Approved-By:  EDTECH Moderator <21765EDT@MSU.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.edtech
Date:         Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:06:17 EST
From:         hjn2k@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU
Subject:      Re: Response from parents/educators needed!!

MATHSCIENCE%VCUVAX.BITNET@ohstvma.acs.ohio-state.edu writes:
> I Have some questions for educators or for parents who are reading this
 message.
> If your child is attending an elementary school or if you are teaching
 elementar
>    y grades, please feel free to respond to this.
> 1.  What can the schools do to improve the relationship with parents?
> 2.  What can we do to get more parents get involved?
> 3.  How can elementary students get involved in some community projects?
> 4.  What kind of workshops can be conducted for parents alone?
> 5.  What kind of workshops can be conducted for parents and teachers together?
> 6.  What kind of workshops can be conducted for parents, teachers, and
 students?
> Thank you for responding
> Manorama Talaiver
> Mathematics & Science center
> 2401 Hartman Street
> Richmond va 23223
>
> MATHSCIENCE@VCUVAX.BITNET
December 18, 1992

Dear Ms. Talaiver,

        I am a student in UVA's 5 year Master's Ed Program and
am also the parent of two elementary children.  My daughter
attends 6th grade in an "upper elementary school" and my son is
in 2nd grade.  I am glad to respond to your questionaire
because your questions are important reflections regarding the
reciprocal ties between the family, school and community.

1.      Schools can improve the relationship with parents by
continuing the flow of newsletters and classwork papers to the
home.  School functions such dinners/picnics, PTO, the usual
field days, Christmas bazaars, etc. are still viable.  However,
not all parents have the babysitting needed or the
transportation needed to attend this functions.  These needs
should be addressed.  The Charlottesville Schools have meetings
in the various local communities at least once a school term
and the School Board Meetings rotate through the neighborhood
schools -- a different one each month.  Still, these do not
interest all the parents we may really want to communicate
with.  As always, how do we arouse the interest and get the
parent(s) in who we may most want to see.

        Schools need to generate a feeling of warmth and
motherly caring to all family units no matter what their social
economic status.  Not all adults may feel welcome to the
environment, be it educational differences or personality
differences.  There may be alienation and uncertainty.

2.      Parents need to know that they are a needed, necessary
and important ingredient to their child's success and
ultimately the community's success.  Teachers are being
expected to handle more and more of the traditional inputs
previously generated by parents (manners, morals and general
respect for others, guidance and parameters).  Parents need to be reeducated
in the facts that their child's job is going to school to
learn.  The expectations and support in the home life should be
emphasized.

3.      Elementary school children could be involved by
assisting in the maintenance of their own school facility and
grounds.  Visits to local nursing homes would be appreciated by
the elders and be a positive model for the students.
Afterschool peer tutoring would be a positive reinforcer.
Students adopting and working with elderly or needy adults or
families by doing simple yard work, housecleaning, bring the
mail in and say "hi" on a regular basis perhaps once a week --
something both parties could plan on and look forward to.
Establish a viewpoint beyond the students' own immediate
needs -- build a "community" caring spirit.

        How bout garden spaces in unused playground areas
during the summer.  Perhaps canning and processing offered in
the school cafeteria at harvest time.  This would imvolve
students, family and school personnel.

4.      Modeling workshops for parents:

        Parenting skills - Our most important job in life comes
with no instructions.  How do we raise a healthy child?  Why is
it important?  Why we should we all care?

        Family projects and especially how to play and have fun!

        Modified child psy class to let parents know the stages
and characteristics of the "normal child".  Children don't
aggrevate us intentionally -- it is normal for children to be
selfish, they are egocentric through no fault of their own.  We
take foregranted our adult abilities and perspectives and
project them on our young children.  This can set us up for
battles and disappointments.

5.      Workshops for parents and teachers:

        Basic study skills in the home and how the child will
be reinforced between home and school so there is a united
effort.

        Communication between and expectations of each party

6.      Workshops for parents, teachers, and students?

        Communication

        Playing together and family projects done in the school
facilities

        Reading -- how we use it in all ways, why it is so
important, all the multitude and variety of literature
(newspapers, consumer packaging such as cereal boxes,
ninetendo, etc.).  Some new, creative, and fun way to approach
a "taken for granted" necessity.


        An aside, a community newspaper/bulletin could be
generated through a joint effort of parents, children and
staff.  Are our school facilities trully available for use by
the taxpayers who support them as meeting places?

        I hope I haven't been too long winded and eclectic.

                                Sincerely,


                                Holly J. Neavear
                                Charlottesville, VA  22901

                                hjn2k@Virginia.edu
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