A Status Study of the Western Kansas Secondary School Administrator
Authors:   , Weber James 
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to compare the actual duties of selected Western Kansas secondary school administrators with the duties that were advocated by selected authorities in education. This study was limited to secondary-school administrators in the forty-six Kansas counties west of the 98 deg 30' longitude. These counties were located in area five as established by the Kansas State Teachers Association in 1963. A questionnaire was developed after a review of the literature was made of the secondary- school administrator to identify the duties and functions that were necessary in order to administer a secondary-school adequately and effectively. A cover letter and the questionnaire were sent to the one hundred and sixty- three administrators in area five. Responses were received from one hundred and fourteen administrators. To determine the advocated duties of the Western Kansas secondary school administrator, the letter and questionnaire were also sent to ten selected faculty members at the six public Kansas colleges and universities. In addition, the proposals of noted authorities in the field of secondary-school administration were used. In the opinion of the experts canvassed, the most important administrative duty was selecting and rating the teaching staff. The administrators also listed this duty as most important. Also, it was apparent that the duties of least importance by the administrators and experts were conferences with salesmen and administration of the cafeteria. The experts agreed unanimously that class visitation and conferences with individuals was the most important supervisory duty. The administrators ranked this duty as second in importance. Supervision of school policies and laws was listed by the administrators as the most important supervisory duty. The experts also ranked this duty as important. The duties of least importance to the experts and administrators were the supervision of various activities and of the testing programs. Information in this study revealed that the most important professional duties ranked by the experts and administrators included professional reading and advanced education, and al so participation in faculty meetings. Special committee work, and Parent Teacher Association and National Education Association meetings were least significant to both studied groups. The experts rated the clerical duty, plan public-relations activities, as most important. However, the administrators ranked this duty as one of least importance. The experts and administrators saw the need in making plans for opening and closing the school. The administrators ranked this duty as most important, and the experts listed it second in importance. Planning for special events, and answering questionnaires and correspondence were the two least important clerical duties indicated by both the experts and administrators. It was cited by the experts and administrators that helping various groups with special problems and arranging school programs were the two most important extra-curricular duties. Selling tickets at various activities and coaching plays, debates, or orations were indicated as the two least important duties by both the experts and the administrators. Evidence provided by this study also indicated that the Western Kansas secondary-school administrators should spend approximately 40 per cent of their time in supervisory duties. Furthermore, it was found that the administrators were spending 24 per cent in these duties. It was also advocated by the experts that 29 percent of the administrator’s time be spent in administrative duties. Thirty-three percent was allotted by the administrators for administrative duties. The professional, clerical, and extracurricular duties were ranked by the administrators, experts, and noted authors as least important.