A Parent Involved In Their Child’s Education Speaks

And one voice has a lot of power

One of the most powerful areas of change has been in the dominance of one single voice.

One voice has the potential to increase awareness about unpleasant, unfair, and unequal deficits that impacts our regional and global society. The utterance made by one person has the capacity to rally people to enable them to work together in solidarity to confront and change inadequate human conditions within our community and world. A spoken word has the fortitude to shift the tide of uncertainty and unhappiness to release a wave of hope and joy. The actions of one has the ability to change a child’s life to support the common good.

Parental Silence

Despite the power of one voice, when a very specific voice remains silent, a deep level of harm results. That harm is so penetrating that it makes it extremely difficult for one to recover from it.

When a parent willfully remains detached from their child’s overall educational experience, they are absent. An absent parent is totally invisible. Teachers and school leaders never meet this parent because they refuse to make their presence known. This parents exists in a state of unresponsiveness. This type of parents deliberately stays disconnected from their child’s learning because they are apathetic. They just don’t care. The silence of these parents forces teachers and the schools to assume the total responsibility of their child’s learning. Silent parents do not participate in their child’s education nor are they involved. Total parent disengagement results.

Sadly, the children of disengaged parents suffer.

Here are the devastating educational outcomes resulting from their parent’s inconspicuousness.

1. Students perform at lower academic levels.
2. The development of the impacted learners tend to progress at inconsistent levels.
3. Teachers, school counselors, and others control the destiny of the student.
4. Learners have very low levels of motivation.
5. Learning becomes difficult and frustrating for students.
6. Students experience challenges with their behavior.
7. The students lack self-confidence and self-pride.

A Strong Parent Voice Wins

A parent with a strong voice is heard even if they do not utter one word. They partners with their child’s teachers and educators. This parent links arms with them because they recognize that their child has a better chance to experience a lot of school success if they work together as a team.

A parent with a strong voice values the positive and genuine relationship that they have with educators at their child’s school. Because mutual respect and acceptance is at the heart of their professional relationship, they become colleagues. Both become authentically committed to the success of their child and their student.

Several powerful outcomes results when parents and educators become partners:

1. Parents, teachers, and school personal work in a united manner to support all of the educations needs of their students.
2. Learners are able to reach the long term and short term goals that they have established for themselves.
3. Students develop a love of learning very early in life.
4. Learners are more willing to take risks and embrace challenging learning opportunities.
5. Students achieve at higher academic levels and maintain good school attendance.
6. The self-confidence and self-pride of learners soar.
7. Students develop more appropriate social skills.

Parents simply cannot afford to remain invisible when their children are receiving their education. They must assume an active role throughout their child’s entire learning experience to ensure their continuous success.

Here’s my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.

Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Adjunct Professor of Multicultural Education, and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her “Ignite Family Engagement” YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1DPhBeA29UlybU9jzDkdQ .