Parents and Schools

Unprecedented efforts are being made across the country to boost the role of parents in schools. Teachers and grass-roots parents' groups as well as the Education Department and education associations have joined a campaign to encourage new efforts by parents as the key to raising student achievement. Though the strategies include the traditional methods of PTA membership and help with homework, parental involvement 1990s-style has broadened to include creation of parent centers at schools, adult education classes on parenting and even parent participation in school governance. Teachers and administrators, however, sometimes worry that parents are challenging their professionalism. And parents, always prone to displays of passion over the emotional subject of schools, are quick to become divided over school politics.