Links Between Parents and Schools

It is imperative for modern-age parents to constantly bear in mind that their responsibility for their child's education does not end merely with getting him/her admitted in a reputed schools and paying his/her fees on time. Nor does it end with attending parent- teacher meetings and checking progress reports. Rather it involves all this and more.

With students

Parents can help in the multifarious activities and functions going on in the school all round the year, in more ways than one. For instance, they could share information with students, teachers or a class about general health, information about an upcoming career, or a hobby. Moreover you could disseminate personalised information to the students about a place or country you visited or lived in. Interact with students to induce the importance of human/social values in them. Try tutoring one or a small group of students in reading, developing skills, coach students taking part in an academic competition, quiz, debate, decalamtion etc. Similarly you could coach an athletic or sports team for a particular game, which you were good/proficient in.



This list is virtually endless. You could perform any or all of the following: Demonstrate art/dance/music/cooking from a particular area /country or culture to students. This will enhance their knowledge about the world. Try sharing a particular expertise with the school's faculty, e.g. use of computers, dealing with disruptive students. Help students plan and build an outdoor garden, rockery, cacti collection or a similar project to beautify the outside of the school.

These days, high school students undergo a lot of stress and strain, tensions and emotional turmoil, in their everyday lives and more particularly during their final examinations. This is where you, as a concerned and sympathetic parent, could step in and help the students in relieving stress.

With other parents



Share your views with other parents about the quality of education in the school. Give other parents some tips for develop their parenting skills. Help conduct a class for parents where they can learn methods of being stronger and better parents. If you do possess some literary skills you could produce some written articles /materials for parents on ways they can be more effective parents. Even otherwise, try to write, publish, and distribute a list of parenting tips. Whenever you get an opportunity, serve on an advisory or decision-making committee, serve as an officer in the school's PTA. Help design a parent or student survey for the school. Ensure that such surveys get conducted in an effective manner.

How can I contribute my time towards the welfare
of my children' s school?

* Help and organise study tours for the students to business organisations, industries, corporate houses production centres and similar places where the students can gather information and learn about various activities.
* Help set up an internship or apprenticeship for a student at your business, organization, or agency.
* Host a one-day 'shadow study' for a few small group of senior students about career prospects in business world or corporate organization.
* Go on a local field trip with a teacher and a group of students.
* Alternatively go on an extended cross-country field trip with a teacher & students.
* Contact a particular local business houses and organization regarding possible cooperation.

Is it possible to do some PR work for my child's school?

Yes, you could try out some or all of the means, underlined below:

* Contact a particular local business or organization regarding possible cooperation.
* Write a letter to the government officials about the school.
* Write a letter to school board members about the school, suggesting some improvements and developments
* Go to another school to provide information about this school.
* Help translate information regarding the school into a language other than English or vice -versa.
* Help translate at a parent-teacher conference for people who don't speak English well and/or vice-versa.
* Write an article about the school's activities and salient features and get it published in one or more reputed periodicals.
* Help arrange for a political leader (mayor/MLA/MP/Governor, city council/ state representative) to visit the school to preside over a function or event.

Can I financially contribute to the development of the school where my ward studies?

Outlined below are some simple methods in which you could do this:

* Help to finalise a proposal to the local or governing body that would bring new resources to the school.
* Donate materials to the school.
* Arrange for a business establishment or an industrial to donate useful materials and utility items to the school.
* Organise a fundraiser for the school, from time to time

Education as a Fundamental Right in India

It has taken 73 years for making education a fundamental right for all children between 6 and 14 years of age. The right to education was there since the framing of the Indian Constitution but it was not enforced by law for all primary school going children. Education is a vital aspect of economic growth which has taken decades to be realized.

With education a child realizes the importance of resources and their judicious utilization. In addition to learning proper use of resources the value of human capital increases with formal education. Of all forms of resources, human resource is perhaps the most versatile and most yielding. Investment in human capital is thus the wisest form of investment for any economy, and particularly for a developing nation like India.

The implementation of this act in the grass root level may not be a smooth task. For the poorer section of the Indian population who survive in the marginal level, education might be a luxury. Children as soon as they attain 10 or 11 years of age are sent for menial jobs to add to the family’s income. It is not only important to educate such parents about the importance of informal education, but also find enough avenues of alleviating their economic well-being.