CHAPTER 7

COMMUNICATIONS WITH INTERNAL

PUBLICS

THE INTERNAL PUBLICS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM INCLUDE:

The School Board The Administrators The Teaching Staff The Non-teaching Staff The Students(Where do parents fit?)

GOOD COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN A SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE CRUCIAL FOR

MANY REASONS

Some Are: A School System Cannot Succeed Without

It Constructive Ideas Will Go Up The Ladder

Only If Someone Is Listening Up There Organizations Only Succeed If They Meet

Human Needs Such As Those For A Sense Of Belonging And Recognition

THE SCHOOL BOARD All Actions Of The Board Effects The

Entire Internal Public To Some Extent This Is Obvious! The Board Is Where

Authority Is Placed By State Law. The Board Can Greatly Effect School

System Morale By Its Actions

THE BOARD, BY ITS ACTIONS GREATLY EFFECT THE SUCCESS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

It Is Generally Felt That Standing Committees Of The Board Are A Hindrance To Effective Administration Of The School System

The Board Must Stay Out Of Day To Day Operational Matters

Individual Members Can Negatively Effect The Administration If They Pursue Personal Or Political Agendas

The Board’s Relationship With The Staff Should Be Primarily Through The Superintendent

Staff Members Should Not Be Able To Circumvent The Superintendent

It Should Also Be Noted That Board Action Can Be Devastating To Staff Morale If The Board’s Conduct Is Poor

ADMINISTRATION-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

This Is Usually A Relationship Which Goes Down The Line Of Command.

However, A Truly Effective School System Must Show Upward Communications.

It Would Difficult To Classify A Superintendent As Successful If The System Is Characterized By One-way Communication (The Same Thing Can Be Said Of A School)

IMPROVING HUMAN RELATIONS IS IMPROVING EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Everyone In Education Must Have Good Human Relations Skills

A Lack Of Human Relation Skills Will Doom To Failure Any Prospective Teacher Or Administrator

A Good School System Will Have A Feeling Of Goodwill That Emanates Up And Down The Line Of Authority, And It Must Start With The Broad Openness

HERZBERG THEORY Divides Needs In To Hygienic And

Satisfier Types Hygienic Needs Prevent A Decrease In

Performance Satisfier Needs Such As Achievement

And Recognition Are The Motivators That Breed Excellence And Achievement

The Collective Bargaining Process Has, Thus Far, Only Addressed The Hygienic Area

RELATIONS AMONG TEACHERS

Many Factors Effect Here Strong Or Weak Administrators Conflicts Over Instructional Practices Unethical Conduct Division Of Responsibility In An

Inequitable Manner Formation Of Cliques

RELATIONS WITH NON-INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL

Factors Can Lead To Discontent Politics – If This Is The Basis For Hiring

There Is A Problem Job Definition – Conflict Over Level Of

Responsibility Recognition Inadequate Staffing

WORKERS WANTSWhat workers say they

want:1. Interesting work2. Appreciation of work

done3. Feeling of being in on

things4. Job Security5. Good pay6. Promotion and growth7. Good working

conditions8. Loyalty to employees9. Tactful discipline10. Help with personal

problems

What managers think employees want:

1. Good pay2. Job security3. Promotion and growth4. Good working

conditions5. Interesting work6. Loyalty to employees7. Tactful discipline8. Appreciation of work

done9. Help with personal

problems10. Feeling of being in on

thingsFrom Study by George Mason University. (1982)

APPROACHES TO FOSTER GOOD COMMUNICATIONS ONE-TO-ONE

CONFERENCES ONE-THREE-SIX

WORKSHOPS INTERNAL ADVISORY

COMMITTEES ENCOURAGING

SUGGESTIONS IMPLEMENTING

EFFECKTANCY RECOGNITION OF

ACCOMPLISHMENTS IMPROVEMENT

CIRCLES

INVOLVEMENT IN PLANNING

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

PRESERVING THE RIGHT TO TEACH

ORIENTATION OF NEW EMPLOYEES

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

INTERNAL PUBLICATIONS. WEB SITES AND E-MAILS

Communications During Negotiations And Strikes –

Communications With Pupils Students Are Individuals Respect Their Personalities Discipline Them

Instructional Practices Homework Assignments Grading System Examinations Guidance Practices

Relations Outside The Classroom Library – Media Centers School Office Medical Centers Cafeteria Transportation Physical Plant

The Pupil And Internal Community Relations Involvement Should Increase With Maturity Student Advisory Committees Student Opinion Surveys Student Town Meeting Ombudsperson