This summer I was asked by three young families who are moving
to our community,
”
Which school is the best one in Morgan Hill?
”
My answer, which is shared by one of our trustees, Shelle
Thomas, was,
”
All of our schools are great. It is not the school that is an
indicator of success as much as the parent engagement in the
child’s education.
”
This summer I was asked by three young families who are moving to our community, “Which school is the best one in Morgan Hill?” My answer, which is shared by one of our trustees, Shelle Thomas, was, “All of our schools are great. It is not the school that is an indicator of success as much as the parent engagement in the child’s education.”
Most parents and educators think that parent involvement is an important part of the educational process.
Everyone agrees that for a child to be successful in school he or she must read often, limit TV and video game use, establish daily routines with homework, and participate in outside enrichment experiences. Research also shows that we need to all teach and model the love of learning, talk and listen to our children, have high expectations for learning and standards for proper behavior.
Most people would also agree that family involvement is one of the best investments one can make in their child’s life.
However, for a variety of reasons, many parents are disenfranchised with their child’s school at all levels. Perhaps that disengagement is due to a negative experience in their educational background or they only hear “bad news” from the school. Or it may be that parents are “too busy” or financially burdened to get involved.
They may not feel welcome or understand how the education system works. They may not speak English and feel that they cannot communicate their needs or concerns to the proper personnel.
Some parents may just believe that they pay taxes and the schools are, therefore, responsible for their child six hours a day, 180 days a year.
They don’t want to hear anything bad about their child as they interpret that as “the teacher must not like my child.” They want the teachers to fix their child’s problems all while liking the teacher and also having fun at school.
These reasons do not excuse a parents’ obligation to support, nurture, and contribute to their child’s education. The National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education states, “The evidence is in, when schools and families work together to support learning, everyone benefits.”
Many parents may believe they support the schools because they show up once or twice a year.
However, I’d like to challenge the parents of the children in Morgan Hill to step up their engagement in education. Parents should not only be involved, but also engaged.
Involvement means that someone is willing to help out when asked. Engagement means that a parent takes an active leadership role in the schools and at all levels.
Engaged parents have developed a genuine partnership in a trusting relationship with school personnel. The administration must also be willing and able to solicit ideas, vision, and goals from parents. Parents like to know that their input is valued.
I also challenge the parents of the Morgan Hill Unified School District to stay and even increase their school engagement and support as their children grow older.
Parents can offer time, resources and expertise at every academic level. Joining booster clubs, helping organize school events and fundraisers, providing materials and resources, helping in classrooms or after school, getting involved in parent groups, or helping with the governance of schools are all avenues for volunteerism.
As this new school year begins, parents can meet this challenge by taking small steps to get enmeshed and interlocked with the school community.
Begin by meeting the teacher, knowing his/her name, and the classroom expectations. Offer to help out in whatever capacity the teacher needs. Attend Back to School Nights and ask good questions. Be on time and attentive at parent/teacher conferences. Help out at school fund raisers and contribute whatever you can afford. Find out about the school governance system. Attend parent classes and volunteer to chaperone on field trips.
If your job keeps you busy during the school day, you may want to offer the teacher resources that match the curriculum such as Cynthia Miller’s Guide to Morgan Hill’s History or artifacts from a time period or country.
If you speak another language, offer to help translate.
A great goal this year to increase volunteerism is to give at least an hour per year for every year of your child’s age. If this goal were met, my answer that all Morgan Hill School’s are great would be true. And our children will be the real winners.
Margaret Rodrigues is now a retired teacher of the Morgan Hill Unified School District after 37 years of service. She is the former Vice President of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers and a former Board Member of the California Association for Gifted Education. Presently, she is the Teaching American History Grant Program Facilitator providing in-service training to teachers in four districts that are a part of this grant.
