iBrief: What Should Schools Do To Increase Parental Engagement?
Dr. Michael A. Robinson
@DrMikeRobinson
According to former Board of Education member for Prince George’s County Public Schools Patricia Fletcher “when families are not involved, the failure is on the school system” (Living Education eMagazine TV, 2011). Ms. Fletcher went on to proclaim the failure is the primary result of an uninviting school system; “it is not an open door policy; there is push back from within the system” (Living Education eMagazine TV, 2011).
It is important to note; Ms. Fletcher did not exonerate parents and families from their responsibilities to become and stay involved in the academic lives of their children. It is Ms. Fletcher’s assertion that some parents enter the school house with demands, indicating they want to learn little in how the system works as part of a local and state network of schools. Ms. Fletcher’s comments were echoed in an article entitled: Parents Want To Be Involved In Children’s Education Yet Don’t Understand Key Factors Affecting Public Education Quality. The article referenced the Public Agenda’s national survey of children enrolled in public schools, revealed that slightly less than a-third of the parents surveyed could recognize the academic progress of their children (Public Agenda, 2013).
It is important to note; Ms. Fletcher did not exonerate parents and families from their responsibilities to become and stay involved in the academic lives of their children. It is Ms. Fletcher’s assertion that some parents enter the school house with demands, indicating they want to learn little in how the system works as part of a local and state network of schools. Ms. Fletcher’s comments were echoed in an article entitled: Parents Want To Be Involved In Children’s Education Yet Don’t Understand Key Factors Affecting Public Education Quality. The article referenced the Public Agenda’s national survey of children enrolled in public schools, revealed that slightly less than a-third of the parents surveyed could recognize the academic progress of their children (Public Agenda, 2013).