Parents as Major Decision Makers in their Children's Education by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Parents as Major Decision Makers in their Children’s Education by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Two issues caught my attention as information crossed my desk this past week. One involved a Parent who was concerned as to whether upon return after summer vacation she would find that a decision had been made, which entailed the closure of her child’s school. The second issue involved Parents who had been asked to absorb school costs and pay fees.

Parents, in response to the above and other school concerns you encounter, you must become involved and major decision makers in your children’s education. Many Parents allow frustration and a sense of defeat to overwhelm and many become reactionary instead of proactive. Such is often the result of lack of knowledge of the educational process. Once you become well-informed, involved and educated in and about your child’s education and school (see Parents Taking Charge in Education Series #1 How to Hold a School Conference and Series #2 coming announcement soon- How Do I Get Involved in My Child‘s Education & School), as well as the educational process, your knowledge will build as will your confidence and you can begin to take a more active role and thus, able to become a major decision maker in your child’s education.

As for the first issue above, Parents, you do not have to sit throughout the summer wondering about the fate of your child’s school; the way to stay abreast of what is occurring with you school as well as the school system as a whole is to make it a point to regularly attend school board meetings. This is the body created and designated by law to make decisions about your children’s education and their schools. If your school principal or PTA/PTO President does not have the meeting dates and times at hand, they should be able to provide you with the school board office number (see Parents Taking Charge in Education Series #1 Parental Guide-Book - Chain of Command: Who is in Charge). These meetings generally take place in the evenings and throughout the year.

As for educational fees, you should ascertain exactly what the fees are and why Parents are being asked to pay them? First, the general public has been led to believe that public education is free at elementary and secondary levels. Actually, such is not true; the alleged “free” education is paid from collected taxes and who pays taxes? Employers and employees pay taxes, many of which are Parents. Second, many Parents have always paid fees or made purchases associated with outside or extracurricular classroom activities for their children; very often Parents have organized fundraisers for such purposes.

Parents, IF, you are being asked to pay fees for your children’s public education and such raises concerns, questions and opposition, may I suggest that you take your concerns to the school board for answers. Also request a copy of the school system’s plan (and possibly your own child’s school’s plan in order to view its budget, items funded, state and federal contributions and other important information within. If your school(s) cannot fund the basic and/or necessities of which to educate your children, you have serious problems and serious decisions to make. Most PTAs in the past have been instrumental in assisting schools with funding projects and/or purchasing needed equipment for their schools, but what appears to be occurring is that some schools/school systems are asking Parents to pay fees associated with or for their children’s regular public school education.

 

Parents, the entire Education landscape is changing, don’t you think it’s about time you became a major decision maker in your child’s education and the education process; afterall, your child belongs to you and you, ultimately, are liable and responsible for your child.

Note: The announcement link for Parents Taking Charge in Education Series #1 Parental Mini-Guide Booklets is here: http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com/2011/02/parents-taking-charge-in-education_11.html . The Announcement of Series #2 is coming later this month.

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author & Founder

Parents Taking Charge in Education http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

E-mail: barron..dorothy@yahoo.com 

A Position of Influence and Great Importance by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

  A Position of Influence and Great Importance by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

“You can’t lead where you don’t go or teach what you don’t know” (Mrs. Dorothy Barron).

Parents, one of the most important and influential positions that you can hold in the arena of Education- School is President of your child’s Parent-School Association or Organization, commonly known as the PTA or PTO. Now don’t everyone jump up and go running down to your child’s school to assume the position. First, one has to be nominated and then elected to the office. Second, the PTA or PTO President’s position is one of leadership, great importance, responsibility and influence. Therefore, do not accept the position if you are not willing to prepare and lead. On the other hand, do not shy away from accepting the nomination and position (if elected), if you desire to make a difference in Education and your child’s school and willing to learn.

Parent-School Associations or Organizations are no longer, nor should they be solely concerned with fundraising. The face of Education has and continues to change. As the Parent-School Organization or Association President, you, officers and other Parents should be on the cutting edge, front-end, partners, sitting at the table and major decision makers as to what occurs in Education, with your school and children. Such entails becoming well-informed, knowledgeable and educated about the Education process. As PTA or PTO President of your child/ren’s school:

Ÿ  Are you prepared for the position or most importantly, are you willing to learn?

