Parental Involvement in Education

Learning and Education Unite with Parent's Help

Parental Involvement in Education

We sometimes forget the importance and value of parental involvement and support in our everyday lives in accordance with education. From the time we are born, our parents spend their lives building a safety net for us, a foundation for the basis of growing up on and for expanding ourselves into adulthood. Once we enter our first years of school, we sometimes get lost in the process of what should happen next, without the guide by our parents. Ultimately, parents want their children to grow up and be independent people. However, parental involvement in schools can greatly maximize student’s learning and overall educational experience.
Parental involvement in education is an important issue to consider today, where the world of technology is growing, expanding its’ borders beyond capacity. In the urban world, there is a sense of growth in cities and neighborhoods, expanding America geographically, economically, etc. More and more parents are working, especially moms, because of this transformation. They are going back to work to support their family and make something better for themselves, while their children are growing up in a society without their parents helping them with hw, projects, or even simple things like discussing issues or communicating in general. This ultimately creates a sense of friction and confusion for the children, as parents are essentially their direct authoritative figure and role model to look up to. Parents are children’s prime educators, as they enhance their children’s skills and overall well-being. Parents evoke aspects of home learning, which the child will eventually adapt to and utilize while transitioning into a school setting environment and beyond. However, if the parents are both working and do not make time for their children, the latter are then lost and confined to figuring things out for themselves, which might not be easy. Parent’s simple attention to their children will have a positive effect on the latter’s education and overall success in life.

Code of Ethics, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

In the Code of Ethics, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) examines parental influence on children’s education. It suggests the belief that parents have a profound effect on children; it assumes a prominent value that indicates parents are basically and crucially significant. It continues to represent a foundation of working with parents as partners in care in the ethics section. The Code of Ethics ultimately signals how children learn, given the most appropriate environment, which indefinitely includes parental involvement.

Focus on the Ethics of a child's school environment with the parent's help

Maria Montessori quoted, “The idea that the school must be part of the community and involve the parents if education is to be effective”. This conceptual idea reinforces the fact that parents play an active and direct devotee role in their children’s educational experience. Before children go to school for the first time, it is their parents/caregivers who care for them and teach them “how to make it in the real world”. This aspect will be carried out into the children’s adulthood and will ultimately translate into the children being in a securely stable set of mindset within any given educational environment.
Starting early is the key, as what children are instilled in at a young age will be carried with them throughout their lifetimes. Children need to be excited to learn new things. In addition, they need to feel love and be wanted. Parents provide this crucial feature and should continue to enable communication, participation, and overall involvement with their children; even if they both work, parents often create a positive and motivational environment.

Montessori Schooling

In an article entitled” PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOLS PRESSED”, Priscilla Van Tassel suggests that parents’ role in education needs to ultimately be scrutinized, for the children’s concern. There is an overall effort taking place to instill common communication and participation among parents and students in education. The article focuses on fostering parental involvement by initially providing them with resources and different ways of going about it. Some examples include simply taking out sometime during that day to talk with children regarding daily events, daily checking their homework, etc. These aspects should essentially benefit the children as parents become closer, and more involved.

PARENTS GUIDE CHILDREN

Ultimately, education is a process and parental involvement will positively influence children’s studies, as well as their complete educational experience. The goal is to encourage parents to partake in their children’s lives in general, which will translate into their education. There is also a parent-teacher involvement campaign which incorporates parents and teachers communicating with each other regarding the student. The article states,’ Research shows a clear correlation between parents' help at home and student achievement.'' Additionally, parents basically have first-hand knowledge of their children and their personalities, and with that they may discuss what can be done with a teacher in the school to enhance the child’s education and success.
In another article, “School to Parents: Volunteer, or Else!” Katharine Mieszkowski suggests parents need to volunteer actively, specifically in their children’s schools, and their reward would be a check, depending on the amount of hours they put in. It seems as a small bribe for the parents; however it is beneficial for the student’s sake. This active and direct approach instills a positive idea to children. They see their parents are involved with their schooling, and would feel empowered to try their best to succeed. This is a great motivator as well. The article quotes, “...to engage them with their children’s learning, even providing parents with academic training in core math and reading strategies.” As it seems, parents are to be given some homework for themselves, in terms of contributing themselves wholeheartedly to their children’s education. Their involvement would include actual learning of the children’s topics, which is as specific as it gets. The article essentially digresses to ensure the fact that it is a volunteer position, which is optional; as parents may have multiple jobs, not all parents could physically involve themselves for however many hours intended. Though, they have the choice and will be given brochures to find out about all the information. Both articles push for parental involvement in schools for the benefit of the students succeeding and growing up into motivated adults that share their parents respect. 

Parental involvement is virtually evoked from the parents’ overalls sense of commitment; it is combined with their active participation and utmost devotion to bettering their children’s lives. Parental involvement is more than just checking children’s’ hw. It is a lifestyle that parents and children should essentially adjust to. It builds communication, bonds, friendship, and trust. All of these characteristics enhance better child-parent relationships for the future.
Communication is the first step. Schools are the facilitators for children’s studies. The principals may be the mediators in aiding with the guidance. In an article, Duncan writes, “Principals are key contributors to helping parents and other educators understand each other” (Duncan, 1992, p. 13). This harmonious situation should accommodate both parents and teachers so they may efficiently work together and find ways to help their children succeed. In a research regarding parental involvement, Loucks writes, “Research shows that parent involvement in the school results in improved student achievement” (Loucks, 1992, p. 19). The previous evidence illustrates a positive correlation between parental involvement in schools and students achievement and educational success. 

When parents get the chance to be fully involved with their children’s educational endeavors, they promote a feeling of control over their lives. This creates boundaries for parents to go beyond, and internally and externally motivate their children to work hard and succeed. Parents need to create goals, and follow through on them. Overall, the prospect is geared towards early involvement. This sets a foundation in elementary schools, where children will easily grasp the various concepts of how to pursue their lifestyles.
Parents first need to be aware of the situation of being involved. Then, they have to take direct action and make decisions on improving their children’s’ lifestyles at home first. They should create a home environment that encourages learning, communicate on certain expectations for the children’s achievements, and become involved with the child’s education at school as well as in the community. While these steps give the impression of evoking tedious relinquishes, they all translate to positive and comforting results for the children and the parents. Ultimately, parental involvement early in the educational process results in more powerful effects. 

As stated before, parents need to start early, take initiative, and get involved. Speak with your children, interact with them, discuss idea with the principals and teachers at school, encourage intellectual growth, give them support, and love your children. Teachers should contribute as well, discussing issues with parents on how to better the situation, and be open minded on accepting different forms of educating the child. The principal will have the role as a mediator, working with the parent and teachers to try and resolve any conflicts, misunderstandings, miscommunication, etc. Last but not least, the child will have the role of listening, processing, communicating, and trying his or her best to talk openly and honestly with the parent/teacher/principle. With an open communicating vessel, many things can be accomplished. The schools may have PTA meetings more often, schedule school bake sales for parent-teacher interactions weekly, and have parent-teacher conferences every month as opposed to every 3-5 months. This will greatly benefit the children involved and will encourage intellectual growth and educational achievement. This way of showing love is unconventional and truly fulfilling. It is active, direct, instilling, and effective. Children will learn from their parents/teacher/principals and vice verse. Thus, parental involvement is an immeasurable act that will create positive results and promote children’s overall success.