School Principalship:The most difficult job in America today:the 5 main reasons why Principal`s are leaving the principalship and how this trend will continue until a major resturcturing of the American School system occurs.

School Principalship : The most difficult job in America today

Chapter One

Introduction

Education has fallen under much scrutiny in the past two decades with the overwhelming majority of critics declaring that American schools are in danger , in crisis . Indeed the performance of American students lags far behind the performance of students in most other countries , and sadly , after all the blame trickles down , it lands squarely on the principal . Many states have adopted intervention programs that send teams to low-performing schools in to assess problems and develop strategies . Unfortunately , many

of these strategies involve replacing the administration when other answers are more obvious . As a result the school principal has become a type of endangered species . The demands of the job , the low levels of recognition and the constant stress from George W . Bush 's No Child Left Behind (NCLB ) Act , along with states testing pressures and constantly complaining teachers , parents and society have worn down experienced school principals , forcing them to leave the schools in frightening numbers

Problem

With so many principals leaving , newer and inexperienced principals are taking over the jobs . These novice principals do not have the background and experience necessary to be the commanding presence in the eyes of the students , teachers and parents . The results may be that these groups are able to manipulate the principal or that the principal may rely too heavily on the advice of upper level administration , merely becoming a central office pawn . As a result , the school will fail to function properly with regards to behavior , policy and curriculum . Low test scores will follow along with media coverage that demands change It is a vicious cycle in which many principals feel caught which has sent many capable administrators into the safety net of retirement

Purpose

The purpose of this is to discuss the main reasons why school principals are leaving America 's schools and the impacts this trend will have on school reform movements . It intends to analyze the effects of NCLB , states ' obsessions with testing and accountability , media misrepresentation and local pressures on the principals of today . In addition , it will look to some of the educational reform movements and restructuring of the school system to see if any of these options are considered viable

Chapter Two

Literature Review

The principal shortage is real and growing by the day . At one time experienced and qualified teachers were more than willing to take the step into school administration , but now that number is diminishing as well . A 2001 survey conducted by the Association of California School Administrators discovered that ninety percent of the districts were experiences shortages in high school principals and in qualified candidates . Seventy-three percent of elementary schools reported similar findings (Bell , 2001 . Sadly , more than enough individuals on with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing had the necessary credentials to fill the shortages , but most of them were choosing either not to enter the administrative role at all or to enter it in a...