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Teachers at Guan Ai School strongly believe that parents and home education play extremely important roles in the education of their children. However, in the countryside many parents are not conscious of this. On our visits to students’ home, we almost always hear problems about communication between parents, their children and their views on education. Here are some examples:

Upon entering fourth grade, one mother complained that her daughter had stopped talking to her. Upon arriving home, the girl would just drop her bag and go straight to watch the television. .Some parents go away to work for two years and when they return, they discover that their son or daughter has changed and does not open up or speak to them much. The parents don’t know what their children are thinking and have no idea how to communicate with them. It leaves them feeling very worried and helpless to change things.

There is another child who has problems with his studies. His father has placed all responsibility and hope for his improvement on the school saying that he does not understand education.

In light of these issues, we feel that the school has a responsibility to improve the way parents are involved in their children’s education. That’s why we decided to organize Parent Training Meetings.

Inviting parent to be the first participants was not that hard. We chose parents who have been most supportive and trusting of the school so far. We don’t see these parents just as trainees but also as potential members of a parent’s committee that will participate in the school’s strategic decision making. Each teacher nominated around 20 parents. We have great expectations for them and hope that they will become a part of the Guan Ai family
Six teachers planned the meeting. Each of them did a wonderful job and shared with the parents the school’s thinking, direction and goals. Afterwards, they recounted their own methods of teaching children. Through their hard work, they created a warm atmosphere at the meeting and I believe every parent at the event felt it was very worthwhile. This was also reflected in the questionnaire at the end.

The whole meeting was divided up into 3 main parts. First, each teacher introduced to the parents the school’s philosophy, teaching methods, and classroom activities. Afterwards, some teachers gave parents a report on family education and shared their own thoughts as well. Following this, small groups of teachers and students held a discussion about communicating with their children. At the end, each group reported back what they talked about. Overall it can be said these three parts achieved their objectives and most importantly enabled the parents who were at the meeting to understand the main points of the school’s philosophy and the importance of family education. At the same time, it also gave them some useful suggestions and experience.

After the meeting was over, many of the parents stayed behind for quite a long time talking. Some of the parents at the meeting even suggested that we hold more such events. This is only a start but we hope that we can sustain the value of these meetings and that they will become a highlight of the school.

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