Parental Involvement and School Achievement Term Paper

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(Bennet 1996)

Negative Factors

The Journal of School Health reported in February 2001 that according to the National Education Goals, every child will start school ready to learn. However, this is unfortunately not always the case because families are not ready to deliver that child prepared for school. Specifically, those without proper socioeconomic support will have conditions outside of the classroom that will lead to an increased chance for academic failure. In communities where social services are provided that might make parental involvement more positive for elementary school students, parents are often unaware of the availability of these services. Additionally, parents may be less likely to participate in their child's schooling because of their own negative school experiences and lack of trust for the school staff. "During parenting programs, parents often described a perceived lack of communication and respect from the teachers, and the teachers often expressed similar frustrations. Staff also had difficulty using the identified assets of parents within their own neighborhood." (Browning, McMahon & Rose-Colley 2001) Another negative factor that comes into play is teacher attitudes, such as those expressed by Gloria Uderos-Blackburn of Warfield school in Kentucky. Uderos-Blackburn feels that "the creation of school-based decision making councils - too often puts parents where they don't belong." (1996) This teacher shares her opinion that parents are unqualified to make school decisions, such as selecting text books or classroom instruction. She feels that teachers, not parents, are the experts, and therefore parents should not be making decisions regarding their children's schooling.

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Studies have shown that parents feel most comfortable being involved with their children's education when they are openly invited to do so; teachers making statements that parents are not qualified and should not be involved is detrimental to the efforts of getting parents involved in student education.

Overcoming Difficulties

For many parents, finding time to be involved in school activities can be challenging. However, there are ways to help encourage and support children without getting involved in school participation that will require too much of a parent's unavailable time. One study found that simply having parents sign a contract can make a significant impact on the child's achievement. This contract would stipulate that parents provide a good study environment, that parents talk with their children about school, and that they pay attention to their child's academic achievements and compliment the child about them, and be signed by the parent, child, teacher, and principal. This simple effort gets parents involved in little, important ways. (Bole, Walberg & Waxman 1980)

Parents simply being involved in tutoring their own children at home, even if they cannot be involved with the school community or school activities or events, helps children develop new skills and help to build their feelings of competence, and the more confident a student is the more he or she will be motivated in school. Stearns and Peterson (1973) are among those who found that when parents tutored their elementary school children, their performance at school was notably improved......

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