In public schools today it is extremely important to understand the diverse culture and the needs of the families and the community one is serving. It is equally as important to include the families and the community in the decision making of the schools needs and activities (CPSEL 4.1). As indicated in From Fundraising to Hell Raising: New Roles for Parents, by Arnold F. Fege, parents no longer see the schools as the authority figure making all the decisions, they see public education as a commodity that they are purchasing and have a right to participate in. Administrators need to view the parents as important partners in school decision making and embarrass their ideas and their culture. A good beginning for a principal is to get information
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They may also want to acquire this information by reviewing school data on demographics, talking with the past principals, and individually meeting with some the staff and parents from the school. It would be a good idea to reach out to the parents through the PTA, ELAC and other parenting school groups, expressing the desire to learn about their needs, the concerns of the community, and the family’s culture and perspectives, with the intent of incorporating them into the decision making at the school. Most important when collaborating with families is demonstrating respect as well as showing the desire and the interest in the parents and the communities view points. One could do this by forming focus groups, developing surveys, or creating a parent center at the school. Another idea from this class I particularly liked, was having staff along with parents go and knock on the communities doors, share information with the community about some current school activity, ask their opinions of the school and the needs of the community, and then “hook them in” by right then, asking them what they could do to support the schools or a purposed activity. I would also want to look at how parents in the area get their information
They may also want to acquire this information by reviewing school data on demographics, talking with the past principals, and individually meeting with some the staff and parents from the school. It would be a good idea to reach out to the parents through the PTA, ELAC and other parenting school groups, expressing the desire to learn about their needs, the concerns of the community, and the family’s culture and perspectives, with the intent of incorporating them into the decision making at the school. Most important when collaborating with families is demonstrating respect as well as showing the desire and the interest in the parents and the communities view points. One could do this by forming focus groups, developing surveys, or creating a parent center at the school. Another idea from this class I particularly liked, was having staff along with parents go and knock on the communities doors, share information with the community about some current school activity, ask their opinions of the school and the needs of the community, and then “hook them in” by right then, asking them what they could do to support the schools or a purposed activity. I would also want to look at how parents in the area get their information