District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) co-chair Brian Hamm made a presentation to School District 27 trustees recently that included some interesting viewpoints from parents.
In comments gathered from interviewing and surveying parents last fall, Hamm says a common thread was parents want to gain more knowledge and share experiences, and often feel they’re not actively engaged in their child's education.
Better communication and a less guarded participation in their child's education are also important to the parents, he adds, as is the desire to get more involved with teachers.
"The DPAC would like to support that vision."
Hamm adds the issues all revolve around how to have better relationships and ongoing communication between parents, teachers, the school board and district staff.
"For instance, if a parent has a problem, we find they often don't know how to deal with it in an effective way."
When parents know who to talk to and how to successfully deal with it, he notes it's much better for the child.
"If your child is coming home plainly unhappy, and they've changed, and they're not having a good time at school, that is a problem and it should be dealt with."
The DPAC discussed the various issues they face with these parents to find out what avenues are open to them and who to talk to find the solution that they need, Hamm explains.
"We just threw the questions out there and people spoke very freely and openly, and from the heart, for a lot of it."
He says a key aspect coming from the discussions is finding a way to make it more welcoming for parents, so they feel comfortable when visiting a school.
Adults often address a teacher Mr. or Ms. and not Bob or Mary, Hamm says, adding these parents feel they are given a sense of inequality, and that the "expert" thinks he or she knows what is best for the child's educational needs.
"That attitude is changing [now], and we, as parents, need to be co-leaders and co-learners in this education venture. Kids only learn part of the time at school, but they learn all the time."
This is a shared responsibility where parents should be partners engaged in their child's education, he adds.
Hamm says the parents indicated they would also like to find ways to encourage more parents, as well as other community members, to get involved as volunteers.
There are one-to-one reading programs in some towns that effectively engage both parents and the general community in the schools, and he notes it can improve everyone's literacy skills.
Better transparency and sharing of information by school boards was another very important issue the parents raised, Hamm says, adding this is a key to gaining the parents' trust.
