This 13 page paper provides an overview of a study of principals regarding whether they were adequately prepared to handle the business aspects of running a school in their college or university coursework. This paper integrates a methodology for the study and an approach to understanding the overall issue of the changing role of the school principal. Bibliography lists 15 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: MH11_MHPrinc5.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
the school and determine that services could be provided for the students with very few variables. Educational opportunities rarely required the integration of complex financial systems or the extensive
operational budgets that have appeared in modern school systems. At the same time, some have argued that while the responsibilities of principals have changed considerably in recent years, training
in college and university programs in educational administration have not adequate addressed these changes. In particular, the complexities in addressing the financial and operational structures for the schools
is an area in need of greater focus in the training of principals. Any new principal in an educational setting faces a variety of challenges, including a process by
which they are able to gain authority and bring students, teachers and even parents and community members, into greater complicity with educational directives. These challenges are exacerbated when major
changes occur in a school setting, including the influx of a population change that transforms the educational setting, and changing business functions, operational structures and budgetary requirements. It is
not uncommon, then, for principles in both private and public schools to have varied job requirements that include many different aspects of operating schools as businesses. Purpose of
the Study The purpose of this study is to consider the issue of the changing educational environment and the role of principals. In particular, this study relates to the
issue of the role of principals as administrators and the need to assess whether educational training provides a solid base for applying business practices to the educational setting. As
a result, this study brings together an overview of the current literature with a study of 25 public school principals and 25 private school principals in order to understand their