Parental Involvement

A recent independent survey conducted by HotChalk details the attitudes of teachers towards their jobs and resources. The findings show a growing concern among teachers that they are not receiving adequate support from parents. Perhaps the most disconcerting finding in the study is that 65% of teachers believe that parents find teachers to be completely responsible for their child’s education and academic progress.

Edward Fields, chairman and CEO of HotChalk, commented, “Parents often place the burden on teachers for shouldering every bit of responsibility for the education of their children. In reality, educational success of our nation’s youth requires a serious team effort beyond the bi-annual parent-teacher conference. Teachers cannot succeed without consistent parental involvement in the education process. If the parent isn’t connected to their own child’s education, they are not preparing a child to be successful. Period.”

Mr. Fields, along with his company’s survey, poses a serious question to today’s parents; how do we become involved, support, and raise our children’s education? Early literary studies show that reading is perhaps the best way to straighten our children’s educational path. In the year 2000, the National Research Council found that the majority of reading and educational problems faced by today’s adolescents and adults was the result of problems that might been avoided or resolved in their early childhood years. A separate study conducted by the National Commission on Reading found that, “The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school”.

With the advent of Speakaboos.com and other popular story book sites, today’s parents can find the neccessary resources to advance their children’s education head-on. Lower income families who are not privvy to a large library of children’s books can now interact with their children’s educational progress, without having to worry about the expense. Speakaboos has also worked with educators to make sure that all the materials we provide are educational and appropriate. Future interactive tools like “Record Your Own” and a diary feature will also help children develop proper speech, language, and writing skills. With these tools, along with the local library, our children’s school, and our ongoing involvement, we can take a proactive stance in our children’s education and become a teacher at home.