Arts & Social Sciences
Te Kura Kete Aronui

Abstract

Sutton, D. (1993). Today's problems in "Tomorrow's Schools": Managing conflict in Waikato school boards of trustees. Unpublished Master of Social Science Thesis. Hamilton: University of Waikato.

The recent educational reforms in Aotearoa. "Tomorrow's Schools", have increased the potential for conflict on school boards. The present research investigated the conflict management strategies that school boards have found effective.

Fifteen Waikato rural primary schools were randomly selected. From these schools, five volunteered to participate in the present research. At each school four or five trustees were interviewed. These trustees included: the chairperson, principal, staff representative and a parent representative. Efforts were made to ensure Māori perspectives were included in the study. Interviews using a semi-structured interview schedule were held with 23 trustees in total.

Results indicated six areas where conflict often arose. These areas of conflict were: board functioning, board decision-making, understanding board roles, consultation between groups, staff management, and implementing bicultural policies. Further analysis identified thirteen main conflict management strategies. The conflict management strategies associated with specific areas of conflict were noted.

The majority of conflict management strategies that participants mentioned either prevented conflict, or helped achieve negotiated resolution. Participants also mentioned mediation and ensuring that diverse opinions were expressed and dealt with.

School boards have been forced by "Tomorrow's Schools" to manage conflict with interest-based strategies (e.g. negotiation), because strategies based on rights and power (e.g. arbitration) are not readily available. Board members therefore need skills to use interest-based strategies effectively. Recommendations were made to improve the effectiveness of conflict management systems used by school boards. The School Trustees Association (STA) could play a key role in encouraging school boards to implement more effective conflict management.