Importance of Parental Involvement in Education - Research Paper Example

A significant proportion of parents is unable to display a keen interest in the education of the children; consequently, children not only put aside their responsibilities related to studies but also turn out to be unable to complete their primary education even. Additionally, lack of parental support and guidance leads the children towards choosing the subjects that are not appropriate ones according to their innate skills, tendencies, aptitudes and inclinations; as a result, they feel themselves entirely misfit for the professions their qualification offers to them.

Hence, parental support is vehemently essential for the educational, moral and professional growth and uplift of the children. Parents are not only source of inspiration, security and affection for the children, but also serve as the regularity authority to keep the children away from getting indulged into the activities that are strictly forbidden, prohibited, indecent, immoral and come under the definition of deviancy and perversion. Consequently, the children having influence and check of parents, are often in a position to escape perversion, drug addiction, chemical dependency, offences and crimes because of the fear of the punishment would be inflicted upon them on breaking the prevailing social norms, moral values and statutes of law as well.

The same is applied to the education sector, which looks for the attention and interest of the parents for the successful completion of primary and middle level education of the children. Since mother’s lap is undoubtedly the first source of learning for a child, both mother and father are well aware of the nature and habits of the children. They are well acquainted with the needs and desires of their children, and hence can guide them in the light of their liking, disliking and propensities.

It is therefore, there participation in the educational matters of children will certainly enhance the potential and proficiency of the students. “It is widely recognized that if pupils are to maximize their potential from schooling they will need the full support of their parents. Attempts to enhance parental involvement in education occupy governments, administrators, educators and parents’ organizations across North America, Australasia, continental Europe, Scandinavia and the UK.

(Desforges & Abouchaar, 2003:7) Adolescence is the era where a child’s mind is clean slate, and he can learn almost everything quickly that is being taught to him. Additionally, the innocent minds are unable to differentiate between right and wrong as well as about their responsibilities towards education and learning. Moreover, cognitive development is also at its peak, which seeks moral support from the parents for comprehending with man’s relation with family, friends, teachers and natural and social environment.

“Early adolescence and entry into middle school reflect change on multiple levels. The middle school years coincide with key changes in adolescent development, including biological and cognitive growth, social development, and renegotiations of family relationships, especially the parent-adolescent relationship.” (Grolnick et al., 2007: 993) Hence, parents can play vital role in teaching the child all about his social and natural environment, which has direct relationship with the subjects he is learning.