A Study of the Decision Making Process of Elementary School Principals Facing an Ethical Dilemma

• Main Authors: Kuang-Tsan Chien, 簡光燦
• Other Authors: Fwu-Yuan Wong
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/52207707943534294747

碩士 === 國立暨南國際大學 === 教育政策與行政學系 === 97 === Abstract This study focused on the decision making process of elementary school principals facing an ethical dilemma. The purposes of the study were to explore the beliefs and principles which decision makers persisted, and the factors that had got significant influence on their ethical decisions. First, through the literature analysis, this study attempted to define the meaning of ethical dilemmas, beliefs and principles when dealing with ethical dilemmas, as well as the influencing factors, and steps and models of decision making process. Then, to gather the data by using the interviewing method. The interviewees included nine elementary school principals in Nantou County with the semi-structural interview, and analyzed. The conclusions of this study were showed as follows: 1. The situations of ethical dilemmas that elementary school principals faced could be divided into four types: (a) the dilemmas about giving considerations between human affection and educational system; (b) the dilemmas about choosing a criterion between human affection and law; (c) the dilemmas of choosing objects; and (d) the dilemmas of the side-choice to stand. 2. The beliefs that elementary school principals persisted for ethical dilemmas could be divided into seven items: (a) to return to education essence, and defend the students’ rights for education; (b) to respect and encourage the specialty of teachers; (c) to uphold the principles of fair, justice and professional ideals; (d) to find the balance between the items of organization objects and the staffs’ demands; (e) to exercise the power carefully for creating a harmonic and trustful phenomenon; (f) to convert the ethical dilemmas into an advantage of concentrating the centripetal force; and (g) to make decisions based on the conscience. 3. The principles that elementary school principals applied to solve the problems of the ethical dilemmas could be divided into eleven items: (a) fair and justice; (b) respect mutually; (c) involvement and conceiving of consensus; (d) negotiation sincerely; (e) efficiency and benefit; (f) protection and concern; (g) administration in accordance with law; (h) timing; (i) arrangement in proper sequence; (j) flexibility; and (k) others. 4. The influences on the decisions which elementary school principals made for ethical dilemmas could be summarized as follows: (a) personal factors; (b) interior factors of the organization; (c) exterior factors of the organization; and (d) the factors of the decision making process. 5. The decisions which elementary school principals made for ethical dilemmas could be made by nine processes: (a) to clarify and define the conditions of an ethical dilemma; (b) to think about the ethical aspects of the question; (c) to collect the information and refer to the related ethical morals; (d) to make professional consultation; (e) to draw up the solution; (f) to estimate the possible results; (g) to conceive a consensus through negotiation; (h) to chose the most proper actions; and (i) to review and modification. According to the research conclusion, the following suggestions were made: 1. The ethical and moral philosophy courses should be stressed and weighted in Center of Teacher Education. Increase the practical and plentiful curriculums for ethical studies, and to make a closer union of ethics theories and the practice. 2. The up level educational administration institutions should consider the actual situations of basic educational unit, respect and trust the principals in exercising their authorities. Plan ethical subjects and curriculums, carry on ethical seminars in principal training courses, and issue ethical rules for the educational executives to follow. 3. The suggestions for elementary school principals and future principals: (a) to strengthen the capability to sense and judge for an ethical dilemma; (b) to persist in the beliefs and the principles of ethic, and keep personal standpoint; (c) to refer to the nine processes and make the most proper decision for ethical dilemmas; and (d) to make reconsiderations the steady energy in ethics practice.