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1 – 10 of 186Discusses how TQM has been included in the new Business Studies syllabus at Bradford Grammar School, and the benefits for both teachers and students. Outlines the components of…
Abstract
Discusses how TQM has been included in the new Business Studies syllabus at Bradford Grammar School, and the benefits for both teachers and students. Outlines the components of the London Board A‐Level as opposed to the other two available courses. Details the procedure adopted to use TQM as well as teach it, recognizing that the TQM culture would clash with the prevailing culture of English schools, continuing by describing the culture clash. Examines the practical problems encountered, highlighting student expectations, communication skills sponsor firms, assessment of coursework and preparing for exams. Reviews exam results and the students′ view of the course as the two measures of the success of the course.
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Discusses the use of total quality management within schools and reflects on the progress it has made in both the United Kingdom and the USA. Argues that the development of a…
Abstract
Discusses the use of total quality management within schools and reflects on the progress it has made in both the United Kingdom and the USA. Argues that the development of a total quality programme must be seen as a long‐term strategy. Cites a case example of a school that successfully implemented a total quality programme.
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Rod Green, Susan Malcolm, Ken Greenwood and Gregory Murphy
The role of a school principal has changed dramatically in the last decade and there has been widespread concern regarding the impact of this change of role on principal health…
Abstract
The role of a school principal has changed dramatically in the last decade and there has been widespread concern regarding the impact of this change of role on principal health and wellbeing. Worksite health promotion programs have been used in many different settings to encourage employee health, but there is very little information on the effectiveness of such programs, particularly in improving principal health. This study evaluated the impact of a 12‐month health promotion program on a group of 50 volunteer principals. Participants in the program reported improvements in their diet and exercise habits and this was reflected in improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat measures. These results indicate that worksite health promotion can play a significant role in improving the health and wellbeing of school principals.
Rod Green, Susan Malcolm, Ken Greenwood, Michael Small and Gregory Murphy
In recent years responsibility for the administration of schools internationally has shifted from education departments towards self‐governing schools. This trend has resulted in…
Abstract
In recent years responsibility for the administration of schools internationally has shifted from education departments towards self‐governing schools. This trend has resulted in major changes to the role of school principals. Such changes in role may impact on the psychological and physical health of principals, but there has been very little research into this population. A survey of the health and wellbeing of a representative sample of 50 principals of State primary schools in Victoria, Australia is reported. Subjects completed questionnaires measuring health‐related behaviour and stress and arousal levels and participated in comprehensive health appraisals. Principals reported better smoking patterns than the population as a whole. Despite a higher socioeconomic status than the population as a whole, the health status of the principals was not apparently better. Principals reported higher stress levels and worse physical health than a group of white‐collar employees of similar socioeconomic status.
Yvonne Lagrosen and Stefan Lagrosen
The purpose of this paper is to shed light upon the connections between quality management, employee health and organisational learning in a school setting.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shed light upon the connections between quality management, employee health and organisational learning in a school setting.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a quantitative survey. Items measuring health status and values of quality management were included in a questionnaire addressed to teachers in a random sample of 20 schools. The items were checked for reliability with Cronbach's alpha tests and the correlation was measured with Pearson's correlation test.
Findings
The Cronbach's alpha tests showed that the reliability of all the indices measured was sufficient. Moreover, correlations were found between all the indices of quality management values and the health index. This indicates that the health status of the school employees is related to the level of adoption of the quality management values. A framework depicting the findings from an organisational learning perspective is proposed.
Research limitations/implications
The study strengthens the knowledge of the connections between quality management and health. The study was carried out in Sweden and the possibilities for generalising the findings to other countries are not certain. In addition, the relevance of the study for other organisations than schools remains unproven. A discussion regarding the possibilities of generalising the findings is included.
Practical implications
The findings and the proposed framework are helpful for improving school quality and employee health in schools.
Social implications
Improved school quality is important for society as a whole.
