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Guest Column: Involved parents are crucial

By April Walker/Guest columnist

Puyallup School District’s slogan is, “When parents get involved, student achievement soars!” That is a given.

You have heard these words time and time again. Have you ever seen the data that backs the statement up? Does the data show any difference between parent involvement at home versus at school?

In the last few months I have read several articles in The News Tribune about parental involvement in addressing the difference in the academic achievement of white students versus students of color, particularly African-American students.

In both articles, the writers seem to be blaming the parents. One said the students don’t achieve equally because there was no father in the home of the African–American students. In another the writer insinuated parents are more interested in what was on TV than in their children’s academic success.

Are you kidding me? Where is the outrage? As I read letters to the editor in the following days, I didn’t see these articles addressed at all.

I don’t know any African –American parents who are not interested in the success of their children at school. Not any. We want our children to succeed just like parents of other races do. What we may not know is exactly how to go about getting involved.

Many times we make the effort to come to the school. We join the parent groups and volunteer for the book fair or the carnival and then later are told our help is not needed.

Parent leaders tell us they don’t see the need for all this diversity and outreach stuff.

Is there any wonder why ethnic minority parents say that school parent groups are not very welcoming to them?

Minority parents must take the responsibility to get involved no matter what. If parent groups are not welcoming, find other ways.

The education of our children is at stake. One simple thing parents can do is to make it a goal every year to learn the name of every student in your child’s classroom. It may only take one hour a month spent in your child’s’ classroom or a few minutes out on the playground during recess. Do you know how wonderful your child will think you are for knowing the names of all of their classmates? Also keep up with your child’s schoolwork. Check their homework. Put it on the refrigerator or in a scrapbook. Read with them daily.

Research shows that in African-American families, the involvement is lesser than Caucasian parents. However once African-Americans get involved, the level of achievement is amazing. It makes a huge difference. So the question becomes how can we help and encourage these parents to get more involved? It is so easy to point the finger and sit back and criticize. It takes work and effort to reach out and help minority parents succeed in becoming involved which will in turn lead to the greater success of all of our students no matter what race they are.

April Walker lives in Puyallup and would love to hear from you at awphgc@yahoo.com.