ABSTRACT

Allowing parents to believe that they are important members of our school communities is no easy task. Due to a myriad of issues, many of which we have already discussed, a large percentage of our parents simply do not believe that we, as school leaders, deem their involvement to be at all important. Elaine McEwan, educational consultant and author, offers 50 suggestions for getting parental involvement and support started. Included in her list are school climate and school culture issues, such as creating an inviting, welcoming atmosphere and holding regularly scheduled open houses and parent-teacher conferences. These kinds of activities strengthen the feelings of openness and goodwill that are so important. Going further, McEwan suggests structuring school projects, such as fun fairs, so that parents and teachers work together, and hosting career days in which parents “come to school and educate children about their careers” (McEwan, 1998b, pp. 80-89). These structured or forced gatherings of parents and teachers together helps to break down the invisible wall that so many parents feel standing between them and the school. Moreover, when parents can share their careers and/or expertise with children in our schools, their sense of value and worth to our mission and goals is certainly heightened.