Just how much say the public should have in the way people parent is a controversial issue, especially now, amid increasing calls for schools to find ways to hold parents accountable for their involvement in their children’s education. Is there any way to do this fairly?
Today's article asks, "Why aren't parents part of the equation?" Since our students spend 70% of their time outside of school (Michigan Dept. of Edu) this is the million dollar question!
Parent Teacher Association notes that research shows students with involved parents have:
- Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates
- Type of Involvement
- Better school attendance
- Increased motivation, better self-esteem Although most parents do not know how to help
- their children with their education, with guidance
- and support, they may become increasingly
- Lower rates of suspension
- Decreased use of drugs and alcohol When schools encourage children to practice Students with uninvolved parents attend school with baggage like truancy, unfed, behavior issues, or negative attitude toward school personnel. Our quarterly student report cards state absences and tardies, which I highlight before sending home. This has little effect. Since schools are graded on truancy rates, many of these tardies are deleted. The parents of these children do not look at the report card, let alone sign and return it as requested.Consider the majority of children who have had involved parents from early childhood. As with all children, they have their issues, but for the most part, they are successful emotionally, socially, and academically. Now look at the children with little to no parent involvement. Many of these students spend their school days being behaviorally monitored, in the discipline office, and avoided by classmates because they wear the same smelly clothes each day, lack social skills and confidence to maintain relationships.
So what about the concept of punishing parents? Some children are just out of control. What if those children had preschool and the parents attended parenting classes? Perhaps we'd have less out-of-control children. The reality is, punishing parents will not likely change the child's behavior. However, parent involvement is a positive reinforcement for a child craving attention, whether it is positive or negative. By encouraging parent involvement, we might be pleased with the behavioral outcome in the child.Some states find and/or jail parents for their child's truancy. Florida has a proposed bill establishing a grading systems of parents by teachers. The grading system is based on three criteria:• A child should be at school on time, prepared to learn after a good night's sleep, and have eaten a meal.• A child should have the homework done and prepared for examinations.
• There should be regular communication between the parent and teacher.
But what will a grade necessarily do? Unlike failing schools, parents won't lose their jobs. A grade is not going to help them see the benefits of reading to their child, checking homework, attending parent-teacher conferences, and volunteering in the classroom.
Take into consideration that "The strongest and most consistent predictors of parent involvement at school and at home are the specific school programs and teacher practices that encourage parent involvement at school and guide parents in how to help their children at home." (Dauber and Epstein (11:61). Many parents do not know how to be involved, and society does not teach a "How to be a proper parent" course. So it is up to the schools to invite parents in. Yet at the same time, it is up to society to accept and expect parent involvement."Parents are the most powerful force on earth. Our laws and policies must take a step toward recognizing that."
This site is about how to get parents involved and create a partnership through the community:
No comments:
Post a Comment