HispanicVista Columnists
Parental Involvement Key to Latino/American Education (Part 2)
By Manuel Hernandez-Carmona
March 19, 2007
- Parental Involvement Key to Latino/American Education (Part 2)
- By Manuel Hernandez-Carmona
- How can Latino children compete in a new global-tech academic world without the support of an adult from the household? It's simply impossible. How can our children be part of an academic society when they feel a lack of parental involvement in schools? How will we as leaders of our children see it that they receive a better education? We must participate, assist and get involved in our children's education. There are no options here. It's a must! There will be more educational reforms tomorrow, but our involvement in education can only be improved by ourselves today. It's not a matter of time but a matter of priority.
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- (The author is a proud parent of a senior in high school and works as a high school English teacher in the same school his first born will be graduating from with honors in May of 2007. He is also the author-editor of the textbook, Latino/a Literature in The English Classroom) Contact at: mannyh32@hotmail.com
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About the author: Hernandez-Carmona lives in Naguabo, Puerto Rico and enjoys spending his free time with his beautiful wife, Maria and his seventeen-year old son, Jose Manuel and his newborn son, Josue Esteban. He is a disciple at Abundant Life Church in Fajardo. Also visit: http://www.puertoricans.com/
(Editor's note: Manuel Hernandez-Carmona created a Yahoogroup for the discussion of literature and education. HispanicVista highly recommends this effort and urges its readers to join and participate. Write to Manuel at: mannyh32@yahoo.com or visit and join at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/latinoliterature
Parental involvement is not only a concern, but federal and state educational requirements have made it an essential element in education today. Because states are taking a much more involved role in education, parental involvement has become a major factor and a key to Latino/American education. Educational programs in cities across the United States have stopped undermining its influence and are finding ways to get parents more active in school and supportive of their children's education.
Different forms of school participation in education are being promoted today to effectively pinpoint the area of academic need in a child's educational development. American Latino parents may be busy with a full-time and one or two part-time jobs but without a doubt can support their children's schooling by attending plays, extra-curricular activities or other school functions and responding to school obligations. If they cannot become more involved by helping in their children's assignments, schools are providing intensive one on one tutoring programs after school which may be resourceful. These are not new ideas. But parental involvement is a partner in a child's educational resources that must be established as a priority by all the participants in the educational arena.
Studies support that parent involvement in children's learning is positively connected to academic achievement. In addition, research shows that the more actively parents are involved in their children's education, the more positive are the results. Further research demonstrates that there are strong findings that the most effective forms of parent involvement are those which place parents in working directly with their children on educational activities in the home. We American Latino parents have no excuses and in due time will be held accountable by our children's academic downfall or success.