Date of Award
1996
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Curriculum, Instruction, and Media Technology
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the representation of women as secondary school principals through the attitudes of school board presidents and superintendents in Indiana toward women becoming secondary school principals. Factors perceived as determinants for effectiveness and barriers to employment were examined. The variables school type, school size, and school location were given special focus. The research instrument consisted of three major sections: (1) Demographic information, (2) Job-related duties and responsibilities, and (3) Barriers to women seeking secondary school administrative positions. A total of 62% of the Indiana School Board Presidents and 81% of the public school superintendents of the 294 school districts in Indiana responded to the questionnaire. The resulting data were treated both descriptively and statistically using one-way or two-way analyses of variance. The Duncan Multiple Range test was used to identify differences between means when significant F ratios were identified. The descriptive analysis indicated that the mean values for superintendents were higher than those for school board presidents relative to female secondary school principals' ability to perform job-related duties and handle responsibilities. The study revealed school board presidents and superintendents from large school districts (student population of 3,001 or more) were more supportive of women becoming secondary school principals. School board presidents and superintendents from urban and suburban areas were more supportive of women becoming secondary school principals. The analyses of barriers to women seeking secondary school principalships revealed school board presidents perceived more than superintendents that females have too few role models, emotional instability under stress and are too sensitive to criticism and unable to handle disciplinary problems. Superintendents perceived more than school board presidents that men do not want to take directions from a woman and females have a personal lack of mobility. No significant differences were found relative to females being excluded from male groups or networking, putting family responsibilities ahead of the job, lacking administrative experience, and the community not wanting a woman principal.
Recommended Citation
Hord, Edwyna Rebecca, "Attitudes Of Indiana Public School Superintendents And School Board Presidents Toward Women As Secondary School Principals" (1996). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1869.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1869