leadership correlates with teacher morale, teacher performance, school organizational climate, and selected personal attributes of the elementary school principal. This study concluded that the elementary school principal who is effective in motivating his staff and improving its standards and performance in teaching (1) creates a social climate conducive to the development of high morale in the teachers, (2) sets the standard of behavior expected of his staff, (3) creates the kind of organizational climate conducive to the development of a quality school program, and (4) has the ability to effectively handle delicate situations such as complaints by parents and problems of discipline. Also, this study concluded that (1) experience in elementary teaching, (2) level of self-assessment as an educational leader, (3) internalization of the professional leadership definition, and (4) importance of routine administrative functions have no bearing on the elementary school principal's effectiveness in motivating his staff and improving its standards and performance in teaching.
The Effects of Collective Bargaining on the Powers of Principals: An Analysis of Teacher Contracts
This study analyzed a random sample of thirty-six collective bargaining contracts between teachers and their respective boards of education in Wisconsin, New York, Tennessee, and California. The contracts were studied to assess the effect that collective bargaining has had upon the powers of principals over time. This was done by comparing each contract to a comprehensive list of traditional powers that were available to principals prior to collective bargaining (Pre-Collective Bargaining Power Profile of Principals). This analysis of contracts was a two-phase process. The first step was to identify whether or not the profile statements in the Pre-Collective Bargaining Power Profile were referred to in each contract. The second step was to describe how the presence of references to these statements affected the Power Profile of Principals. The principal's power was reported as being affected in three ways: deleted, constrained, or authorized. The general conclusion of this study was that the effect of teacher collective bargaining upon the powers of principals has been marginal. The data from the analysis of the contracts revealed that the majority (66 percent) of the statements in the Pre-Collective Bargaining Power Profile were not referred to in the collective bargaining contracts. The effects of the references to the statements that were identified were mixed. In the role areas of personnel management, pupil personnel management, and instructional leadership, the negotiation process authorized more power to principals than it deleted. In the role area of business and plant management, the principals' powers were deleted much more than authorized. This was due solely to the inclusion into the contracts of two items (i.e., the power to control building space and the power to control who may and may not enter the building). In the role area of community relations, the frequency of references was so small that the …
A Study to Determine the Competencies Needed by Superintendents in the Area of Public Relations
The problem of this study was to determine specific competencies associated with the superintendent's role in public relations and to determine the relationship between school district size and public relations competencies needed by the superintendent. Conclusions of the study were Public relations competencies for superintendents can be identified in seven competency areas with specific competencies within each area. The seventy-seven specific public relations competencies identified in this study are all needed by practicing superintendents. There is a priority of importance among the seventy seven specific competencies with the competency area of "Relations With the Board of Education" receiving top priority and the competency area of "Personality Traits" receiving second priority. Superintendents from differing size school districts generally do not vary in their perceptions of the competency areas. Differences do exist between perceptions of superintendents of different size schools to specific competencies within competency areas.
A Study of the Job Satisfaction of Female Principals and Vice-Principals in Texas Public Schools
This study is designed to determine the degree to which female principals and vice-principals in Texas derive job satisfaction from their work and to identify those factors, both negative and positive, which affect the job satisfaction of these principals and vice-principals. A single questionnaire was used to collect the data for this study. Usable questionnaires were returned by 331 vice-principals and 504 principals. These represented 336 school districts throughout the state. Respondents were compared as to their view of their overall job satisfaction, the importance assigned to intrinsic and extrinsic job facets, their satisfaction with intrinsic and extrinsic job facets, and the differences in facet satisfaction connected with various personal characteristics.
A Study of Organizational Climate and Principal Leadership Behavior in New Elementary Schools
The purposes of this study were to determine, based on the perceptions of teachers and principals, during the first year of operation in new elementary schools: (1) the extent of change in organizational climate, (2) the extent of change in principal leadership behavior, (3) the difference between teachers' and principals' perceptions of climate and principal leadership behavior, and (4) the relationship between the openness factor of climate and the principal leadership behavior factors of consideration and structure. The major findings of the study included: 1) Both teachers' and principals' perceptions of the organizational climate in the school changed during the course of the school year. 2) Both teachers' and principals' perceptions of principal leadership behavior changed during the course of the school year. 3) The differences in teachers' and principals' perceptions of climate and principal leadership behavior as measured by the openness score of the OCDQ and the two dimension scores of the SBD were not statistically significant. 4) For the scores for the total group of subjects, the calculated correlation coefficients for the relationship between openness and consideration were all positive.
Model for State-Level Management Plan for Vocational Education
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the components necessary to develop a State Level Management Plan for Vocational Education. As background for developing the plan, research was done to identify what State Directors of Vocational Education perceive to be the best composition of a Management Plan for Vocational Education. Information was obtained concerning which components of the Management Plan were made operational by the state directors. Also, this study determined the relationship between the components which are made operational and the perceived importance of each component. The two specific conclusions resulting from this study are as follows. 1. The perceived importance of the components identified by state directors that should be in a Management Plan is indicative of the components that are functional in the planning process. 2. Related literature and findings indicate that an effective Model State-Level Management Plan for Vocational Education can be developed based on the components perceived by the state directors. Based on the identified perceptions, a Model for a State-Level Management Plan for Vocational Education has been developed. Included in the appendix is an example of the model adapted for implementation in the Department of Occupational Education and Technology in the Texas Education Agency.
