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If parent participation in classrooms is good, why not make it mandatory?
That's the thinking of some in San Jose's Alum Rock Union School District, where a committee is crafting a proposal to require families of all 13,000 students to volunteer at least 30 hours a year at school.
It's a tall order. The disparity in parent volunteers is as wide as the economic rift in the valley, as schools serving affluent families depend on moms and dads to drive on field trips and help with science projects, while schools teaching poor children often lack such involvement.
In Alum Rock, where 88 percent of the students are poor and 54 percent are language-learners, most of its 28 schools don't even have a PTA. But even as some critics warn working parents don't have extra time, trustee Gustavo Gonzalez is pushing volunteerism, citing studies showing that students do better when their parents are involved.
"We're trying to create a culture of strong parent-guardian-family participation in schools," he said.
Although it's not clear whether state law permits districts to require parents to donate time to schools, proponents say that's besides the point. In addition to getting parents to embrace the expectation that they participate on campus, the district wants to persuade principals and teachers to welcome parents in the classroom, Gonzalez said.
Not everyone agrees that mandating volunteerism will work.
Regardless of income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, be promoted, attend school regularly, have better social skills and graduate, according to a study by the Texas-based Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
The school is looking into ways for other parents or community members to "adopt" students whose families face hardships in participating, she said.
Well ... if it becomes mandatory it ceases to be voluntary. By what authority does the school district make and enforce this mandate? I would think that parents would eventually become resentful. They should come up with a more appealing method of urging parents to get more involved.
Well ... if it becomes mandatory it ceases to be voluntary. By what authority does the school district make and enforce this mandate? I would think that parents would eventually become resentful. They should come up with a more appealing method of urging parents to get more involved.
why would you become resentful? Your kid gets a free education. Your participation just helps your kid do better and they love having their parents involved.
It's a new concept, but that doesn't make it a bad idea. I think most people would tell you that the more involved parents are, the more successful kids are. And 30 hours a year is a big 3 hours a month. Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seems like a win-win.
If parent participation in classrooms is good, why not make it mandatory?
That's the thinking of some in San Jose's Alum Rock Union School District, where a committee is crafting a proposal to require families of all 13,000 students to volunteer at least 30 hours a year at school.
It's a tall order. The disparity in parent volunteers is as wide as the economic rift in the valley, as schools serving affluent families depend on moms and dads to drive on field trips and help with science projects, while schools teaching poor children often lack such involvement.
In Alum Rock, where 88 percent of the students are poor and 54 percent are language-learners, most of its 28 schools don't even have a PTA. But even as some critics warn working parents don't have extra time, trustee Gustavo Gonzalez is pushing volunteerism, citing studies showing that students do better when their parents are involved.
"We're trying to create a culture of strong parent-guardian-family participation in schools," he said.
Although it's not clear whether state law permits districts to require parents to donate time to schools, proponents say that's besides the point. In addition to getting parents to embrace the expectation that they participate on campus, the district wants to persuade principals and teachers to welcome parents in the classroom, Gonzalez said.
Not everyone agrees that mandating volunteerism will work.
Regardless of income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, be promoted, attend school regularly, have better social skills and graduate, according to a study by the Texas-based Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
The school is looking into ways for other parents or community members to "adopt" students whose families face hardships in participating, she said.
School district may make volunteering mandatory - San Jose Mercury News
Good idea? I don't think I could give 30 hours. I have always participated in PTA and fundraisers, etc., but haven't volunteered in the classroom since my son was in Kindergarten. What say you?
Forced "labor" is often resented. And Echo Zulu, Chanel and LuckyDan all have valid reasons to not force parents. Since when is education free? Taxpayers (with or without children) pay out the ass to fund the school systems - and even then teachers have to dip into their own pockets to purchase teaching aids, supplies, in some cases food, and anything else they think they may need to do their job or that they feel their students need. The schools' budgets are already over-burdened.
If they want parental involvement (and parents should be involved) the school systems need to stop teaching subjects that are best left to the parents' discretion. And parental interaction should be a pleasant, optimistic experience - not a forced drudgery.
