The relationship of teachers' perceived level of morale and their perception of the school climate

This study investigated the relationship between Mississippi Public School teachers' perceived level of morale and their perceptions of the school climate. The Purdue Teacher Opinionnaire (PTO), second Revised Edition, and the School Climate Survey (SCS), Form A, were used to gather data from Mississippi public school teachers. Demographic variables of gender and level of assignment were considered.;The population consisted of public school teachers in the the state of Mississippi. Responses were solicited from 30 schools (15 elementary and 15 high schools) and 148 teachers. The schools were randomly selected. Each principal was asked to pick six teachers. Each teacher completed two questionnaires, the Purdue Teacher Opinionnaire and the School Climate Survey. Data were analyzed using the Pearson Product Moment correlation to answer question one. Data were analyzed with multiple regression to answer question two. To answer questions three and four, the subjects' total scores on both instruments were correlated; then the derived correlation coefficient was transformed to a z score. Differences in the z scores for the demographic variables were then computed through the use of a z ratio. A z ratio of 1.96 was considered statistically significant at the.05 level.;Results showed a significant positive correlation between level of morale and perceptions of the school climate. Results also indicate that 42 percent of the variance in school climate can be accounted for by total morale score and subscale scores on curriculum issues and community support for education.;Findings indicate that male teachers are more sensitive to the effect of the level of morale and school climate than female teachers. There was no significant difference when the level of assignment was considered.