Abstract:
The purposes of this research were 1) to examine characteristics of school
principals in 21st century as perceived and expected by teachers 2) to compare the
teachers perception and expectation of characteristics of school principals in 21st
century, and 3) to investigate suggestions for development of the characteristics of
school principals in 21st century. The samples were 338 teachers of the schools
under the Office of Secondary Educational Service Area 27. The research instrument
for data collection was a constructed questionnaire consisting of three parts; Part 1
Work Status, Part 2 Perception and Expectation of the characteristics of school
principals, and Part 3 Suggestions. The collected data was analyzed through
percentage, mean, standard deviation, and F-test (One way ANOVA).
The research findings were as follows:
1. School administrators characteristics in the 21st century as perceived and
expected by the teachers
1.1 Based on perception, the sampled teachers revealed that the
characteristics of school principals overall in 21st century were rated at a high level.
Also, all the separated aspects of the characteristics were rated at a high level. The
highest mean scores belonged to the following two aspects interpersonal relations
and visions whereas the second highest mean scores belonged to morality and ethics
and knowledge and ability of administration. On the contrary, the lowest mean score
belonged to leadership.
1.2 Based on expectation, the sampled teachers reported that the
characteristics of school principals overall in 21st century were rated at the highest
level. Similarly, all the separated aspects of the characteristics were rated as the
highest. The highest mean score belonged to interpersonal relations while the
second highest mean scores belonged to morality and ethics, visions, and knowledge
ง
and ability of administration. In contrast, the lowest mean score belonged to
leadership.
2. Comparisons of the teachers perception and expectation of the
characteristics of school principals in 21st century
2.1 Based on classified work experience, the sampled teachers
perception revealed that the characteristics of school principals as well as the
separated aspects were not different. Exceptionally, leadership as perceived by the
teachers with different work experience was different at a statistical significance of
.01.
The sampled teachers expectation showed that the characteristics of
school principals overall were different at a statistical significance of .01. Separately,
the aspects knowledge and ability of administration and visions were different at a
statistical significance of .01. Morality and ethics and interpersonal relations were
different at a statistical significance of .05. On the other hand, leadership was not
different.
2.2 Based on classified school sizes, the sampled teachers perception
unveiled that the characteristics of school principals overall were not different. In
contrast, leadership and knowledge and ability of administration were different at a
statistical significance of .01.
The sampled teachers expectation showed that the characteristics
of school principals overall were different at a statistical significance of .01. Analyzing
the separated aspects, it was found that three aspects such as knowledge and ability
of administration, morality and ethics, and interpersonal relations were different at a
statistical significance of .01. The other two aspects leadership and visions were
different at a statistical significance of .05.
3. Suggestions for further development of the characteristics of school
principals in 21st century
It was discovered that there were different quantities of suggestions given
to the aspects of characteristics. The suggestions were ranged from the most as
leadership, morality and ethics, interpersonal relations, knowledge and ability of
administration, and visions.