Immigrant Parental Involvement in Education - Assignment Example

All these among others are evidence of how school systems in Canada devalue immigrant parents. The culture held by Canadians in most cases tends to conflict with the culture of immigrant parents. In most cases, immigrant parents come in with different cultures which in most cases they greatly embrace and appear less reluctant parting with them. According to Brake (1997), acculturation theory supports the idea that immigrants tend to hold tightly unto the values of their cultures. On the other hand, the migrants avoid cross-cultural contacts due to their ability to aggravate anxiety and uncertainty.

This, therefore, plays a major role in the creation of cultural incompetence which greatly limits parental involvement in contexts that are increasingly important to their children, including school and the expanding extra-familial social world (Duncan, 2008).Additionally, immigrant parents with lower educational backgrounds and income were less likely to volunteer in school activities such as parent interviews. This played a role in creating a disconnection between the parents and their school children.

Vickshard (1999) indicates that a parent's socioeconomic status has a positive association with their involvement in school. On the other hand, parents with higher educational attainment are more likely to be involved in the school affairs of their children. The teachers were also more likely to stereotype minority immigrant parents based on their schooling experiences, history, and culture. George (2000), states that the teachers should not at any point discriminate against any student or parent based on his or her culture, gender, status, religion or race.

Therefore, Canadian teachers should change their negative perceptions towards immigrant parents and instead focus on embracing them despite their shortcomings. According to Janice (1999), language is an important requirement that normally facilitates communication, as well as increasing one's confidence (Allan, 2005). For instance, if the immigrant parents in Canada were familiar with all the languages used in the country, it would, therefore, have been easier for them to communicate and thus uplifting their confidence.

Consequently, their involvement in their children's schooling affairs would also increase. Further research should be carried out using the children as subjects. In this case, the children of immigrant parents should give their perception regarding their parent’s involvement in their schooling. This would also assist in the establishment of a clear picture as well as eliminating all biased information the parents may have held in the study. Further than this, the same research should be carried out using more subjects and a different research method.