Title

Stronger Families and Communities: Healthy Partnerships for Family, School, and Community - A Community Education Workshop

Author

Virginia V. Maldonado, Concordia University, St. Paul

Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Non Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education

Capstone Instructor

Angele Passe

Second Reader

Michael Walcheski

Keywords

family involvement in education

Abstract

The term "parental or family involvement" is generally used within the education field and it can encompass an array of approaches for a parent and child to engage in for family life experiences and academic progress. For many years educators have recognized the importance of the role the parent plays in the education of their children. The roots of parental involvement go back to a time when many mothers did not work outside the home and were generally available to meet the school schedules of their children. As early as the eighteenth century, parents were given informative advice through the distribution of brochures, or pamphlets offering advice to parents on childrearing practices. In the late 1880's national parent educational organizations were established, and by the 1920's and 1930's they had grown to some seventy-five in number. (Brim 1959).

The increasing rates of dropout and failure among students in the last twenty years have renewed an interest in family education and the importance of parent involvement early in a child's learning. This interest, along with the astounding numbers of new immigrant populations in many parts of the United States, has caused educational systems to concentrate on how to educate and include the diverse children and families in the educational process. Culturally sensitive and inclusive curricula have been developed and implemented to address this need but nothing has been exclusively helpful for the diversity among families and children and nothing has been accepted widely (McCaleb 1994).

What should students do? What should families do? What should schools and communities do to reach common objectives for children's futures? This project will examine existing materials, and through a workshop, provide a plan to create an Action Team for Partnership that will strengthen communication and help to create trusting relationships among students, families, schools and communities so that all children/students will achieve success at school.

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