Once upon a time, parents were expected to drop their children off at kindergarten and pick them up after high school graduation, with no more parent involvement expected-and in some cases allowed-than signing a report card, attending an annual open house and applauding at a few assemblies.
The really committed parent was urged to join the PTA or other parent organization that chaperoned field trips, gave parties and raised money for the school.
Parents are the people in this world who care the most and know the most about their children, and if our sons and daughters are to do the best they can in school, it is up to parents to work as partners with the school to make that happen.
Partnership means that parents should know what-and how-a school is teaching their children. Parent partners need to have an understanding of the mission, curriculum and methods used in the education of their children. The school partner needs to have parent participation in defining the school’s mission and in understanding the curriculum and methods used to educate children at the school.
Parent and school, as partners, need to develop and support the school’s discipline and other policies, since those will be most effective when both the home and school cooperate in implementing and enforcing them.
In many schools, a parent organization or advisory group (in Chicago public schools, the local school council) has a defined role in shared school management that includes parents. This participation does not take all other parents off the hook. Every parent must be involved. Those groups need an audience and input, and all parents can and should be a part of an organized parent group that can discuss and participate in the life of the school.
Parents, when your child and the school both know that you are in active partner in the education of your student, then and only then will you be doing your best to give your child that greatest of all gifts-an education, the passport to a future as a responsible, productive adult member of our society.
Can you ask for more than that for any child?
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