The issue at stake in this conflict was governance. In an ideal world schools would be governed by a partnership of educators and families, including children. In the practical world of two career families and the conflicting work schedules of employed parents and teachers, the majority of governance has to tall to the educators. To be successful, schools have to be organic, live institutions changing with the times and with the needs of the students. Most change in schools is an evolutionary process based on formal observations made on a scheduled basis and incidental observations made on a day to day basis as school personnel go about the business of schooling.
Parental input is one more piece of data that educators use to make changes.
Change occurs smoothly if it grows out of the natural give and take of professionals working together. The concerns of parents are known by the educators and incorporated into the process. An examination of one example of change in schools can be enlightening. The collective observations and final products seldom reflect the original thinking of any one teacher or administrator. The process alters the thinking of all involved.