Role perceptions of elementary school secretaries: Implementation for school administrators
Abstract
Problem. Initially, a survey conducted in April of 1988 indicated that duties expected of elementary school secretaries by boards of education were not consistent with the actual duties expected of secretaries. The survey also indicated that elementary school principals were in disagreement with secretaries as to the duty priorities for secretaries and the need for secretarial in-service. These discrepancies between boards of education, elementary school principals, and elementary school secretaries have implications for school administrators in the areas of school efficiency and general school organization. Methodology. A review of boards of education approved job descriptions for elementary school secretaries, along with a survey was used to gather necessary data for this study. Sixty elementary school principals and sixty-six elementary school secretaries from twenty-six public school districts in Southeastern Wisconsin were part of this study. A t-test was used to determine if differences existed between the principals' and secretaries' ratings of secretarial duties, while a chi-square test was used to determine relationships between boards of education, principals, and secretaries regarding secretarial duties. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation tables were used to analyze specific duties needing secretarial in-service. Results and conclusions. The results of the study indicated that boards of education job descriptions for elementary school secretaries did not reflect the elementary secretary's duties. Principals and secretaries view the secretarial role similarly in the duty categories of clerical, bookkeeping, receptionist, and instruction. The duty categories of pupil accounting and pupil care were viewed differently. In-service needs did not appear to be a priority by either the elementary principals or secretaries. Though the research did not support immediate attention for the development of in-service programs for most of the secretarial duties, school administrators should pay special attention to the needs for training in the duties of providing first aid, computer data entry, and meeting the public and parent needs.
Recommended Citation
Voorhees, John Berneard, "Role perceptions of elementary school secretaries: Implementation for school administrators" (1991). Dissertations (1962 - 2010) Access via Proquest Digital Dissertations. AAI9226225.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations/AAI9226225