ABSTRACT
Primary schools in most parts of Europe have some form of school management structure. In the early days of western society, school activities took place where the teacher could find space to meet his students. During substantial period, no specific form of school management, in the modern sense, existed. When the primary school was linked to another institution, the leadership was exercised by the mother institution. A strong tradition thus developed that allowed teachers to function relatively autonomously. The original village schools have come together into larger buildings, but inside each of the classrooms the teacher is autonomous and, as was the case when more common schools were created, trusted by the community to do the job in an acceptable way. Most school leaders undertake very few experiments with the some managerial tools. For a long time school leaders at elementary level have spent a high proportion of their time on administrative work.
