The Zone of Tolerance and its effects on the hiring of school principals.

Abstract

The Zone of Tolerance is a concept which describes the latitude of control that a community gives to its professional educators. Current research which attempts to delineate this zone indicates that community control of a district will vary, but is predictable when variables are arranged to meet certain criteria. Specifically, William Boyd (1976) concluded in a summary of the research that in large heterogeneous urban districts professional interests will dominate in routine internal issues such as personnel. This study used multiple qualitative methods to examine Boyd's contention by analyzing the hiring of successful principal candidates in a large heterogeneous school district. Interviews were conducted with principals selected by questionnaires and hired in the district during the period of time from 1975 to 1985. Corresponding data about school district events for the period were also collected from newspapers and other public archives. In addition, principals' perceptions of legitimacy affected by changes in influence on the hiring process were gathered. Data were then reduced, categorized and analyzed on the basis of shifting patterns of community and professional dominance. Results indicated that an increase in minority rights issues and the community's changing demographics shifted control of the hiring process from the school professionals to a newly elected school board more representative of community interests. Principals' perceptions of legitimacy affected by the changing patterns of dominance were varied and inconclusive, however the shift in control over personnel decisions regarding the hiring of principals was conclusive and contradicted Boyd's contention.