A Description of the Secondary School Principalship as Perceived by Selected Principals and Teachers in Bangkok, Thailand
The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of describing the secondary school principalship as perceived by selected principals and teachers in Bangkok, Thailand. The purposes of this study are (1) to collect selected demographic data about the secondary school principals and teachers in government and private schools, and (2) to measure and determine the relative effectiveness of principals of government and private secondary schools in Bangkok, Thailand, as perceived by secondary school principals and teachers. The conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) principals in government and private secondary schools appear equivalent in professional preparation as measured by highest degree held, (2) principals in government and private secondary schools earn equivalent salaries, (3) teachers in private secondary schools have less professional preparation than teachers in government secondary schools, (4) teachers in government schools are better paid than teachers in private schools, (5) principals in both government and private secondary schools perceived their effectiveness as higher than did the teachers in those schools.
An Investigation of Principal's Leadership Behavior as Perceived by Secondary School Principals and Teachers in Nakorn Pathom, Thailand
This study sought to investigate the secondary school principal's leadership behavior as perceived by secondary school teachers and principals in Nakorn Pathom, Thailand. The study had two purposes: to determine whether significant differences existed between teachers' perceptions of principal leadership behavior based on the variables of sex, years of teaching experience, educational level, and size of school; and to determine whether significant differences existed between the perceptions of principals and teachers with regard to the principal's leadership behavior.
School Administrators' and Teachers' Perceptions of the Teacher Evaluation System in the State of Anambra, Nigeria
The problem with which this study is concerned is the teacher evaluation system in the state of Anambra, Nigeria. The purposes of this study are (a) to provide objective information concerning the perceptions of school administrators and teachers toward the teacher evaluation system in the State of Anambra, Nigeria, (b) to determine whether agreements or differences exist between teachers' and administrators' perceptions of the teacher evaluation system, and (c) to draw conclusions and make recommendations for improvements based on the perceptions of the teachers and administrators. To accomplish these purposes, questionnaires were distributed to a random sample of 652 administrators and teachers who are currently employed in 37 randomly selected primary and secondary schools in the State of Anambra, Nigeria. Four hundred and sixty school administrators and teachers, representing 70.6 percent of the sample, returned completed usable questionnaires. Part I of the questionnaire was designed to gather relevant demographic data to determine the perceptions of the school administrators and teachers. Part II of the questionnaire contains the components of the evaluation system which were used to measure the perceptions of school administrators and teachers. Analysis of variance was used to test the data according to the independent variables. Three statistically significant differences were found among the data. (a) The primary and secondary school administrators differed significantly in their perceptions of the teacher evaluation system in the State of Anambra. This difference is ascribed to their positions which are based on their educational levels. (b) The demographic variable sex has significant effect on the perceptions of primary and secondary school teachers and administrators towards the teacher evaluation system in the State of Anambra, Nigeria. (c) The demographic variable years of professional experience appears to have a significant impact on the perceptions of the primary and secondary school teachers and administrators toward …
Inter-Rater Reliability of the Texas Teacher Appraisal System
The purpose of this study was to determine the interrater reliability of the Texas Teacher Appraisal System instrument. The performance indicators, criteria, domains, and total instrument were analyzed for inter rater reliability. Five videotaped teaching episodes were viewed and scored by 557 to 881 school administrators trained to utilize the Texas Teacher Appraisal System. The fifty-five performance indicators were analyzed for simple percentage of agreement. The ten criteria, four performance domains, and) the whole instrument were analyzed utilizing Ruder-Richardson Formula 20. Indicators were judged reliable if there was 75 percent or greater agreement on four of the five videotaped exercises. Criteria, domains, and the whole instrument were judged reliable if they yielded a -Ruder-Richardson Formula 20 score of .75 or greater on four of the Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions v/ere drawn: 1. Forty-eight of the fifty-five performance indicators were reliable in evaluation teacher performance. 2. Seven of the performance indicators were unreliable in evaluating teacher performance. 3. None of the ten performance criteria appeared to be reliable in evaluating teacher performance. 4. None of the four performance domains appeared to be reliable in evaluating teacher performance. 5. The whole instrument was reliable in evaluating teacher performance. 6. Reliability problems with the criteria and domains appeared to be an underestimate of reliability of the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20.
Minimum Competencies Needed for Graduation: A Comparative Case Study of Perceptions Held by Professional Educators and the Local School Community
The problem of this study is a comparison of minimum competencies needed for high school graduation as perceived by local professional educators to those perceived by the local school community. The source of data is Community Survey of Essential Student Skills. This survey instrument is a rating of the importance of minimum competencies by 1,931 patrons in the local school community. A total number of 401 professional educators had previously rated these competencies. The following conclusions are based on the analysis of each hypothesis and observations during the study. 1. There is an increasing amount of emphasis in the literature that major perceptual differences exist between professional educators and school communities. Educators need to identify and act upon the perceptions of their patrons. Increased emphasis upon community involvement is supported by findings of this study. For example, the community could be involved in curriculum development for life skills. Patrons, students and parents could serve on advisory committees to school boards. 2. There is evidence that increased communication efforts are needed to narrow the gap between perceptions of educators and school communities. Educators perceived the reading and writing skills in this study as Essential but patrons did not. Better clarification to patrons relating to why and how skills are taught would be helpful. Otherwise, it will appear to patrons that schools are out of step with requirements for coping in today's society. 3. Inflation has increased the cost of education, and taxpayers are not willing to support a system that they feel may not be doing an effective job. While there is a large majority of the American public that still has confidence in schools as indicated by the 1978 Gallup Poll, there needs to be a bolstering of support. It behooves educators to set and monitor expectations of achievement, provide …
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