Parents Role In Education

To understand the role of parents in their children’s education we must view the school system as a complex system which includes the principal, the teachers, other staff members, the students and the community to which the school belongs to. The school in which students study is not isolated from its environment. The principle element in the community around the school is the families of the students.

Students’ families, and especially parents, have a great impact on students outside of school hours, therefore inevitably are a part of the school system and have an influence on the well-being of the student and their function in the school system. Parents and other family members affect students’ values, norms, knowledge and behavior. Therefore,

“There is no universal agreement on what parental involvement is, it can take many forms, from involvement at the school (as a governor, helping in the classroom or during lunch breaks) through to reading to the child at home, teaching songs or nursery rhymes and assisting with homework” (המאמר הצבעוני). Hence, any form of contribution to children’s education parents are willing and capable of can be considered as parental involvement. In general, parents will select a form of involvements which is “consistent with perceptions of the specific skills and knowledge they bring to the multiple tasks of children’s schooling. For, example, a parent who feels unable to communicate effectively in the school setting is more likely to choose involvement at home” (Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler, 1995,

The age of children affects the level of parental involvements for several reasons. For example, parents might progressively find less ways in which they can be involved in their child’s education. “In elementary school, a teacher may seek volunteers to help with a holiday party or a school carnival. As a child gets into middle and high school, parents may have fewer roles in the classroom, but still may assist with field trips and events that need chaperones” (Richards-Gustafson). Research supports this claim and it has been found that parental involvement tends to decline in secondary schools for different reasons including lack of social networks for parents and the lack of financial stability (Griffin & Galassi, 2010, p.