ABSTRACT
The relationship between parents and school is a tricky one. Once upon a time parents were discouraged from entering schools and those who wanted to engage might have had a struggle. Conscientious heads in areas where academic outcomes are stubbornly low have spent thousands of hours trying to work with parents who may be frightened of, indifferent or antagonistic towards schools, with varying degrees of success. Constraint is also present when parenting is dangerous to the child. Most schools devise some sort of partnership so that the child is thoroughly protected. The school is entrusted to be not just a good parent but a paradigm parent to the child. The parenting the child receives at home is likely to be warm and loving. The in loco parentis professional has his own version of this: a safe and orderly community led by kind and expert adults.
