| When you hear of conflict within schools, you usually | | | | - Whole language programs |
| think of conflict between the principal and students or | | | | - Resource-based learning |
| parents. The conflict that results between the principal | | | | - Teaching according to expectations, rather than |
| and teachers is often one that is not common | | | | covering a specific textbook from cover to cover. |
| knowledge. Without proper conflict resolution the result | | | | Problems from the top down... |
| is that the staff room becomes a very uncomfortable | | | | When a principal is used to running the school a certain |
| place. | | | | way the school board hires a new superintendent, |
| Reasons for Principal and Teacher Conflict | | | | things are likely to change. The superintendent puts |
| Conflict between teachers and the principal arise for | | | | pressure on the principal to change the way things |
| various reasons, including: | | | | work in the school. These changes create conflict |
| - With school closures and the tightening of the | | | | among teachers who are not willing to change. The |
| system, new staff moves into a school that often | | | | result could be that the school board officials come |
| don't agree with the way the principal does things. | | | | into the school to try to resolve the problems. This only |
| - Older staff members are resentful of a young | | | | creates more conflict. |
| principal. | | | | Conflict within schools often results in distrust of the |
| - Staff members reassigned from other schools may | | | | system, with teachers blaming the principal and vice |
| be resentful. | | | | versa. Team building is the first step to resolving the |
| New programs in schools are often the cause of a lot | | | | conflict. It is essential that the focus of your school is |
| of tension as teachers with 20 or more years | | | | on its main goal of education. Determine your strengths |
| experience do not adapt well to change. They are | | | | and needs and work to develop a new aura of trust, |
| often reluctant to start teaching in a different way. | | | | with effective and efficient communication among all |
| Some examples of this include: | | | | members of the staff. |