Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Backing parental participation in schools

Kentucky’s First Lady Jane Beshear and the Kentucky Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday are kicking off a project to get parents more involved in schools.

That is a great idea, and follows up on my recent comments in several blogs here and here about parents, for unknown reasons, not showing up for important school events.

But, I think there is another side to the story – the parents’ side. If you have some insight into why, given that education is now critical to a child’s future, more parents are not getting involved, make a comment to this blog. I’d like to hear your story, and I think others would benefit, as well.

Let the First Lady and the Commissioner hear your side of the story, too.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a parent of three in a home where both of the parents work to make ends meet, It takes every bit of energy and time we have just to keep things running in the home. Having the time to participate in school events and really get involved is a luxury life does not afford us.

I would add that school rules and policies make it appear that the public educators and administrators think our children belong to the state and not to us. It insulting.

Lady Cincinnatus said...

I don't this this is a great mystery for those of us who work more and more and see less and less of our money to cover basic living expenses. During my parent's generation, my mother was a stay-at-home mom who helped with homework, attended school meetings where required, etc... None of my friends who are mothers are stay-at-home moms. They all work. Unless they are unemployed. In which case they are probably trying to figure out where their next meal will come from, not helping to write little Billy's report on "Barny The Chipmunk Has Two Daddy's" Whether we like it or not, our government has taken the family unit apart and now they wonder why parents are missing in action during the latest school fundraising event or the pointless meeting where parents concerns fall on deaf ears. Give me a break. Maybe they can start by letting family's keep more of their hard earned dollars so someone can be home looking after little Billy's homework.

Liberty General said...

It's odd. Educrats claim to covet parental involvement. Yet their opposition to parent-friendly policies indicates they think parents are ignorant and incapable of making choices about where, and how, their children are educated. If these folks really were for parental involvement, they would support charter and neighborhood schools.