Master Thesis

This study determined the influence of dominant educational philosophies to decision-making styles of selected private grade school principals in Manila for school year 2001-2002. Specifically, it sought answers to the following subproblems: 1. What is the personal and demographic profile of the selected private grade school principals in Manila in terms of age, gender, civil status, number of years as administrator and highest educational attainment? 2. What are the educational philosophies and decision-making styles of the grade school principals? 3. Is there a significant relationship between educational philosophies and the personal and demographic profile; decision-making styles and the personal and demographic profile; and, educational philosophies and decision-making styles of grade school principals? The study used the descriptive method of research, using ordered reasoning and correlation of the variables. It utilized a survey questionnaire to identify the educational philosophies that influenced the decision-making styles of grade school principals. It is anchored on the theory postulated by Aquino that educational philosophies to which teachers and administrators subscribed to, can be progressivism, essentialism, existentialism and perennialism based from the original philosophies of naturalism, idealism, realism and pragmatism, for the school managers to come up with their decision-making styles as theorized by Low to be democratic, consultative, autocratic, and laissez-faire. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents who were the 14 grade school principals of selected grade schools in Manila.