Entry #31: Middle school parent involvement
needs to begin in the early years
Alamo Navajo Community School, New Mexico -- It's graduation
time!! For middle school teachers, this is often when we watch former students
acquire their high school diploma, knowing we helped lay a foundation years
earlier. Any accomplishments in education should be seen as a culmination
of effort with support and guidance from lots of people.
Our family had the privilege of watching 11 seniors graduate from the Alamo
Navajo Community School here in remote New Mexico. This was quite a different
ceremony than those I had previously watched or been a part of. When is
the last time you attended a graduation ceremony in which English was the
second language? In fact, the keynote speaker, a Navajo from the larger
reservation, commented on the uniqueness of this community.
For example, all graduates have gained proficiency in 2 languages, Navajo
and English. This even includes the one "Anglo" senior. In addition,
these Native students have a clearer sense of their roots and heritage than
most Americans due to the mobility of the larger society. How many youth
can say they live in the same place as their parents, grandparents and great
grandparents? Still, there have been many obstacles, some of which are just
beginning to be tackled.
As I mentioned last week, parent involvement in the secondary school is
weak, as are the parenting skills. In the past, students were sent to boarding
schools for many years, and parental influence was reduced dramatically.
The relationship between schools and families was marked by mistrust and
misunderstanding.
The plan now is to build a foundation of trust and positive relationships
starting at the earliest level. That's why I visited with Colleen Alivado,
the director of the early childhood center which is housed in a brand new
building on the reservation next to the K-12 school. Through the F.A.C.E.
program (Family and Child Education), Head Start, Early Intervention and
Early Head Start programs, they offer parents and children from 0-5 years
all the opportunities found anywhere in the country. The vision is to build
relationships with families while meeting the needs of children. Ten parents
spend their day at the center meeting together to share difficulties, gain
skills and then practice them on-site with their children.
Another 70 parents receive home visits each week from one of four trained
staff members. During these 90-minute visits, the parents are taught curriculum
and given projects and materials to use with their children.
While this does not directly relate to middle school, these parents are
breaking down the walls that have existed for generations between home and
school. Even now, the children that have moved on to the elementary grades
have parents that are actually volunteering in their classrooms and monitoring
homework at home. As the years go by and more and more parents experience
this positive relationship, the involvement will improve throughout all
grade levels.
Last week, I met a parent of a first and fifth grader who was involved in
the early childhood center here and now proudly stated that she will continue
to be active clear up to graduation.
It seems to me that while we are expecting increased involvement at the
upper levels, we also need to look at the practices in the early years.
The better this foundation, the more benefits we will reap at the middle
level and above.
So, while we are attending the culmination events at graduation time, let's
not overlook the work that needs to be done at the other end. Hopefully,
it can all add up to some great graduation ceremonies.
Til next week, Darrell
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