ERIC Number: ED011399
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1967-Jan
Pages: 31
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD ROLE.
LIPHAM, JAMES M.; AND OTHERS
WITHIN 12 WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE FOLLOWING GROUPS PROVIDED DATA IN AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD ROLE--(1) 1,794 CITIZENS, (2) ALL MAYORS, CITY MANAGERS OR VILLAGE PRESIDENTS, CITY OR VILLAGE COUNCILMEN, AND TOWNSHIP CHAIRMEN WITHIN EACH DISTRICT, (3) 20 RANDOMLY SELECTED TEACHERS FROM EACH DISTRICT, AND (4) ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. ONLY A SAMPLE OF FINDINGS WAS REPORTED, AS TOTAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY WERE TO BE PRESENTED IN AUGUST, 1967. DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES, PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WERE FOUND TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE KIND OF EXPECTATIONS HELD FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. WHEN CONSIDERING THE FOUR GROUP CLASSIFICATION VARIABLES, THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER GROUP TENDED TO ATTACH LESS IMPORTANCE TO THEIR DECISION-MAKING ROLE THAN DID THE OTHER THREE GROUPS (INDICATIVE OF A REALIZATION OF THEIR ROLE COMPLEXITY AND THEIR RELIANCE UPON OTHER PROFESSIONALS). ALL GROUPS, EXCEPT THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, VIEWED THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AS A MORE IMPORTANT OFFICIAL THAN A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. SPECIFIC FINDINGS REVEALED THAT A MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL RESPONDENTS FELT THAT (1) THE BOARD SHOULD ALERT CITIZENS OF ITEMS TO BE COVERED AT COMING MEETINGS, (2) SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE ELECTED AT LARGE, (3) THE BOARD SHOULD BE ORGANIZED INTO SUBCOMMITTEES, AND (4) BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE PAID A SALARY. WHEREAS A MAJORITY OF CITIZENS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND TEACHERS FELT THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD SEEK FEDERAL AID, ONLY 19 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FELT LIKEWISE. (GB)
Descriptors: Board of Education Role, Demography, Educational Programs, Federal Aid, Interviews, Opinions, Political Influences, Public Officials, Religious Factors, School Community Relationship, School District Spending, School Districts, Socioeconomic Status, Students, Tables (Data), Teacher Salaries, Teachers
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Wisconsin Univ., Madison.
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A