Parents as Partners
in Education

By Laura Ax

The billboard at the bus stop displays a photo of an adolescent girl. It is a close-up of her face with her arm extended into the forefront of the photo, supporting her head upon the crux of her elbow. Along her arm, hand-written in youthful penmanship, reads "Stay involved in my life."

There are several similar billboards like this throughout the District of Columbia – showing kids in schoolyards, hanging out with their friends – and each one urges parents to consider "How well do you truly know your child? How involved are you in his or her life?"

Although in this case the messages are concerned with drugs and cigarette smoking, the core message is just as clear as the words indelibly marked on the adolescent girl's arm: when parents engage full-time in their child's life, both in and out of school, they help the education of their children, and they reap benefits themselves. The increased interaction between parents and children leads to better understanding of each other, improved parenting skills, and greater appreciation and value of their children's education.

. . . continued

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Go to the Changemakers Library for selected Internet resources about parents as partners in education

Respecting Parents,
Teachers and Staff
Helps Children to Learn

Jose Encinas public school: creating an island of cleanliness, order and mutual respect in Lima, Peru
By Freda Wolf de Romero
  Versión en español

Building a counter culture in Indonesia to banish gender stereotypes from young and impression- able minds

The School is the Community: Building Respect Between Generations

Creating a more fluid interchange of ideas and solution- seeking between parents, children and teachers in Colombia
By James Wilson