The key factors that need to be considered to enable positive relationships with parents include most all of the guiding principles that Dr. Townsend listed in Lecture 4.1. They are as follows:
1. Family members are equal partners in a child’s education.
2. The home environment is the primary educational environment.
3. Schools must respect the diversity of families and their (diverse) needs.
4. All families care about kids.
5. Family involvement is important throughout a child’s whole educational career.
And # 8: One size does not fit all.
I can’t help but think, during the course of all of these lectures, that while I agree with 80% of what Dr. Townsend is saying and the premises sound good, the conclusions are faulty …show more content…
For example, Lecture 4.2 states that schools should “give parents guidelines on rest, nutrition, and exercise.“ Also in Lecture 4.3, “Schools can provide training on literacy, health, and parenting tips.” This essentially undermines the concept of parental involvement, making the school the authority on parenting. I believe parents can sense this, hence the quote from MacBeath and Galton (2014) which says, “Families reported being not listened to and their wishes ignored.” This would also explain the concepts in the Barriers study (Lecture 4.4) which says that parents feel that they have nothing to contribute, feel intimidated, and don’t feel welcomed. Of course they would feel that way since the school has set up the structure as being the authority on child-rearing and parenting!
In conclusion, the one activity that educators can do that will enable positive relationships with parents would be to actually believe the guiding principles from Lecture 4.1 and act accordingly by allowing parents to assume the primary and natural authority and role over their
1. Family members are equal partners in a child’s education.
2. The home environment is the primary educational environment.
3. Schools must respect the diversity of families and their (diverse) needs.
4. All families care about kids.
5. Family involvement is important throughout a child’s whole educational career.
And # 8: One size does not fit all.
I can’t help but think, during the course of all of these lectures, that while I agree with 80% of what Dr. Townsend is saying and the premises sound good, the conclusions are faulty …show more content…
For example, Lecture 4.2 states that schools should “give parents guidelines on rest, nutrition, and exercise.“ Also in Lecture 4.3, “Schools can provide training on literacy, health, and parenting tips.” This essentially undermines the concept of parental involvement, making the school the authority on parenting. I believe parents can sense this, hence the quote from MacBeath and Galton (2014) which says, “Families reported being not listened to and their wishes ignored.” This would also explain the concepts in the Barriers study (Lecture 4.4) which says that parents feel that they have nothing to contribute, feel intimidated, and don’t feel welcomed. Of course they would feel that way since the school has set up the structure as being the authority on child-rearing and parenting!
In conclusion, the one activity that educators can do that will enable positive relationships with parents would be to actually believe the guiding principles from Lecture 4.1 and act accordingly by allowing parents to assume the primary and natural authority and role over their