This study aims to analyze through empirical analyses how the principal’s moral leadership can have effects on teachers’ class engagement, school organization and their commitment to students. For this, I have collected data from 371 selected teac...
This study aims to analyze through empirical analyses how the principal’s moral leadership can have effects on teachers’ class engagement, school organization and their commitment to students. For this, I have collected data from 371 selected teachers out of the total 400 subject teachers from elementary schools at Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do. Using the SPSSWIN program for the collected data analyses, I have performed Cronbach’s α for the reliability analysis of the questionnaire, t-test and F-test for verifying recognition differences in research variables, Scheffe test (P < .05) for post-test of F-test, Pearson’s simple correlation analysis for examining the relationship between moral leadership and teachers’ commitment, and multiple regression for verifying the effects of sub-variables of leadership on teachers’ commitment.
The results of these analyses can be summarized as follows.
First, the teachers evaluated the principal’s moral leadership somewhat high with an average of 3.71 on the 5 point scale. Among the moral leadership sub-variables, the sense of duty was not recognized high, but the integrity and responsibility was somewhat low.
Second, as a result of the investigation of teachers’ overall recognition of their commitment, the teachers recognized it high with an average of 3.85 on the 5 point scale. Especially they recognized their commitment to class highest, while showing a relatively low average about their commitment to the school organization.
Third, as a result of the analysis of the relationship between the principal’s moral leadership and teachers’ commitment, a meaningful static correlation appeared between these two research variables.
Based on the results so far, this study has drawn the following conclusions.
As the elementary school teachers showed neutral recognition of the principal’s moral leadership, their commitment appeared to be positively influenced by the variables of fairness and empowerment, and their commitment to class, students, and school organization somewhat positively. And the principal’s moral leadership had positive influence on their commitment to class, students, and school organization somewhat positively. Thus, the principal should be equipped, among others, with personality, quality, competence, and features with which he/she can represent his/her school, and for this, he/she should reflect values of the future leader (integrity, fairness, responsibility, sense of duty, empowerment, and vision presentation) while enhancing a leadership training program through which one can managethe school transparently. Also, the effectiveness of the school cannot be guaranteed without teachers’ enthusiasm and commitment. Creating a climate in which teachers can commit themselves into class and students seems to be highly necessary for our school culture. It cannot be an overstatement to say that a good school is dependent on the principal’s competence and features, and the teachers’commitment to the school, the students, and class. Thus, it should be in mind that the principal and teachers are not in an hierarchical relation but in a partnership-collaborator relationship in which they can promote the effectiveness of the school organization.
This study includes analyses through empirical research of how the principal’s moral leadership can have influence on teachers’ commitment on class, school organization, and the teaching profession. I would like to make several proposals for future research on the basis of the results and conclusions of this study.
First, this study is quantitative research that has empirically verity the relationship between the principal’s moral leadership and teachers’ commitment through a survey. It limits its subjects to elementary school teachers. Research is needed to compare and analyze secondary school teachers, who have different culture from elementary school teachers’.
Second, this study has been fulfilled in the way of teachers’ self-evaluation of two research variables (the principal’s moral leadership and teachers’ commitment). Research is needed to mutually compare and analyze teachers’ and the principal’s evaluation of the latter’s leadership.
Third, there are diverse variables that have influence on teachers’ commitment. This study has selected the principal’s moral leadership variable as the decisive variable that has influence on teachers’ commitment. Subsequent research needs to try to empirically verity more diverse variables that has influence on teachers’ commitment.