I read with interest this post written by Cindy Seibel at tech4learning. She talked about parent choice and school reform. She questions, if meaningful parent involvement begs major school reform. Quoting the work of Mark Holmes, Professor Emeritus at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education she shared this :
Mark Holmes lays bare his personal bias on his views of the aims of education while advocating for choice for all parents in his book The Reformation of Canada’s Schools: Breaking the Barriers to Parental Choice. Holmes’ book describes a reformation of Canadian education that would combine area public schools directed by elected parent councils and distributed programs of choice accessible (at least nominally if not geographically possible) by all. School districts would become managers of support infrastructure systems (buildings, human resources, transportation, administrative operations) rather than directors of a particular educational philosopy. Provincial authorities would provide central policies and standards respecting outcomes, student evaluation, funding to schools (not just districts), collective agreements for staff especially teachers, and collection of data to support decision-making by parents and schools. You can read more here.
I feel compelled to bring my experiences to the table.
After my 4 children’s school experience, my time as a family studies teacher, school board trustee, school council chair (local & Board wide School Council), I have these observations to share about parent input and leadership in schools.
There was a time that I agreed with Mark Holmes. I am sure that there are still many parents and people who are guiding charter, magnate and private schools and doing a good job. I have come to believe that there is a very small number of parents with the time and willingness to commit to running a school or are if they have the time are interested.
If you take a look at parent involvement as a change agent, it should be clear that the majority of parents are willing to work within the current education system. Some parents may not be happy but for a variety of reasons accept status quo. Parents need to: clothe, feed and give shelter for their families and that often out weighs the need to oversee the operation of schools. Those who organize and spear head change are few.
There was a time when I thought parents should run the schools. Should drop everything and take up the torch to change the education system. That was a time when no common curriculum existed. Schools did not have enough text books. A lot and a little has changed since then. Parents want shared learning for their students. They want to speak out on behalf of their children and they want the best for their children. But for the most part, parents do not want to run schools. As I said, The few who organize and spear head change are just that – a handful.
Here is some support for my position. In 1995 the government of the day tried to push for charter schools. Tried to turn the education system over to the management of parents but backed right down when it became clear that the number of parents willing to take on the role of Parent Council – run the school – person – were pretty slim. Following up on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Learning that schools create school community councils, the government mandated the creation of advisory school councils.
If you read the recommendations from the Commission they did not recommend parent councils. The commission made a clear distinction about what an advisory school committee should look like.
” membership drawn from the following sectors:
parents
students (from Grade 7 on)
teachers
representatives from local religious and ethnic
communities
service providers (government and non-government)
municipal government(s)
service clubs and organizations
business sectors;
In 1995 The Royal Commission on Learning and in 1998 the Education Improvement Commission made recommendations for community schools and school improvement planning. Solid planning good ideas, put on the shelf. I challenge folks to drop into a school and ask a parent what is the school improvement plan for this year for this school and their children. It is not because parents don’t care. They have given the responsibility of educating their children to the professionals. Human nature being the way that it is.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
There might be reasons that the Canadian schools need “charter schools” without those being run by parents. I’m not sure. I know in the US, when a state has an active charter school law, most of the schools are operated not by parents (although some are), but by non-profits, community groups, or other qualified people (at least that’s what the authorizer should be looking for) who see an opportunity to provide a needed option in their own community. See, for example, http://www.milwaukeerenaissanceacademy.org. Full disclosure–I’m on the board!
Cindy