Op-Ed by State Rep. Darisha Parker (D-Philadelphia)
When it comes to a child’s education, the importance of parental involvement cannot be overstated. While teachers are obviously a vital part of a child’s educational journey, parents should also be more than just on the sidelines as spectators. At home, parents need to reinforce the efforts that teachers strive to teach their students, not only for the student’s academic success but also for their emotional well-being.
There are many studies that show a positive result in a child’s academic performance when parents are engaged with their child’s school activities. Parental involvement reinforces how important education is for a child and fosters motivation for them to reach their full potential; parents hold the key to their children’s success.
Children often learn by example, therefore when they see a parent who helps with their homework, maintains a positive relationship with their teacher by attending parent-teacher conferences or volunteering in their class, it can instill a lifetime love of learning. A parent’s support for a child’s education means so much in terms of a child’s emotional wellbeing. When we create strong partnerships between parents and teachers, they can work together to address both the academic and social-emotional needs of a child.
When parents become actively engaged in their child’s education – it can also foster a sense of responsibility among parents in other areas of their child’s life and impact society as a whole.
Despite the number of studies that underline these facts, parental involvement with education has decreased substantially. So many barriers exist that prevent parents from being a proactive part of their child’s education such as: language barriers, parents working more than one job, and other socioeconomic disparities. But what is the solution? We can’t make there be more time for parents to sleep, eat and care for their children.
The phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ comes to mind when thinking of solutions to ensure the best outcomes for education. We can start by offering Parent Education programs to empower parents with knowledge about the best ways to be engaged in their children’s education. Workshops that handle topics like effective study habits and navigating the education system can go a long way to set up both parents and students for success.
One way that would help create responsibility for parents greatly is holding them accountable for their children’s actions both in school and outside of it. I believe the biggest way that engaged parents help both their children and society is when they set a good example for their children to follow. If a child grows up in a house with an unsecured firearm, they are more likely to use those weapons against themselves or their peers – 90% of guns used in minor suicides, accidental shootings and school shootings are unsecured and taken from the child’s home.
As a legislator, I see this problem too often in our city. Children who have minor disagreements – usually fueled by social media quarrels – use these unsecured firearms against each other. It’s a more telling sign pointing to a lack of parental involvement. I felt it necessary to introduce legislation that would hold parents civilly liable for their children using an unsecured firearm in a crime. House Bill 941 would provide accountability for parents and hopefully enhance the sense of responsibility for parents.
We should celebrate parents when they put time and effort into being an active part of their child’s education. Being a parent in today’s world is difficult because most find themselves working harder and longer hours, leaving little time to being fully engaged with their child. Showing them appreciation encourages them to be there and fosters an environment of mutual appreciation for parents, teachers and students – setting up a lifetime of appreciation and respect for education as a whole.
State Rep. Darisha Parker
D-Philadelphia
www.RepDarisha.com
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.