1.0
Introduction
2.0
Need
3.0
Structure
4.0
Status
1. Introduction
Parents are their children's first and most important teachers.
Parents are the experts on their children as they have known
them longer and know them better than anyone else. They are
their children's best advocates and source of support. Thus,
they must be equal partners with schools and the education process.
Research studies consistently reveal that high student achievement
and self-esteem are closely related to positive parental participation
in education. Parents and schools need to work together so that
all children can succeed. Becoming involved in children's education
can take many forms - from talking to children at home about
school, to helping them with homework, or helping them resolve
problems which arise at school, to being involved with school-related
organizations. It involves, also, talking to children, about
a wide range of issues, encouraging them to be thoughtful, creative,
and innovative. Parents do not need to be experts on education
to be productively involved in their children's education. What
they do need is to know that their concern, participation and
simply being there for their children will make the difference.
Education is a very human partnership.
It depends for its strength, to a great degree, on how teachers
and parents feel about each other and what they do to meet each
other's needs.
2. Need
There are several reasons why parents need to be involved
in the education of their children
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Education includes more than just being in the classroom.
The society today requires much more than basic education.
It rewards creativity, the ability to work together, the
ability to put information together in new ways, curiosity,
questioning, and asking questions. Students' participation
in extra-curricular activities like sports, school clubs,
music, and theater, is part of this development process
and should receive as much support from parents as classroom
work |
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The workplace today, strongly emphasizes on collaborative
interpersonal relationships. This means that children's
friendships and relationships with other students are
an important part of their education and learning experience.
Parents need to be involved in the education of their
children to consciously develop the teamwork spirit rather
than an unhealthy 'competitive' spirit by asking children
to 'come first' in the class. |
|
Research consistently confirms that family involvement
is a powerful influence on children's achievement in school.
When families are involved in their children's education,
children earn higher grades and scores on tests, attend
school more regularly, complete more homework, and demonstrate
more positive attitudes and behavior than students with
less involved families. |
Need
for the Parents Program
|
Today, Indian parents are bringing up children in a
society that is different from the one in which they themselves
grew up in. The rapid changes in society, the easy access
to information, the 'competition' factor, the nuclear
family unit, and a scenario where both parents are working
have placed enormous pressure on parents today. |
|
How a child performs in school is a combination of 'nature'
and 'nurture'. It is critical therefore, that parents
take a close look at their own parenting and nurturing
styles, understand the complexities of parenting and then
finally be a 'Partner' to the teacher in the school, so
that their children can achieve holistic development besides
academic success. For this it is important that a parent
should be willing to learn, to ask questions, and to be
trained on newer techniques, which will help them to be
proactive parents. |
3. Structure
The Parents Program is an integral part of The Wipro Applying
Thought In Schools initiative. It aims to help parents to be
involved in the education of their children and play a proactive
role in terms of shaping how the child grows up. The parent
modules aim towards parents who are:
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Informed
about the latest developments in the field of education
and the changes happening in the school as a result of
the Wipro Applying Thought in Schools Program. |
|
Inspired
to effectively participate in the education and
comprehensive development of their children. |
|
Empowered
with a variety of simple hands-on strategies and techniques
so that they are able to foster learning at home. |
Participation of parents is required to create support for the
changes that are being brought about in the school. Our vision
is to assist parents in discovering and developing their natural
ability to relate easily and joyfully with children. Utilizing
self-reflection, experiential exercises and discussion, every
workshop assists parents to gain new insights to being effective
parents.
4. Status
The Parents Program launched in Bangalore in December
2002. It reached out to parents from schools which are part
of the Wipro Applying Thought In Schools initiative. It launched
in few schools in Hyderabad in December 2003. It would launch
in Delhi and Mumbai in January 2004. Incase you are interested
in attending a session in the following cities, click on the
link below
Bangalore
Hyderabad
Delhi
Mumbai
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