ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS IN THE ROLE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN ISRAEL

The present study examined the potential and actual stress in terms of conflict and ambiguity, in the role of the elementary school principal. The investigation was focused on the pedagogical and the administrative domains of the principal's role. Data on the perceived ambiguity and conflict were collected by means of individually administered questionnaires to 65 elementary school principals in Israel. In addition, objective ambiguity was measured by content analysis of formal documents of the Ministry of Education. Results pointed at the existence of role conflict as well as that of role ambiguity in objective and in subjective terms. Activities which fell under the administrative domain contained fewer clements of stress than those in the pedagogic domain. It was concluded that role stress forced the principal to neglect his pedagogical duties in favor of the administrative duties.