Effects of School Location on School Organizational Culture in Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the school location variable on the shaping of school organizational culture. The context for the study is secondary schools in Korea under the compulsory rotation system for teaching staff, with school organizational culture being assessed by surveying the perceptions of teachers. The results of the study identified that although the effect size of school location factor on school culture was not strong, the factor can transform the culture of school organization. Further, while some aspects of school organizational culture including the aspects of pedagogy and student welfare were strongly determined by school teachers’ characteristics, teachers’ age in particular, three aspects of school organizational culture including teaching character, collaboration and relationship with community were influenced by the school’s location. The overall findings of this study suggest that the organizational cultures of Korean secondary schools are generally formed by both school location and the school members’ characteristics, teachers’ age and/or teaching experience.