It amazes me that liberals oppose the draft, but have no problem forcing people to do community service or "volunteer" at school. If they really want to encourage parents to participate, why not offer a tax credit to parents who volunteer. This would offer an incentive to parents who want to get lower taxes, and would not turn something that is supposed to be voluntary, and possibly fun, into a mandatory activity, and thus promoting resentment. Making it mandatory is not going to cause parents to care more, it is just going to make some of them show up. If they don't want to be there they are just going to go through the motions.
If parent participation in classrooms is good, why not make it mandatory?
That's the thinking of some in San Jose's Alum Rock Union School District, where a committee is crafting a proposal to require families of all 13,000 students to volunteer at least 30 hours a year at school.
It's a tall order. The disparity in parent volunteers is as wide as the economic rift in the valley, as schools serving affluent families depend on moms and dads to drive on field trips and help with science projects, while schools teaching poor children often lack such involvement.
In Alum Rock, where 88 percent of the students are poor and 54 percent are language-learners, most of its 28 schools don't even have a PTA. But even as some critics warn working parents don't have extra time, trustee Gustavo Gonzalez is pushing volunteerism, citing studies showing that students do better when their parents are involved.
"We're trying to create a culture of strong parent-guardian-family participation in schools," he said.
Although it's not clear whether state law permits districts to require parents to donate time to schools, proponents say that's besides the point. In addition to getting parents to embrace the expectation that they participate on campus, the district wants to persuade principals and teachers to welcome parents in the classroom, Gonzalez said.
Not everyone agrees that mandating volunteerism will work.
Regardless of income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, be promoted, attend school regularly, have better social skills and graduate, according to a study by the Texas-based Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
The school is looking into ways for other parents or community members to "adopt" students whose families face hardships in participating, she said.
School district may make volunteering mandatory - San Jose Mercury News
Good idea? I don't think I could give 30 hours. I have always participated in PTA and fundraisers, etc., but haven't volunteered in the classroom since my son was in Kindergarten. What say you?
Well ... if it becomes mandatory it ceases to be voluntary. By what authority does the school district make and enforce this mandate? I would think that parents would eventually become resentful. They should come up with a more appealing method of urging parents to get more involved.
why would you become resentful? Your kid gets a free education. Your participation just helps your kid do better and they love having their parents involved.
It's a new concept, but that doesn't make it a bad idea. I think most people would tell you that the more involved parents are, the more successful kids are. And 30 hours a year is a big 3 hours a month. Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seems like a win-win.
Slave Labor... Sounds like one of Obama's teaching moments.
Is there anything that you can't blame Obama for? I bet you blame the prez when you can't get your little dick up and your partner laughs at you....and makes you cry.... what a sad fuckwit ...
Slave Labor... Sounds like one of Obama's teaching moments.
No hack shitsack logic here
You're such a pathetic loser that you don't even know how stupid you truly are. I am so glad I don't have to work with low-IQ losers like yourself. I wish America could trade you for 100 Mexicans, but I'm sure Mexico wouldn't have you.
If parent participation in classrooms is good, why not make it mandatory?
That's the thinking of some in San Jose's Alum Rock Union School District, where a committee is crafting a proposal to require families of all 13,000 students to volunteer at least 30 hours a year at school.
It's a tall order. The disparity in parent volunteers is as wide as the economic rift in the valley, as schools serving affluent families depend on moms and dads to drive on field trips and help with science projects, while schools teaching poor children often lack such involvement.
In Alum Rock, where 88 percent of the students are poor and 54 percent are language-learners, most of its 28 schools don't even have a PTA. But even as some critics warn working parents don't have extra time, trustee Gustavo Gonzalez is pushing volunteerism, citing studies showing that students do better when their parents are involved.
"We're trying to create a culture of strong parent-guardian-family participation in schools," he said.
Although it's not clear whether state law permits districts to require parents to donate time to schools, proponents say that's besides the point. In addition to getting parents to embrace the expectation that they participate on campus, the district wants to persuade principals and teachers to welcome parents in the classroom, Gonzalez said.
Not everyone agrees that mandating volunteerism will work.
Regardless of income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, be promoted, attend school regularly, have better social skills and graduate, according to a study by the Texas-based Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.
The school is looking into ways for other parents or community members to "adopt" students whose families face hardships in participating, she said.
School district may make volunteering mandatory - San Jose Mercury News
Good idea? I don't think I could give 30 hours. I have always participated in PTA and fundraisers, etc., but haven't volunteered in the classroom since my son was in Kindergarten. What say you?
