Recently at my school, we had a parent meeting and out of 20 parents in the classroom, only 6 parents came to the meeting. Three weeks before the meeting, I discussed with the parents the importance of attending parent meetings because it is a chance to received information about upcoming events, activities that parents can do at home and in school, workshops that are offered, or FYI. Many of the parents said they were coming, and only 6 showed up. Four of the parents were elected members who are required to attend. Teachers, invited guests and representatives can offer parents information that they might not be able to get from somewhere else. These meeting also give parents a chance to socialize and get ideas from other parents who might have be able to help another parent. One thing that I do stress is that in order to be up to be up to date with informtion, sometimes you have to get involved by attending meetings and workshops. Parents can and need to be involved by attending these meetings and parent workshops so they are better able to stay informed. My question is: How do I get parents to attend meetings that will benefit themselves, families and children?
Thanks for your comments,
Yvette :}
Yvette,
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad taht not many parents are coming to the meetings . I had the same deal with my center that I am at now and I use to work at. We planned a back to school night for the parents and had childcare arrangements and still the parents did not come. I had 3 families out of 11 came to the meeting. This concerns me that parents are not interested especially when they say they are coming and I planned around the days that were best for them.
Darlene
Darlene,
DeleteIt is very frustrating to see the turnout at parent meetings. I think parents are interested, but they have someone more important to do. What I don't understand, is what is more important than your child's success in school?
Thanks for your comment.
Yvette,
ReplyDeleteParent involvement is so important and it saddens me to hear about all the parents who don’t seem to care. After reading you and Darlene’s post on lack of involvement to school meetings it made it even sadder. I don't think that parent's understand how important their involvement is for their children. With that being said I think it comes down to the fact that they want to take the extra time in their busy lives to do another thing. I don't feel that this is correct and do think that their children's education should come first. A suggestion to you is what if the school/ center creates a website that parents can log into that was like a news feed of information. Maybe if it is something that they can do at home they would participate. However I think it should be set up sp that each family is given a log in and password so that way the school knows if and when they logged on. It should be in the schools rules that they are required to be actively engaged. At least you are doing what you can to stress the importance of the meetings and them showing up, sadly it is the lack of caring on their end that they don't come. Best of luck!
Well I have a back up parent coming to the meeting I know she doesn't have her two there anymore but she is for my music program that I started there years ago. She still is friends with all the parents there and she will have her newest child there in august when they have their baby. She comes out every year to the convention center event at Holiday show. I always invite her youngest son to be in the show even though he is not enrolled anymore. I am so afraid that the two parents that signed up will not show. What is our parents minds coming to. I hope that I am wrong. I just have to pray on it.
ReplyDeleteTiming...parents are busy and offering the meetings at a variety of times, having the parents sign up for a time might help.
ReplyDelete