Proposal for Academic Achievement and Parental Involvement - Essay Example

They must communicate with their children to develop an understanding with then so that they share with them all problems that they might be facing in their education. Working parents also need to stay regularly in touch with their children’s teachers so as to get informed about their progress. They should be a great help for their children, both morally and physically. Epstein (2001) asserts that working parents or those who live far away or fathers are “less involved” in child’s educations “unless the school organizes opportunities…in various times and in various places” (p. 407). This proves that as compared to house wives, working mothers and, especially, fathers are often non considerate toward their children’s educational achievement because they do not have enough time to spend with them.

Thus, there is a great need to address the issue of working parents and their involvement in their children’s academic lives, so that the latter are able to show better achievements in their education. Alternatives Epstein (2001) suggests that “caring communities can be built intentionally” that allows working parents to participate actively in their children’s educational activities (p. 408). . Another important alternative is that teachers should make it compulsory for children to have their homework reviewed and signed by their parents daily or every two days so that the parents are kept involved.

School events must be scheduled “at different times of the day” (Brown, 2000) to make it convenient for the working parents to attend these events. Working parents can make their homes a good learning environment by conversing with their children over dinner; taking them out on educational trips on weekends; and, providing them educational activities on computers. Epstein (2001) provided types of parental involvement all of which should be practiced by all parents including working parents.

He says that parents should be made to attend special training classes so that they learn how to establish a learning environment at home. Parent-teacher communication through notices, conferences, language translators (in case of language gaps), phone calls, newsletters, and memos, is very useful. Volunteer programs for parents should be arranged so that parents are encouraged to provide their help and support to the teachers. Teachers can also visit working parents at their homes to make them aware of their children’s progress.

Proposed Solution Since too much lies in the hands of school authorities to make efforts to achieve collaborative partnership with the parents, the most feasible and workable plan to involve working parents in their children’s academic life is to arrange parent-teacher meetings at weekends or in the evenings of weekdays. The process should involve notifying the parents a week before the meeting is to be held, and discussing with them over the phone or through written form of