@ for our children? There are many factors that affect the success or failure of parental involvement. Each factor deserves its own discussion so I will not try to cover them all today.
The most crucial factor in my opinion is attitude. The attitude of everyone involved can be a major force in its success or failure. The individual personality of each student, parent, teacher, and administrator all have to be considered when making the decision on how the parent is to be involved. If each and every participant is not capable of working with all the other participants, then the underlying tension can cause failure. If all the participants work together for the same goal, then the program should be a success.
At www.state.oh.us/goals97/g8gap.htm, a discussion of Ohio's goal number 8 in their goals for the year 2000, features Lincoln Academy. Lincoln utilizes a system which lets the parents know when, where and how their help is needed. They encourage parents to further their education by helping to attain new job skills and providing use of a library. Training sessions are held for parents on topics they choose. Lincoln also takes time to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the volunteers that help the school. They are treated as an important part of the faculty and included them in events that parents are not normally allowed to attend. They are treated as one of the family.
And why shouldn't they be? There are all working for the same purpose. The all want the best education possible for each student. Much like a family wants what is best for each member of the family. The skills necessary to make a family work also help to make the parental involvement program work. Good communication, caring, understanding, and a willingness to help others can be a powerful force. If all the members in a family utilize these traits then the family unit is strong. If the students, teachers, parents, and administrators use these same traits then they can have a strong family unit. A family working together for the better good of the students.
History has shown us over the years that students do better in a warm, comfortable environment. What type of environment would be more comfortable than one of being surrounded by family? In fact, for many years most young people were schooled by their families at home. During that time the only alternatives were paying the expensive tuition to the private schools, hiring a tutor, or living a life of servitude to repay the cost of their education. Over the years, public schools have developed to the point that the majority of students received their entire education from public schools.
Now there is a growing trend to bring the students home and have them taught by family members once again. Many students seem to thrive in this type of educational environment. For some it even means the difference in them continuing to learn or giving up and just doing enough to pass. Not all parents have that option nor would all students thrive in a homeschool environment. Each child is a unique person and their education should be treated as such. They are not wax that is being poured into molds to make exact replicated candles. Each one has very unique needs, which should be considered when any decision regarding their education is considered.
We can work together to find ways of merging as many of the benefits of the various types of education into each other. We will still have very distinct different forms of education, but we can bring the family into the public and private schools and all will be the better for it. Why not give them the educational background and emotional support that they need? Families work together for the benefit of all. Now it is time for everyone to work together as an educational family. It is true that our @@ are our future.
