The PRINCIPAL'S DILEMMA

OR How to live with Disequilibrium

The school principals, like all other educators, should expect to please no one.
All too often they are caught on the horns of a dilemma regardless of the action they take, or fail to take.

If they report to school too early, they have insomnia; if they leave school late, they are slow workers.

If they attend sports events, they are over-emphasizing athletics; if they miss an event, they have no school spirit.

If they correct a teacher, they're always picking on someone; if they don't correct teachers, they're weak administrators.

If they have a friendly personality, they are showoffs; if they're quiet, they're anti-social.

If they call a meeting, they have no regard for teachers' time; if they don't call meetings, they don't believe in democratic administration.

If they make quick decisions and follows up; they are autocrats; if they are slow to make decisions, they are indecisive.

If they visit the classroom, they are being nosey; if they don't visit the classroom, they don't care what is going on.

If they buy a new car, they must be overpaid; if they don't buy a new car, they must be misers.

If they speak up for some new program; they're on the bandwagon; if they're cautious about change, they're living in the past.

If they suspend a student, they don't understand children; if they don't, they're a weak disciplinarian.

If they use the public address system, they like to hear themselves talk; if they don’t, they fail to keep their staff informed.

If they attend conferences for principals, they're goofing off; when they don't, they're unprofessional.

If they check with the superintendent, they haven't a mind of their own, if they seldom check, they’re assuming to much authority.

If they regularly have a hot lunch, they're not watching their weight; if they seldom have a hot lunch, the school lunches aren't good enough for them.

If they phone to say, there's no school on a snowy morning, why did he wait so long; if they don't call, they must be driving a snow plow to school.

If they’re young, they've got a lot to learn; if they're old, they just don't have it any more.

But take heart folks. Keep giving your best, for no matter what you do there are those who will always say

"it isn't the school that's to blame;
it's the PRINCIPAL of the thing."