At family gatherings, my relatives took every opportunity to stress the importance of finishing school. My grandparents were especially emphatic that proper schooling would ensure my financial success, while shielding me from the difficult working conditions and long hours that they endured. The wisdom of their advice was evident as I watched uncles and aunts pursue professional degrees, and then reap the benefits in the marketplace. This conviction has been further reinforced by Diane Ravitch's work. To support this claim, Ravitch refers to research conducted by Robert M. Hauser and David L. Featherman which demonstrates a relationship between schooling and occupational achievement.
Families provide cultural, intellectual, social, and economic resources for achievement.
The schools refine these resources and convert them into marketable skills and knowledge. Efforts of improve the quality of education will be enhanced by parental involvement. Many educators appreciate the value of parental involvement in the school community, and most will agree that parental support increases students' chances of academic success. Positive experiences with parents in the classroom have instilled in me that same appreciation. Although contact and regular communication with family members can be time consuming, I have nearly always found my efforts to be worthwhile.