The Importance of Parent Involvment

Parents do want the best for their children, and the lack of parental involvement is a large issue in public schools these days, though recent research has suggested that socioeconomic status is partially to blame for this.  Parents of students who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds tend to feel intimidated when meeting with teachers and school administrators and are thus less likely to show up. There is also the issue of work. Most parents who have lower incomes are not able to take off to come to the school to meet about their child. Transportation is the other issue facing these parents. Without a car it could be rather difficult to get to the public school due to bussing.  It is really a shame that these parents do not always feel welcome or that they do not have the means to come.  Therefore as educators it is important to be aware of these extenuating circumstances and to take them into consideration.

I agree that parents should be involved in their child's education.  I also agree that some parents are not because they may feel they can't help their child.  Some parents do not even know how to do some of the things their fifth grader is learning.  Things are being taught at such a young age now and parents will no longer be able to help their child with their homework.  My parents have always been involve in my education, from homework to projects.  I commend the students who work on their work without any help and still make good grades.  Parents should be involved and teachers need to find a way to make them.

When I was in elementary school my parents really tried to get involved. They would volunteer for field-trips, help with variety shows, and attend all parent teacher conferences. But were they really involved? I think it takes more than showing up to events, the parents have to want to be there. If the schools do not offer a welcoming environment for the parents to feel comfortable, parents will not want to make the attempt to become involved. The teachers and the community leaders need to reach out to the parents, and make them feel that they are wanted and needed. If events outside of the school were offered where community togetherness could form , then the teachers could have a change to come to the parents. "Actions speak louder than words," the parents may say care but until they show it, that does not mean a thing.

But the only way I see this situation getting better is by a lot of activism on the part of teachers and community leaders to get parents involved.  I was fortunate enough to be born into a professional, two-parent family where I was read to probably in the womb and even though both parents worked, they attended school functions, sporting events and used every opportunity available outside of school and work to develop our education (trips, museums, spelling games, etc.)  As a result, my brother and I both have strongly developed academic skills and it must begin in the home.

 So, the question is: how do we (as teachers) accomplish this?  And the easy and hard answer: more free work and time put in.

As teachers, we must make the effort to get those parents over their own insecurities about what school did to them or how they struggled and show them it doesn't have to be that way for their kids.  Parent teacher conferences and progress reports are NOT enough.  We have to be committed enough to go to the homes our kids live in, see what their lives are like, meet their siblings and neighors.  We have to hold outside school events that are not for any correctional or fundraising purpose but simply COMMUNITY building, cookouts, field trips, whatever.  We have to decide finances will NOT be a reason for this kid or that kid to miss out on a great opportunity.  We must reach out to businesses in our areas to help us launch these programs and make it possible for the parents to be involved.

 In short, we must continue to go above and beyond.  There will be no extra pay, no thanks, no official recognition.  There will only be the development of better communities and happier kids.  That is what is required.  No amount of beauracracy or traditional outreach methods are going to either A: change the experiences or beliefs parents have about schools or B: restore the American nuclear family.  We must simply work at it and not accept no or failure as answers.  We must be dogged and relentless and maintain hope, for hope and effort are about all we have left for it.

 "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is vitally important that you do it." - Mahatma Ghandi

I completely agree with you.  Parental involvement is the key to a child's success.  If we can encourage parents to get on board with us for their child's education, our students will certainly be better off.  The question is how do we do this?  As a teacher we can send weekly progress reports home and lots of newsletters to keep the parent informed of their child's academic progress.  Also we need to hold parent-teacher conferences as often as necessary.  After all this has been done, if the parent is still unconcerned, then there is nothing more we as teachers can do.  We have done all we can!