Monday, December 13, 2010

In The News: New Education Poll

An Associated Press-Stanford University Poll on education found that 68 percent of adults believe parents deserve heavy blame for what's wrong with the U.S. education system — more than teachers, school administrators, the government or teachers unions.

Only 35 percent of those surveyed agreed that teachers deserve a great deal or a lot of the blame."

"...Most said education in their local public schools is excellent or good, but 67 percent also believe the U.S. is falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to education."

"...But a majority of parents see improvement in the system since they were in school..."

"Without programs to educate parents, everyone is working in some stage of ignorance..." 

As an administrator, I really wanted to get parents involved.  A few years ago, when I became principal of an intermediate school, we set aside a classroom to use as a parent volunteer room.  I had big plans for that program, but regretfully it didn't get as much traction as I had anticipated.

Clearly, parent participation at the schoolhouse is relatively strong in elementary school, but quickly tails off as young people enter perhaps the most vulnerable period of their lives, the teen years.  Too often at the secondary level we are missing an opportunity to have parents involved in the daily working of our campus. 

Parents bring subject area expertise and/or general academic knowledge that can be valuable for tutoring and other instruction.  Other parents have especially big hearts and emotional intelligence for working with young people, as mentors for instance.  In fact, anyone can provide a stabilizing adult presence, or a helping hand with a special project.  There is a role for most anyone in a healthy community school.

As an assistant principal at one of the wealthiest high schools in Texas, Highland Park High School, I always thought that one of the coolest of their many cool traditions is that parents serve all of the food during school lunches!  Go figure!  One of the wealthiest districts in the State has parents dishing out the food!  PTA parents are connecting with daily student campus life at HPHS in this manner.  It is just great!

In so many ways, parents can and should be more involved in our secondary schools than they are.  What are the impediments?  What can we as educators do to better utilize parental involvement at all levels?  Are we doing enough at our campuses?  In our districts?

Looking at the question from another angle entirely: can we better educate young people by better educating parenting adults?  Do public schools have a role or responsibility to nurture fundamental parenting skills and knowledge?  Over the years, more than one person has noted to me the irony that we spend so much time in our schools teaching so much that isn't nearly as applicable to life as parenting (and money skills).  When do young adults learn about these two central life skills?  At home?  As Dr. Tennant asked in an earlier post, "Do We Trust Ourselves?"  (or, our neighbors!)

Posted at 5:24 PM (permalink) 0 Comments View/Leave Comment
Keywords: In The News, Education Poll, NPR, Parenting, Parent Volunteers, Volunteers