Leadership Influences Upon Pupil Attitudes and Behaviour in Parish Rural Primary Schools: Implications for Administrators

Abstract

The objective of this thesis was to investigate the attitudes and behaviour of leaders and their influence on the pupil attitudes and behaviour within parish rural primary schools. Three Catholic primary schools in the Maitland Diocese of N.S.W. were chosen for the study. The schools were of similar size, economic circumstances and geographical situations. The participants in the research included 82 pupils from years 5/6, 4 teachers and 3 teaching principals. A qualitative approach was chosen, utilizing questionnaires and individual interviews, processes which fit well into the Survey Research Model.The Self Description Questionnaires (SDQ1 and SDQ111), (Marsh 1982, 1990) were used to identify and evaluate levels of self-concept in both pupils and staff, to examine the relationship between pupils and staff, to assess any direct influence of school leaders upon the self-concept, attitudes, behaviour and morale of both pupils and staff.