The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between kindergarten teachers' participation in decision-making processes and their job satisfaction, to provide basic materials for efficient operation of early childhood education facilities...
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between kindergarten teachers' participation in decision-making processes and their job satisfaction, to provide basic materials for efficient operation of early childhood education facilities.
The problems to be investigated in this study were as follows:
1. What is the degree of teachers' participation in decision-making?
1-1. Is the degree of teachers' participation in decision-making different for various sub-divided areas?
1-2. Does teachers' participation in decision-making differ depending on background variables (age, teaching experience, class size, age of children being instructed)?
2. What is the degree of teachers' job satisfaction?
2-1. Does the degree of teacher's job satisfaction differ for various sub-divided areas?
2-2. Does teacher's job satisfaction differ depending on background variables (age, teaching experience, class size, age of children being instructed)?
3. What is the relationship between teachers' participation in decision-making processes and job satisfaction?
For this study, questionnaires were distributed to 186 teachers who work in private kindergartens in Daejeon, where there are more than three classes. The questionnaires consist of sections that include teachers' background variables, participation in decision-making, and job satisfaction. 220 questionnaires were distributed and 192 were collected (87% collect rate). 186 were used for data analysis except 6 questionnaires that were impossible to analyze. Data analysis was performed through SPSS 12.0. Frequency, percentage ANOVA, and a post hoc analysis for each question were calculated. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship between the sub-divided areas of participation of decision making and those of job satisfaction.
The major findings of this research were as follows:
First, teachers' participation in decision-making processes, according to sub-divided areas, were determined to be: management of educational goals, control of the educational process, management of teaching tools and facilities, teacher placement, and budget, in this order.
Second, in terms of teachers' participation in decision-making according to their age, teachers who were older than thirty six years old participated in decision-making processes more actively. These results were statistically significant. In terms of their teaching career, participation in decision-making by teachers who have worked longer than eleven years was high; these results were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences for class size and the ages of children being instructed.
Third, the sub-divided areas of job satisfaction were: relations with colleagues, relationship with principals, the job itself, work environment, and remuneration, in this order.
Fourth, in terms of job satisfaction according to teachers' ages, the satisfaction of teachers older than thirty six years old was high. These results were statistically significant. In terms of teaching career, the satisfaction of teachers who have worked longer than eleven years was high. These results were also statistically significant. The class size and the ages of children being instructed did not affect job satisfaction and there were no statistically significant differences for these categories.
Fifth, there was a static correlation between teachers' participation in decision-making processes and their job satisfaction. The higher teachers' participation in decision-making was, the higher their job satisfaction.
Based on the findings of this study, the following suggestions could be made.
In terms of kindergarten management, teachers must be allowed to participate in decision-making in more areas, so that their job satisfaction can be improved. To do that, teachers themselves must be active and openhearted to decision-making processes.