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Friday, September 23, 2005
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Parent Involvement in Children's Health Education
By Kristina K. Rudiger, MPH, M.Ed. Visit the for more health-related content. Almost everyone agrees that parents are their children's first and most important teachers. They have important knowledge about their child's likes, dislikes, needs, and problems that the school may not be aware of. Parents may also have ideas for improving their child's school. In fact, a study conducted by the American Cancer Society found that 80% of parents wanted health education taught in school and believed it was as important as other core subjects such as math, science, and language skills (Gallup Poll, 1994). Furthermore, studies show that most parents want to be involved in their children's education, but they may not be exactly sure how to go about it, especially if, like most parents, they work during the school day. Some schools express their desire for parent involvement by providing numerous opportunities for parents to interact with each other, with teachers, and with students. One important way parents can become involved in their child's schooling is to be able to exercise any choices available in the selection of course work, programs, or even schools. Many schools are moving toward "school-based management," in which administrators share the responsibility for operating schools with teachers, students, parents, and community members. Parents can become involved in committees, such as a School Health Council, that govern their child's school or join the local parent-teacher association. | |
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