Research findings
Parent involvement in the schools is an interesting topic that many school administrators that are persistently thinking of developing approaches to ensure they can expand their parental participation in schools. The article, “Multi-Dimensional Parent Involvement in Schools: A Principal's Guide” addresses some of the most difficult research findings. First finding is that many parents arguably missed most of their children school activities based on their ethnic and cultural values (Duncan & Rapp, 2011). This is a factor that is continually being identified in many areas in America especially because most parents still experience racism. Moreover, many of the Caucasian parents who volunteer in many of the school activities and projects are not directly involved in their children education but rather want to show off (Duncan & Rapp, 2011). Therefore, this makes the African American parents among other minor groups shy away.
Second, the article notes that many parents how have low-income do not often show up for school activities. The reason given by the parents is that they have to work in more than one jobs to make decent income also they prefer to get involved in the children education at home as oppose to appearing in school. Therefore, it is right to justify that these class of parents how are from low-income who also majority comprise the minor groups may shy from school activities as they are intimated by the Caucasian parents who prefer to participate in school activities and also make huge donations (Duncan & Rapp, 2011). Moreover, many of the school involvements activities have been critiques not to involve both parents. Many of the activities have noted to be more mother friends as opposed to having a balanced parent’s involvement front. This attribute is recorded as one of which many principals have a nightmare. However, some principals can be commended according to the article as they have introduced some games that can be entertaining for the fathers while they discuss school matters, for example, Friday balling.
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Strengths
The article demonstrates the low turnout of parents with regard to their involvement in school activities. Moreover, the article examines some of the ways in which the school administrators could explore in order to ensure they are in a position to increase parental involvement, hence realize education advancement (McGarth & Kuriloff, 1999). Apart from that, the article has explicitly demonstrated how fundamental issues regarding ethnicity, financial status, and sexual orientation play a significant role in school involvement by the parents Therefore, school principals need to exploit these factors to increase parental involvement. However, it can be argued that the parents’ primary motivation should be derived from being interested in their children’s progress hence this factor ought not to be a hindrance (Reeves, 2005). Thus, the article explores such thorny issues.
Weaknesses
One of the primary weakness identified in the article is what school principals will do regarding those parents who do not turn up for any school activities. The report has fallen short of not advising the reader or school principal on what are some of the measures to be taken by parents who fail to turn up for the meeting or cannot be reached by any form of communication, for example email, texts or calls. This is a challenge witnessed by many principals, especially on parents who use the excuse that they are busy and therefore prefer to home-school their children. Therefore, the article needs to emphasize that the administration can take a step in identifying where the families live in order to conduct a home visit before ruling the parent is not interested in the school activities. The second weakness identified in the article is that there are parents who shy away from the school activities because of sexual or ethnicity reasons, what are the school administrators were asked to do to ensure they have a decent turnout and not only those parents who are from upper-income bracket and Caucasian.
Implications for the futures
Parental involvement in school activities has notably been sited to be a nightmare, especially in urban schools given the three identified elements (sexuality, ethnicity, and financial incomes). The article notes that it is very critical for the school principals to have the understanding to know how to approach the parent involvement issues. Therefore, the school administrators are challenged by the articles to have a more inclusive forum for all the parents so that they can have a better response from the parents. Research has proven over years that parents are very fundamental when it comes to the success of school (Rapp & Duncan, 2012). Moreover, parents’ involvement has a positive effect on the students. Thus, failure for parents to get involved may negatively affect the students either academically or socially. Therefore, just as the article has noted, parents need to be well aware for best performance from the students it is critical for them to get super involved in the school activities. However, the increment of the parents in school activities needs to be given a holistic approach where the initiative not only comes from the school principals who have identified the need for the parents to get involved in the children affairs. But also the parents’ associations need to stress the need to get to learn what students learn every day (Rapp & Duncan, 2012). Therefore, the parents will have a better chance to interact and bond with their children. Moreover, through this volunteering and getting involved in school activities means that they have an opportunity to influence positively in their children lives.
References
Jeynes, W. (2005). A meta-analysis of the relation of parental involvement to urban elementary school student achievement. Urban Education , 40(3), 237-269.
McGarth, D. J. & Kuriloff, P. J. (1999). “They’re going to tear the doors off this place”. Upper middle-class parent school involvement & the educational opportunities of other people’s children. Educational Policy, 13(5), 603-629.
Rapp, N., & Duncan, H. (2012). Multi-dimensional parental involvement in schools: a principal's guide. NCPEA publications. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ971515.pdf
Reeves, D. (2005). Accountability in action: A blueprint for learning organizations (2nd ed). Englewood, CO: Lead & Learn Press.
