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  06/10/2008, 8:56 AM :: Posted by Saima Ahmed (Posts 6)

  How much contact do you have with your child's school? (Read only)

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  The Government is currently engaged in a programme of activity which aims to raise the attainment and aspirations of Black boys and young Black men. The REACH group consisted of approximately 25 stakeholders who submitted 5 recommendations for action. One of the recommendations was that Government should establish a national framework of family-school partnerships, ensuring that the specific needs of Black families are integral to the framework. Please see our REACH pages for more information.
   
  In many of our discussions with our stakeholders one theme that has continually emerged is that schools only contact parents when there is a problem with their child. Is this true for you? What are your experiences? Should parents approach schools themselves without waiting for something to go wrong? Do parents have time for this? 

  We look forward to hearing your comments on this and more with our new question:
   
  We have heard that many parents of Black children feel they are only contacted by schools when their children are in trouble. What are your views on this?
   
  On that note I welcome you to the second question of our REACH forum!

  Saima Ahmed (Moderator)

  Filed under: REACH

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• 585 in reply to 584

  08/10/2008, 1:23 AM :: Posted by The Analyst (Posts 5)

  Re: How much contact do you have with your child's school?

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  Why else should schools contact them, should be the question put to any parent that make the title statement. I do not for one minute believe that this is a fact, it is yet another hot potato everyone is using as an excuse for not giving their children the back up they need whilst going through the British education system. Every stat in the country around parental attendance at parent evenings, sports day, fund raising, school clean up, etc, etc shows black parents as the least representative. Many black parents are failing to exercise the freedom fought for with blood not so long ago and that is, the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside themselves will affects them. This basic failing courts decisions and factors from others that will have an adverse effect, and by the time they react, it’s too late.

  Schools are not there to build 1-1 relationships with a family, this normally occur when the child is constantly in trouble though misbehaving or bullying. I wonder how many of these critical parents have a 1-1 discussion with their children on a daily bases, if they did many will not think it strange for the school not to be calling them.

  One can protect there liberties in this world only by protecting the freedom of their children, and “history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timed” – Dwight Esienhower.

  The Analyst

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  08/10/2008, 2:12 PM :: Posted by Byron (Posts 1)

  Re: How much contact do you have with your child's school?

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  I attend all my sons parents evenings and speak to them weekly about their day at school. As you rightly site however schools generally only seem to contact me when there is perceived to be a problem. They are notoriously poor at keeping fathers informed of school activities and the performance of your child as a whole. I cannot count how many times I have given my details and asked the schools that I be kept abreast of any issues affecting my sons progress or development, not to mention parents evenings and they have failed me. I have only often found out by default through regular chats with my sons when a parents evening is scheduled. Schools do not assert themselves to give positive information only bad. Its as if they wish to continue this perpetual myth that children of colour are unmanageable.  

  I challenge my sons schools regularly and I would encourage all parents to do the same. They are drastically out of touch with their teaching methods and need to be told so by as many concerned parents as possible. By way of example, the same history (in fact even most of the same topics using the same dogmatic principles) that I was taught is being taught to my sons now and that was well over 25 years ago. Dispite the advent of computers, animation and powerpoint slides.

  Have things not moved on... schools need a wake up call and parents need to come together and give it to them.

  regards,

  Byron

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  10/10/2008, 11:41 AM :: Posted by Saima Ahmed (Posts 6)

  Re: How much contact do you have with your child's school?

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  So at the end of our first week we appear to have 2 contrasting opinions. One maintains that Black parents are failing to give support to their children and the other, a father, says that he faces continuous barriers to support his childrens education, despite his constant efforts.

  Where do you sit on this debate? Are you a parent who also faces barriers or do you feel that you could do more for your children?

  Are schools and teachers really at fault? Or do teachers find themselves bound by a constraining curriculum that judges their performance how how well pupils are prepared for formal assessments, leaving little time to devote to extra curricular activities such as building strong relationships with parents for children who may require extra support.

  Are you a teacher who feels you could do more to build bridges or do you just not have the time?

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  13/10/2008, 2:52 PM :: Posted by The Analyst (Posts 5)

  Re: How much contact do you have with your child's school?

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  Byron, did you put your complaint to the school in writing? And, have you contact the schools inspectorate, the LEA and the Schools minister? These are the bodies that can ensure schools are doing what they are supposed to do. The fact that your child brought home the notice for parent evening was not an accident that's the way 99% of schools do it. On the issue of history, its worth noting that British history is not world history and so its possibly best if you teach your son about your history giving him the advantage of widening his knowledge base. Had it not been your duty to support your son, I would praise you for your efforts, however, I would encourage you to go further and get an understanding of the methods and language used to write your son’s reports. Keep up the good work. The Analyst

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  31/10/2008, 10:23 AM :: Posted by Saima Ahmed (Posts 6)

  Re: How much contact do you have with your child's school?

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  There are some good suggestions above about how to deal with the barriers that some parents may face. Are these methods effective or are there more effective alternatives?

  The advise offered about teaching world history and going further to get an understanding of the methods and language used to write reports, is excellent. Do you go that extra mile by supporting your childs learning in this way? How do your children respond to such methods and do you feel that it benefits their learning?

  Keep posting your comments as we find them very helpful in understanding the issues that are faced on the ground.

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