“At
the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the
positive involvement of parents.”
Jane
D. Hull
By Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
Why
do so many teachers fear parents?
Research
tells us that when we go out of our way to involve parents in the educational
process, students benefit. As educators we all know that when we remain
in contact with parents, students benefit. I have said a hundred times that
parents can be our worst nightmare or our biggest allies. Often the difference
is communication, allowing them to be part of the educational process.
I
have even heard instructors lamenting over our low numbers of participants at
Parent-Teacher conferences, sporting events and after-school activities. Why
do we complain about insufficient parent involvement, while on the other hand
fail to involve parents? Why do we fear picking up calling them? Why do we fear
having parents visit our classrooms?
I
have never said anything to a student that I would not say to them if their
parents were sitting right beside them. This is true when I was a
classroom teacher, and is still true today. In fact, I have a tendency to
be harder on a student when the parent is in the room than when the parent is
not.
If
you are doing your job, and doing it professionally and proficiently, why fear
the most important person in your student’s life?
Oh,
I can already hear your thoughts: “What happens if …”
But
let’s be honest with each other: 99.9 percent of the parents who come in to
visit our classrooms do so without issue or incident. As for the other .1
percent, the instructor just simply needs to contact the office and I will intervene.
But to fear the huge majority because of a tiny minority does not make sense.
It does more harm to our students than good.
In
my eyes, the educational process is like a three-legged stool: The teacher, student,
and parent. Remove any one leg and the entire process falls apart. Given
this, if a parent wants to visit their student in class, wants to go to school with
their student, I will allow them to do so.
I
do have specific rules regarding a parent visiting the classroom. The
parent must come to the office to get a visitor’s pass. I sit down with the
parent and brief them on what they can and cannot do. If at all possible I
like to give the staff at least a 24-hour notice, but sometimes this is not
possible given circumstances. Besides, if an instructor needs advance
notice because they want the opportunity to change what they are doing in class
knowing a parent will be in the audience, then maybe what they had originally
planned was rather suspect to begin with.
If
what you are doing in class is educationally solid, then having a parent in
class should not make a difference. Educating students should not happen behind
a veil of secrecy; it should be open and transparent for all to see regardless
of what is taking place in the classroom.
Having
a parent in class is a one-and-done experience. If the parent wants to
make a habit of visiting classrooms, or wants to spend multiple days in school
with their child, then a background check is required. I understand the
importance of balancing student safety with parent involvement.
But
I also understand the importance of the parent in the educational process, and
we ignore this fact at our own peril.
Helping
students to find their greatness. Making Kennedy the school of choice.
Excellence by design.