Ÿ  Do you understand your role as President and what the position entails?

Ÿ  How much time can you devote to your child’s Parent-School Organization, both inside and outside the school?

Ÿ  Is the Association or Organization’s Legislative Committee as important as your Membership and Fundraising Committees; have you and your officers planned and organized in advance of the school year; met with the school principal, etc., and etc?

Ÿ  Do you and other parents sit school committees?

Tip: PTA or PTO President, if your school PTA or PTO does not produce a newsletter, consider producing one and circulating it in an effort to get community involved with and informed about your school’s activities?

Why is President of your child’s Parent-School Association or Organization a position of influence and of great importance?

Ÿ   Being PTA or PTO President enables you to assist and work with all sectors both within and outside the school setting.

Ÿ  The PTA or PTO President, school principal and school staff can work together as Partners in Education.

Ÿ  You can become a major decision maker and assist with charting the direction for Education, your school and students.

Ÿ  You can assist and build relationships with Parents and garner their involvement.

Ÿ  You can build bridges to connect Parents, Schools and Community.

Ÿ  You can serve as Liaison between the school and businesses and/or community.

Ÿ  You can present Parental concerns at school board, community and public meetings.

The position of PTA or PTO President is one of influence and great importance. Being well-informed and educated about the Education process and involved with your child/ren’s school(s) can further expand your influence. Your and other Parents becoming well-informed, knowledgeable and educated about the Education process and your schools can alleviate some frustrations, helplessness and hopelessness, which many experience in and with their child/ren’s school(s) and Education and also assist you and others with becoming proactive as opposed to reactive.

Note: In June of 2011, Parents Taking Charge in Education will announce the Parental Mini-Guide Books Series #2. One of three titles: Leading Your Child’s Parent-School Organization or Association: Basic Qualities Needed for Effective Leadership by Mrs. Dorothy Barron. Mrs. Barron also coaches and conducts workshops to PTAs/PTOs.

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author and Founder of Parents Taking Charge in Education

http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

E-Mail: barron.Dorothy@yahoo.com

Ending the School Year by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

                        Ending the School Year by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

“The most important phase of a child’s life is childhood; for it is here that all other phases emanate” (Mrs. Dorothy Barron).

Parents, attending school conferences are an important way to be involved in your child’s Education. End of the year school conferences can benefit both you and your child. Do not underestimate the importance of and/or fail to attend or schedule the conference simply because it is the end of the school year. Some important reasons for attending end of the year school conferences:

Ÿ  You can meet with your child’s teachers to access your child’s academic progress over the school year and they can provide you with knowledge about your child’s academic strengths, weaknesses and other pertinent information.

Ÿ  You can utilize the conference assessment information to plan some summer activities to assist your child with retaining, building and reinforcing academic skills.

Ÿ  You can balance meaningful academic activities with activities your child enjoys (if different) to ensure that he/she relaxes from the rigors and stress of the school year, thus, preventing overload and burnt-out. Learning and fun can coincide. Please see that your child enjoys his/her summer vacation.

Ÿ  Educators can often advise you of sources and resources that are available to you and your child over the summer.

As the school year ends for some parents, it is “ramping” up for others. Do you have a child who will begin kindergarten at a new school in the fall?

Ÿ  Have a conference with your child’s pre-school teacher(s).

Ÿ  If applicable, make sure you have all the proper school documentation necessary for your child entering school in the Fall, as well as required vaccinations.

Ÿ  Depending on your interest and anticipated level of involvement in your child’s Education and/or with your child‘s school, may I recommend you visit the anticipated school in which your child will be attending in Fall and prior to the school ending for the school year (summer). Check out the school and request a copy of the student-parent handbook. Obtain the Parent-School Organization Leader’s (PTA/PTO President) contact information; you may want to call and introduce yourself as a new parent.

Are you a Parent-School Organization Leader (PTA/PTO)? Many of you will want to meet with school principals prior to school ending (some will meet with you and officers over the summer) and spend time over the summer meeting with your officers and planning the organization’s agenda for the following school year. If you wait until school resumes to plan the organization’s agenda for the school year, you will have waited too late.

This school year is coming to an end and many students will soon graduate; may I extend Congratulations to each student and his/her Parent(s) for having reached this milestone.

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author & Founder of Parents Taking Charge in Education

http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

E-mail: barron.Dorothy@yahoo.com