AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENT INVOLVEMENT DAY

Parental (father, mother, grandparent, guardian) Involvement: underrated, oversimplified, nonexistent, not appreciated enough. You have heard the rhetoric over and over again regarding the importance of parental involvement in their children’s lives. It permeates the headlines and is part of the repartee of newsmakers such as Bill Cosby or keynote speakers such as Dr. Prothrow-Stith at the recent annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Breakfast. Parent involvement is also an integral part of our community initiative, STEP UP SPRINGFIELD.

It is most important to acknowledge that parents are involved. Their degree of involvement and the perception of that involvement may be the pertinent point for discussion.

Evidence does indicate that parental involvement is important. It makes a difference in the performance of students in school and in the contribution children make to their community. Parents are important players in shaping children’s attitudes and values.

Just because a parent does not attend every school event doesn’t mean they are not involved. There are indeed circumstances in every parent’s life that require them to make difficult choices. Every parent is involved and most wish they could be more involved with their child’s development. Each and every parent cares deeply about their child and desires that child to become an educated and successful adult. Parents want all their children to have “a better life” than they, themselves, have.

Nationally, some African American parents have seized the opportunity to turn parental involvement into political capital. During the month of February, which is Black History Month, February 14 (already a day of love and caring) has been designated as African American Parent Involvement Day. Established in 1994 by Joseph Dulin, the goal of this day is to have Black parents increase their visibility as an ever increasing number of African American parents proclaim their involvement in their childrenlives and reach out to other parents to acknowledge the importance of engagement in their children’s school activities and operations.

In places that have some organizational history, parents sign pledges with schools for what role(s) they will play to be involved with supporting their children’s educational efforts. Individuals in business and community leaders reach out to legislators to provide appropriate funding and improve educational opportunity and equity for all students. School committees and city councils declare resolutions in support of this special day but more importantly for the philosophy behind it.

This writer is not convinced that national recognition is required to show parental commitment to children. But in this arena of questioning and instances where parental involvement is challenged, an effort of this type should be given serious consideration. Information about this national effort is available at www.naapid.org. n