Editorials

Forging a strong partnership

Oct 18, 2007 6:02 PM

The latest installment of what by now has become a singularly important event for New York parents and educators, the UFT Parent Conference, was a great success earlier this month. Nearly 3,000 parents attended, an overflow crowd — as has become the norm.

Clearly this conference, which is organized by the union’s Dial-A-Teacher program, answers a pressing need for parents. The only problem is that it is not nearly big enough to accomodate the thousands of parents who want to attend. But why is this also a singularly important event for educators? Because, as they know all too well, education begins and ends at home. Without the continuing commitment and involvement of a child’s family, there is only so much a school can do. The Parent Conference not only underscores this point, but provides parents with practical information and techniques to help them work with their kids and to stay informed and involved.

As always, this year’s event included seminars and workshops on a variety of topics, ranging from dealing with gangs and other pressures that undermine family values to getting youngsters to do their homework. Parents learned techniques for improving communication with their kids and for helping them achieve, to prepare for tests, to evaluate high schools and even to apply for college.

But most of all, the conference emphasizes the value of the teacher-parent partnership. It’s not news that a large majority of parents appreciate their kids’ teachers. In fact, the recent Department of Education survey found that 90 percent of parents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of their children’s teachers.

Building on this solid relationship can have long-range benefits for both parents and educators. As UFT President Randi Weingarten has noted, “A true collaboration between parents and educators is the best way to achieve the broader priorities we both want and that our kids need.” In particular, she cited such goals as smaller class sizes and an enriched curriculum. The greatest winners, of course, when parents and educators work together, are the kids.

So the union will continue to try to forge a strong partnership. In the next few weeks it is distributing to parents an Open School Week guide to help parents get the most out of meeting with their children’s teachers. The UFT also has a vibrant parent outreach operation in every borough. There are parent mini-conferences in the boroughs. The Dial-A-Teacher program, in addition to its homework help every afternoon, runs an extensive lineup of workshops for parents throughout the year. This is a continuous and continuing effort.

And, of course, the jewel in the crown is the annual Parent Conference. Kudos, once again to D-A-T for a tremendously successful — and meaningful — event.