by Autherine B. Smith

Created on: July 14, 2009

Parents have the primary responsibility for their children's education. Encouraging parents to play a more active role in their children's education does not take school boards and teachers off the hook. A school system where the parents, teachers, and school board have a partnership is the ideal environment for academic achievement. Of course, these partnerships can present challenges in communities where parents are poor, not well educated themselves, and lack economic opportunities. It is, therefore, vital that our government, federal and state, and non-profits such as Appleseed, continue to make education a top priority.

Parents must be encouraged by teachers and school officials to participate in their children's education and in their children's schools. Teachers should help parents feel that the parent teacher conference is not a chore but an opportunity. Participation as an officer or member in the parent school association must become a badge of honor and a source of pride for the student.

Once parents become actively involved in their children's s education, teachers and school officials must welcome them with respect and empathy. Are there paid opportunities in the schools for unemployed parents to work as hall monitors or cafeteria aides? Are there free adult educational opportunities, such as parenting or computer classes in the school district or the local church? Make this information available to parents on a regular basis.

Parents, especially in poor communities, may, mistakenly, believe that they have nothing to contribute and that teachers are best equipped to set educational priorities for their children. They may, for example, have plenty of time, but no inclination because of this concern. Some working single parents may have the inclination, but no time because they are working three jobs. Here is where teachers and school officials must use their own educational training to lead. One simple idea, subject to the consent of your school officials, might be for each classroom to have a contact directory, with favorite recipes and activities. Such a simple project might start the at home dialogue about the school community and the parent's role in it. Are there free resources in the community? Will the teacher or parent locate the most stimulating activity or speaker to bring into the next assembly?

If "on the hook" means upholding the highest educational standards, then encouraging parent involvement will likely lead to the greatest success. Teachers and school officials won't want to be let off "the hook". Parent, teachers, and school officials will clamor to get "on the hook".

Even with increased parent involvement, our government has to do a better job of providing equal educational opportunities to poor children, whether they live in large urban areas or in the Appalachian Mountains. If we fail, as a society, to do so, we will pay in other ways: increased welfare program costs, overwhelmed criminal courts, overpopulated prisons, and perhaps, a loss to humanity, in students who might have become "Sonia Sotomayor".

Learn more about this author, Autherine B. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.