As I mentioned earlier my district already has in place a mentoring program for our students but what about mentors for the parents of these students? As a school nurse I work closely with these parents and I see the struggles they go through from my middle class point of view. In discussing this book with our school social worker (she has already read it) she agreed with me and thought our parents needed to form influential relationships and having a “parent aide” would be one way to achieve this. Also, a way to break the cycle of poverty is to educate the parents, especially the mothers of these students in poverty. My social worker and I have decided we intend to start a program of mentoring parents. These mentors will be referred to as “parent aides” and will first undergo a training/screening process before being matched with a particular parent. These parent aides will then go out into the homes and help educate and assist parents as needed with hopes of forming relationships and bonds with these parents. We plan to hold seminars and classes at the schools on subjects such as health care, parenting, money management and even GED preparation. Our mentors will be educators or community members who volunteer their time. The goal of this program is to provide the parents with influential relationships that will provide support and knowledge of the hidden rules of the middle class. Our hope is that the result of this will affect the children in their education and relationships with others.
That sounds like a great idea. I was able to experience working with a Family Service Worker(FSW) and had my eyes open to a whole new view on certain situations. The FSW talked with me about some of these hidden rules and about poverty. It actually helped me out in the classroom and made me see situations with a different eye. As you mention the "parent aides" and being able to help and I was able to do this with my other staff members and help them gain a better understanding about why some children are the way they are. It was very educational to sit down and listen to the FSW and we did have mini workshops about parenting, handling money, cooking, activities, and disciplining and opened the floor to the parents of our students. It was difficult though because we did not have the parent participation that was wanted or needed. We had to keep trying to get more parents to attend and want to attend. They needed incentives to participate.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the beginning to an effective program. This program will not only be helpful to parents but work to build strong bonds between the parents and the school community. Unfortantely, many of those living in poverty have not had a positive experience in the school environment. Therefore, they are reluctant to participate in school events and activities. The "parent aides" can provide these parents with the resources they need to be active in the school community and proactive about the education of their children.
ReplyDeleteThe best way to help someone in need is not only to help them, but also the ones around them. Family, parents, and siblings are the people who influence our students more than anyone else, and that is why helping the parents and families of the student is address the heart of the issue. If we can educate parents on the hidden rules and expectations of what we expect at school, and help guide them in making better and more educated decisions it will lead to higher gains with their children in school. These changes will help the school and home life encouraging the same ideals, therefore making it easier on the students to adjust.
ReplyDeleteThe mentor program is a great way to open lines of communication to parents as well as students from poverty. Just as the students from poverty lack resources, so do parents. The more we can educate the parents the better chance the family has of escaping poverty along with their kids. In my situation finding the appropriate mentors and getting them trained would be a challenge, but would be so beneficial to all involved. Schools are to do what is necessary to educate their students, and helping their parents could be the best way to help our students.
The influence of parents on students, especially those experiencing poverty, is immense. I think the need for mentors or aides for these parents is absolutely present in public schools today. A mentoring program of parents will probably face some challenges. It is going to be difficult to find those willing of being trained and mentor these parents, it may be difficult to get parents in poverty to attend (for reasons including work schedules, personal reservations with schooling and feelings of embarrassment or inadequacy) and it may be a struggle to educate these parents without offending them or making them feel as though they are not "good parents". With all these challenges in mind, I still encourage and support the formation of this program. I even think that it would be beneficial to link the mentors of the students with the parent-aides. If these programs and/or individuals work together they can achieve more and draw from each other's resources. I think both parents and students would benefit and be encouraged by seeing the effort being made by each other to become more educated. Improvement in the relationship between parents and their students could definitely be boosted by a relationship between the two programs.
ReplyDeleteThe mentoring program for students at your school sounds impactful. I really like your idea about having mentors for parents, as well. Parents teach their children what they know. If they do not know about basic life skills or any sort of middle class rules, like good parenting skills or how to manage money, the parents will obviously not be able to teach their children those things. Most parents, no matter the class, want what is best for their children. Having a mentor and offering classes sounds like an excellent way to help them learn what is best for raising their children.
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