Originality/value
Previous research has indicated links between quality management and health in industrial manufacturing. This is the first study to explore this link in the school sector. Furthermore, the connections to organisational learning represent a novel approach.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors associated with occupational stress and job satisfaction among Irish primary school principals. A principal’s job has become…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors associated with occupational stress and job satisfaction among Irish primary school principals. A principal’s job has become increasingly demanding and complex in recent decades. However, there is little current research into their levels of stress and job satisfaction, particularly based on nationally representative data. In order to understand how principals perceive their job and how best to support them, new insights into factors contributing to job satisfaction and stress of school principals are warranted.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on an analysis of Growing up in Ireland data, a national representative study of nine-year-old children in Ireland. In order to explore the simultaneous impact of individual and school factors on stress and job satisfaction of principals in Irish primary schools, multivariate analysis was used. Analyses in this paper are based on responses from principals in 898 schools.
Findings
The results of the study indicate that a significant number of primary school principals in Ireland are not very satisfied and feel stressed about their job. Regression analysis revealed that job satisfaction and occupational stress were related to a complex set of personal characteristics, working conditions, school context and teacher climate.
Research limitations/implications
The data are limited to primary school principals. However, this is in itself an advantage since it allows for greater insights into variation across principals in job satisfaction and stress, holding the effect of school level constant.
Originality/value
This is the first study of its kind in the Irish context that explores the simultaneous effect of a number of factors on school principals’ stress and job satisfaction.
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G. Devos, D. Bouckenooghe, N. Engels, G. Hotton and A. Aelterman
The goal of this inquiry is to indicate which individual, organisational and external environment factors contribute to a better understanding of the well‐being of Flemish primary…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this inquiry is to indicate which individual, organisational and external environment factors contribute to a better understanding of the well‐being of Flemish primary school principals.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from a representative sample of primary schools in Flanders (n = 46) were gathered through questionnaires (principals and teachers) and semi‐structured interviews (principals).
Findings
The quantitative and qualitative outcomes suggest that well‐being is a complex psychological phenomenon affected by a myriad of factors. The analyses indicate that general self‐efficacy and achievement orientedness are significantly correlated with several aspects of positive (i.e. job satisfaction and job enthusiasm) and negative well‐being (i.e. cynicism and personal accomplishment). With respect to school culture and structural characteristics, very weak almost negligible effects are noted. In addition, the analysis demonstrates the significant role school boards fulfill in explaining both positive and negative well‐being. Finally, the role of central government in generally is found to affect well‐being in a negative way.
Practical implications
The findings of this paper provide important information for policy makers concerned with the improvement of the well‐being of primary school principals.
Originality/value
Although prior research investigated the influence of different antecedents on well‐being, several limitations in method and conceptual framework yielded information of which the usefulness must be considered tentative. In this inquiry an attempt is made to overcome these limitations and contribute to the literature in a double way: this study adopts a concurrent mixed method approach of data collection; and well‐being is examined from a positive psychology (job enthusiasm and job satisfaction) and negative psychology approach (burnout), whereas prior research almost exclusively looked at the negative pole of well‐being.
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The monograph argues that American racism has two colours (whiteand black), not one; and that each racism dresses itself not in oneclothing, but in four: (1) “Minimal” negative…
Abstract
The monograph argues that American racism has two colours (white and black), not one; and that each racism dresses itself not in one clothing, but in four: (1) “Minimal” negative, when one race considers another race inferior to itself in degree, but not in nature; (2) “Maximal” negative, when one race regards another as inherently inferior; (3) “Minimal” positive, when one race elevates another race to a superior status in degree, but not in nature; and (4) “Maximal” positive, when one race believes that the other race is genetically superior. The monograph maintains that the needs of capitalism created black slavery; that black slavery produced white racism as a justification for black slavery; and that black racism is a backlash of white racism. The monograph concludes that the abolition of black slavery and the civil rights movement destroyed the social and political ground for white and black racism, while the modern development of capitalism is demolishing their economic and intellectual ground.
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