Every year, there’s a lot of handwringing by parents about getting their children into specialty education programs. Enrolment in independent or private schools is growing, as is the demand for programs such as French immersion. Parents want the best for their children, and they think these programs are going to do it.
This year, with struggles to hire enough teachers, the absence of an elected board of trustees and instability among the top management at the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»School Board, parents could be even more concerned. But, overwhelmingly, research shows there is one big thing parents can do to help their children succeed and that is to care about their kids’ education and get involved in their school.
“Specifically, children whose parents are more involved in their education have higher levels of academic performance than children whose parents are involved to a lesser degree,” says a 2010 study of seven year olds that cites many other studies with similar findings.
Let’s face it — if you’re willing to sleep out overnight for a space in a special program or spend thousands of dollars on private school — you probably already care a lot about your child’s education. That alone, is step one and probably could go a far distance in explaining higher test scores in choice programs. Kids whose parents care do better in school.
But those benefits are just as effective in public schools and in regular English programs. It’s the caring and what you do with it that matters more than any special program.
What does caring look like? Well, first off, it means you make the effort to find out what’s going on in the classroom. It means you go to the meet-the-teacher night, even when your child is in Grade 9 and tells you not to bother.
It also means you know what your child’s homework is and you participate in getting it done, whether that means reading to your child in the younger years, quizzing them in the intermediate years or pestering them relentlessly to put down their phones and open their textbooks in the high school years.
Caring about your child’s education means respecting teachers and other staff in the schools. Your child will take their cues from you as to how to behave towards the people who are educating them.
Kindergarten teacher Wendy deGroot says parental support is very important in kindergarten.
“I am meeting these little ones for the first time and I rely on their parents — their first teachers to know how best to continue their learning journey in a manner that supports them best,” de Groot said in an email. “A personalized learning program starts with a connection from home. If parents and teachers work together children benefit.”
Glen Hansman, president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, encourages parents to get involved in schools by volunteering and getting to know the teachers rather than buying math workbooks for their kids. He remembers his own mother volunteering in the library or at special events.
He encourages parents to never let a question or a problem linger — the sooner a parent gets in touch with the teacher, the sooner it can be dealt with. He says dropping in unannounced is not the best way to connect, but if a parent doesn’t know the best way to reach a teacher, they should phone the school and ask.
“I can’t underscore enough the importance of all families being involved and being respected and for schools to endeavour to not assume that all families perceive that they have equitable access or as confident engaging schools,” Hansman said. “Ultimately, parents and teachers want students to succeed and thrive.”
Lorraine Baldwin, a Langley parent of two children aged 14 and 12, said being involved and getting to know the teachers and the school principal has helped her demonstrate an interest in their education, without being a helicopter parent.
“Education is the number one gift you can get,” Baldwin said. “I would say [being involved] has been beneficial. I think understanding what they’re doing, encouraging discussion around it and helping them spark an interest has helped them be more interested in what they’re learning.”
September is the perfect time of year for a new start — for parents as well as students — it’s never too late to get involved.
Tracy Sherlock writes about education and social issues. She can be reached at [email protected].
