Summary

The article discusses the challenges and misconceptions surrounding family engagement in education, emphasizing the need for genuine relationships and collaboration between educators and families to enhance student success.

Abstract

The article titled "Family Engagement Is A Hoax In Some Schools" delves into the varying levels of acceptance and implementation of parental involvement in educational settings. It highlights that while some educators genuinely embrace family engagement, others only comply with mandates for federal funding, such as those under Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The author, Dr. Deborah M. Vereen, points out that some educators resist parental involvement, fearing interference in the educational process. The article defines family engagement as a mutual dedication and partnership between educators, parents, and caregivers, which is often misunderstood or superficially executed. Dr. Vereen argues that many attempts at family engagement are inauthentic, consisting of one-off events or meetings that do not foster meaningful relationships or empower parents to actively participate in their child's education. The article calls for a shift in understanding and practice, advocating for true collaboration that unifies the efforts of educators and families to support students effectively.

Opinions

Educators' attitudes towards family engagement range from genuine embrace to reluctant compliance or outright resistance.
Family engagement is not just about involving parents in school events but building authentic relationships based on respect, acceptance, affirmation, and trust.
Current attempts at family engagement often lack depth and fail to empower families to collaborate effectively in their child's education.
There is a need for educators to recognize the importance of family engagement and to actively work towards establishing genuine partnerships with families.
The author believes that true family engagement leads to significant benefits for students, educators, and parents, and is critical for student success.
The article suggests that many schools' family engagement efforts are superficial and do not lead to sustainable partnerships with families.
Dr. Vereen emphasizes that educators must go beyond fulfilling requirements and hosting events, instead focusing on relationship-building and empowering families.

Family Engagement Is A Hoax In Some Schools

Here’s why

Educators everywhere are making efforts to work with the parents and families of the students that they serve at varied levels of acceptance.

There are educators who are beginning to correlate the overall success that students achieve to the depth of parental involvement and are open to families being a part of the learning process.

Some educators merely comply with mandates to create opportunities for parents to participate in their child’s educational program because they are expected to. For example, some schools receive federal funding to provide economically challenged learners with more robust learning experiences through Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This is the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which was formerly known as No Child Left Behind. Title I schools have a high proportion of economically challenged students and receive federal funding to provide more robust assistance for these learners. In exchange for the money that Title I schools receive to support the education of resourced challenged students, schools must provide documented evidence that they collaborate with parents.

Surprisingly, there are some educators who resist parents being visible participants in their child’s learning within the physical environment of the school. Such educational resisters are fearful that parents may try to take over the educational environment or that they may simply interfere.

Whether educators willingly embrace parents, submit to school wide parent participation protocols even though their heart is not in it, or tolerate parent involvement, their efforts will not be sustainable if they fail to engage with families.

Important Information is Found Right Here

I defined family engagement in my article entitled “A Glimpse at Family Engagement In Education: Just A Peek” published in Teachers On Fire Magazine. “It refers to the mutual dedication, cooperation, and support that educators, parents and other caregivers share as students are being educated.”

Many educators who endeavor to engage with parents really do not understand what it is. They fail to realize that family engagement is all about building and maintaining a genuine relationship with parents and caregivers. When educators take the lead in establishing and sustaining an authentic partnership with the parents that they serve that is based upon respect, acceptance, affirmation, and trust, families will work with them as a member of a team.

Unfortunately, attempts to increase family engagement fails to exist in many learning environments because of a lack of understanding.

It’s Fake

This is the truth that I speak.

Inviting community members to a special gathering at a school and having them show up as one large group only demonstrates that they are interested in helping students and supporting programs. These types of meetings fail to show a schools unconditional commitment to reaching out to the families of the students they work with to partner with them for the benefit of their children.

Educators who satisfy a requirement to have an annual meeting with parents to discuss supports and services, introduce teachers, and review instructional materials only provide parents with an opportunity to participate by attending the event. The same is true when a school or school district hosts a parent meetings with trendy and unique themes that fills educators with pride because large numbers of parents attend to hear information about activities and programs. This type of gathering does little to give school officials a chance to get to know the families so that they become comfortable working with the staff with a sense of ease for the sake of the success of their children.

Inviting parents to student performances to enable them to celebrate the development of their children to participate as a member of an audience fills the heart of the family with happiness and joy. Unfortunately, this does not enable them to build a relationship with the educators working with their children.

Providing parents with an opportunity to receive information about their child’s academic and behavior progress during parent teacher conferences and open house events reflects their involvement in their child’s education. If the families lack the confidence which manifests through empowerment to obtain information to provide help at home, to request more challenging or remedial instructional supports for their child, or to follow through with teacher recommendations to enhance the educational experience of their child among other things, engagement is nonexistent.

Whether it is participating in fundraising efforts or providing tangible help around the school as needed, it is wonderful for parents to volunteer. However, this only demonstrates their dedication to serving to school.

This is not related to family engagement.

It is Time to Change

It is time for educators to understand what family engagement really is. Only then will students, educators, and parents will reap the powerful benefits that result when educators and the families they serve unify their efforts by working as a team to support students.

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

Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1DPhBeA29UlybU9jzDkdQ .