Management of Interpersonal Conflict between Principals and Teachers in Selected Secondary Schools in Bermuda

Abstract

This quantitative study was designed to identify and manage factors contributing to interpersonal conflicts between principals and teachers in Secondary Schools in Bermuda. The study also explores the effects of interpersonal conflict on student achievement and on school success, and suggests conflict management strategies and measures that can be adopted to enhance and maintain positive and productive interpersonal relationships between principals and teachers. The quota sample used consisted of 120 secondary school teachers and four principals, 118 of the teachers completed and returned the 30 items questionnaire, which were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data using SPSS to obtain percentages and frequency values of specific responses. The findings revealed that despite the fact that the physical environment of the schools appeared healthy and competition for limited resources was rare, intergroup and interpersonal relations were major sources of interpersonal conflict. It was also found that management issues, personnel practices, work structure, employee development, cultural differences and ethical concerns were major causes of interpersonal conflicts.