I am sure everyone has come across really good parents and really not so good parents. However, it really grinds my gears when parents are not held accountable for certain concerns and issues at the school level. It bothers me that people have diminished the education profession to nothing more than being a baby-sitter. All accountability now is placed on teachers and parents are given a slap on the wrist.
There is a motion in place in Cobb County to hold parents more accountable when children participate in extra-curricular activity. I see the pros and cons of this, however, I do not believe the cons out-weight the pros and the big picture.
I am interested in hearing how do you build parental involvement and support at your school as well as hold parents accountable for their children for things such as attendance, behavior, homework, performance, overall parenting?
Michael,
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that we as educators have to force accountability on parents. I used accountability in my vocabulary everyday because it is such an issue in my school from administrators, teachers, parents, and kids. This is such a touchy subject, but a much need topic of conversation. Sadly enough, we can't get in touch with parents or see parents unless we have taken a cell phone or we are serving food at a program. I offer extra credit for participation of conferences or programs after school with a sign in log. This still does not bring in a lot of participation from parents, but I try to encourage my students hold their parents accountable by reminding them and basically bugging them. I would like to know how to draw parents in too. It's sad to say that culture really makes a difference in participation. I have worked in two diverse schools in a certain area and participation has always been standing room only. I particularly like how theme and private schools require a documented amount of parent participation that is contractual.
Michael-Kim is doing some very interesting things to involve parents in student attendance. I hope she contributes to this conversation.
ReplyDeleteI am going to throw one caution to this conversation. Way too often in education, educators blame parents and use that as an excuse. I was just reading some statistics on discipline that support this (Students of parents who aren't involved at school are more likely to receive severe punishments than students with involved parents, for the same offense.). I understand this isn't the point of your post, BUT many educators use things that they say are out of their control as an excuse for students who aren't successful. I would guess the statistics would say the same things about those students and their involvement in advanced courses and receiving a variety of other services.