Comparison of attitudes toward the educational needs of gifted children: rural principal vs urban principal in Kansas.

Abstract

A sample of 18% randomly selected elementary and secondary rural public school principals and a sample of 114 randomly selected elementary and secondary urban public school principals from the state of Kansas were mailed a 20-item survey. The survey also contained fifteen demographic questions. A total of 215 (72%) of the surveys were returned. One research hypothesis was tested to determine if a statistically significant difference in attitudes toward the educational needs of gifted children existed at the .05 level of significance between the urban and rural principal in the state of Kansas. A t-test was utilized to test the difference. Results of the data analysis revealed 10 areas of statistically significant differences. It was concluded that rural and urban principals' attitudes toward the educational needs of gifted children are significantly different within the state of Kansas. As a result of the survey a characteristic profile of the rural and urban principal within the state of Kansas was determined. The profile contains the following information: years of teaching experience, administrative certification, coaching experience, parent or nonparent, college special education class, membership in professional organizations, rural or urban life environment, rural or urban teaching environment, and teaching fields.