Uppeldi og menntun - 01.01.2001, Qupperneq 61

ARNA H. JÓNSDÓTTIR
ABSTRACT
This article describes a research study on the relationship between job satisfaction,
as experienced by teachers and assistants, and the leadership emphasis in
preschools. To accomplish the research aimes a comparative study was done in three
preschools in the capital area. The research method was qualitative and interpretive
where the main emphasis was on getting a comprehensive picture of each preschool
with observations and interviews. Similarities and differences in the descriptions of
the personnel within those three preschools and between groups of personnel were
compared.
The main results revealed that the pleasure was strongest when the individual
experienced personal achievement in his work with the children. The leadership
emphasis, reported by the personnel as promoting job satisfaction, had similarities
both with a Human Resources and a Cultural Leadership Approach. It consisted of
open discussions about visions and policy of the preschool, collegiality and collec-
tive responsibility of implementing and developing the education, evaluation of the
work of individual and supervision. Both principals and groupleaders described
insecurity in implementing important factors that increased job satisfaction in the
preschool.
A certain dilemma seems to exist in the leadership within the preschools. The
principals express their wish to increase the „hierarchical" power and responsibility
of the groupleaders. There is a strong indication in the data that groupleaders are not
as prepared to accept that kind of power and responsibility, many of them preferring
participative leadership over the hierarchical forms.
Arna H. Jónsdóttir, lektor á sviði leikskólafræði
og stjórmmar og forstöðumaður leikskólabrautar KHÍ.
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