We hear all the time about the need to get parents more involved in the education of their children, and the need is real. But one PTA president in Mississippi went a bit overboard, according to a school principal and at least some parents.
Dr. David Gatlin handed out a survey at a parent-teacher conference at a Jackson, Miss., school that included, as one choice, the line: "No, I do not want to get involved. I want my children to be thieves, drug addicts and prostitutes."
The principal yanked the survey, but Gatlin was unremorseful. "We want people to understand that if they really care about their children, they will get involved in their children's lives and set the proper example for their children."
And if it takes a hard sell, well...
I think the principal was right to yank it. Parents may be fully involved in their children's lives, but not have time to get involved in things like PTA. A working single mother with younger children, for example.
That kind of "hard sell" is more likely to drive people away than motivate them to get involved. Maybe that PTA president needs to come down off his high horse.
Although I would NOT have phrased the question the same way, some times you need to throw out a "zinger" question to gauge whether or not parents are paying attention or just "zoning", especially with their kids.
My wife is a teacher and she sees on a daily how "involved" parents are with thier children. The number of parents that are actively involved with their kids and communicate effectively with the teacher is shrinking. Parents need to make frequent communication with their kid's teacher a # 1 priority.