| We are living in a society that craves evidence. | | | | to communicate, clearly and consistently, their |
| We do not want to hear anything without some | | | | expectation of these parents. If the educators do |
| solid proof. So the question is, with so much proof | | | | all they can to get the word out and to get the |
| that parental involvement has a positive effect on | | | | parents to buy in to being involved in their child's |
| a student's education, why are not these parents | | | | education, perhaps in 10 years from now this lack |
| getting involved? | | | | of parental involvement will be a thing of the past. |
| Parental involvement in education can be defined | | | | This is the optimistic take on the matter. Parents |
| as: "Learning and practicing good parenting skills | | | | these days are so busy. The educators have their |
| (sometimes easier said than done); Keeping a | | | | work cut out to drive in this important message |
| good channel of communication open between | | | | of parental involvement in education. |
| home and the school; Volunteering in the | | | | "The challenges that students in America's public |
| classroom; Assisting children to learn at home, | | | | school face cannot be solved by educators alone; |
| such as assisting with homework (not doing the | | | | nor can these problems be solved by parents or |
| homework for a child - assisting them!); | | | | families alone. Students in school across the nation |
| Participating on the school council; Tapping into the | | | | are confronted by critical social, emotional, and |
| resources of the community to assist the school; | | | | environmental. More collaboration between the |
| Organizing and/or attending school events; | | | | school and home will need to be focused on |
| Fundraising towards a specific goal that will have | | | | dealing with these problems."(Drake, 2000, p. 34). |
| an impact on student learning." (Epstein, 2005) | | | | "Schools and families can no longer remain |
| With all the evidence to support importance of | | | | "separate but equal" if they are to solve the |
| parental involvement, one would hope that the | | | | complex problems facing children today. Schools |
| trend would shift from a lack of parental | | | | must become family places where parents are |
| involvement to an abundance of parental | | | | involved in many aspects of school life." -Barbara |
| involvement within the educational system. It is | | | | A. Fleming |
| the job of the educators to reinforce, encourage, | | | | Reference: |
| and support the involvement of the parents. The | | | | Drake, D. D. (2000). Parents and Families as |
| parents need to hear about this research and gain | | | | Partners in the Education Process: |
| an understanding as to why they should become | | | | Collaboration for the success of students in public |
| involved in their child's education. Educators need | | | | schools. |