Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in the Department of Planning and Administration in the University of Zululand, 2004. / The present study examines principals, educators and parents' partnership in creating a culture of teaching and learning in schools. The first aim was to ascertain the extent to which parents, educators and principals play a partnership role in creating a culture of teaching and learning. The second aim was to ascertain the extent to which parents, educators and principals perceive problems that contribute to the decline of a culture of teaching and learning. The third aim was to determine whether parents' educators' and principals' biographical factors such as gender, age, academic qualification nature of stakeholder as well as the highest grade of the school have any influence on their partnership role which they play in creating a culture of teaching and learning. The last aim was to determine whether parents, educators and principals' biographical factors such as gender, age, academic qualification, nature of stakeholder as well as the highest grade of the school have any influence on their perception of problems that contribute to the decline of a culture of teaching and learning. To this end, a questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of two hundred and four parents, educators and principals, inclusively. The findings reveal that parents, educators and principals, as a group, differ in the extent to which they play a partnership role in creating the culture of teaching and learning. A very high percentage (97.5%) of parents, educators and principals, as a group, report an above average level of partnership role. The findings also show that parents, educators and principals differ in the extent to which they perceive problems that contribute to the decline of a culture of teaching and learning. A very high percentage (90.2%) of parents, educators and principals, as a group, report an above average level of perception of problems that contribute to the decline of culture of teaching and learning. The findings further indicate that, with the exception of the nature of stakeholder, parents', educators' and principals' personal variables such as gender, age, academic qualification as well as schools' highest grade have no influence on their partnership role which they play in creating a culture of teaching and learning. The last findings show that parents', educators' and principals' biographical characteristics have no influence on their perception of problems that contribute to the decline of culture of teaching and learning. On the basis of the findings of this study, recommendations to the Department of Education and Culture as well as for directing future research were made.

The purpose of this study was to explore parent-school interactions in an early childhood education setting from a micropolitical perspective. Relying on the interpretivist perspective, a case study was undertaken as the methodology for exploring the interests, conflicts, strategies, and the patterns of interactions between parents, teachers, and administrators. This research was conducted in a private non-profit community-based early childhood development center in central Texas. Data were gathered through interviews, observations, the school documents collection, and field notes. The researcher first portrayed a general image of parent-school interactions at the research setting, the Big Bend Child Development Center (BBCDC). The BBCDC created an open and friendly environment for children and their parents based on the center’s philosophy and the Developmentally Appropriated Practice guidelines. Most of the parent-school interactions happened in informal arenas. Administrators and teachers provided different ways to get parents involved, and daily communication played an important role in building relationships within the BBCDC. Moreover, parents actively got themselves involved. Under the context of the BBCDC, parents’ school choice, the non-deficit discourse, and the process of socialization helped to reduce tension between parents, teachers, and administrators. Three groups of participants developed their own strategies of working with each other. Two types of strategies were found, including day-to-day strategies and facing-conflict strategies. All the day-to-day strategies were also used during the process of managing conflicts. The day-to-day strategies were “preparatory strategies” (Malen & Cochran, 2008), which were employed to accumulate resources that might be converted to influence at a later time. By analyzing the strategies, the researcher found that relationships, information, and authority were all resources of power which these three groups of participants gave every effort to gain. Four patterns of politics were found in this study, including operating cooperation, facing conflict, preventing conflict, and suppressing conflict. The important roles of administrators and daily communication on the micropolitics of parent-school interactions were discussed. Based on the findings, the researcher suggested implications for early childhood education administrators, for early childhood education research from a micropolitical perspective, and for future research. / text

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Conflict resolution strategies in special education are necessary in view of increased disability and civil rights legislation impacting schools. With increase in federal laws and regulations comes an increase in parental expectations and unclear interpretations of "what is right" and "what is legal" regarding meeting the educational needs of students with disabilities. The purpose of the study was to identify factors that escalate and de-escalate parent-school conflict in special education and to understand the special education mediation process from the perspectives of parents, school officials and mediators in Massachusetts. Data were collected through telephone interviews with 44 participants. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Parent participants had experienced special education mediation either during the school year 1995-1996 or 1996-1997. School officials and mediators had experienced multiple special education mediations. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze data. Eight categories of factors that escalate parent-school conflict in special education were identified: (a) Discrepant Views of a Child's Needs, (b) Knowledge, (c) Service Delivery, (d) Valuation, (e) Reciprocal Power, (f) Constraints, (g) Communication, and (h) Trust. Participants in each group revealed that the mediation process was of value even though one may not achieve the desired outcome. Strengths of the mediation process were identified in the areas of its ability to provide disclosure, empower participants, provide opportunity for communication, provide suitable outcomes, strengthen relationships and provide a pragmatic approach to problem-solving. Limitations of mediation were reported in it's ability to be misused by participants seeking opportunities for fact-finding and it's lack of ability to be enforced. Results indicated that training in conflict handling strategies is needed by parents and school officials. Results of the study supported using early intervention conflict identification and resolution strategies so that conciliatory attitudes and trust might be preserved in parent-school relationships. / Ed. D.

O presente estudo procurou avaliar o grau de envolvimento dos pais, das classes sociais média-alta e alta na educação escolar dos filhos. Para isso, algumas escolas que atendem a esse público foram procuradas com a solicitação da permissão de conversar com algumas das famílias de seus alunos. A seleção das escolas particulares da cidade de São Paulo foi feita a partir dos resultados de seus alunos no exame do ENEM (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio): escolheu-se uma escola com boa colocação (entre as dez primeiras), uma com colocação média (entre as 60 primeiras) e uma que não obteve bons resultados. O instrumento para a coleta de dados foi a entrevista semi-estruturada com casais de pais ou apenas com a mãe. Foram realizadas 13 entrevistas, totalizando 21 entrevistados. A análise dos resultados revelou que esses pais e mães, contrariando estereótipos e/ou crenças comuns a respeito do envolvimento dos pais na vida escolar dos filhos, mostraram-se muito envolvidos com a escolaridade dos filhos e afirmaram não delegar à escola tarefas como a formação de valores e o estímulo à disciplina. A ideia de diferentes estudiosos de que a família vive uma crise de valores e de autoridade e que delega à escola tarefas que não se sente capaz de realizar não foi corroborada neste estudo. Em face dos resultados, foram sugeridos alguns caminhos para que a escola possa desenvolver uma parceria efetiva com as famílias de seus alunos: estabelecer relações simétricas e de corresponsabilidade com os pais e oferecer a eles espaços de debate e reflexão sobre questões que vivenciam no dia-a-dia com seus filhos. / This study aimed to assess the degree of involvement of both high middle-class and upper class families in their children\'s education. The selection of private schools in São Paulo, SP, was based on students\' performance at ENEM (National High School Standardized Examination). Three kinds of schools were chosen: one ranking among the top ten first, one from the sixty top first, and one whose performance was below average. A semi-structured interview was used as the instrument for the collection of data. Thirteen interviews with couples or with just the mother were carried out, totaling 21 interviewees. The analysis of the results shows that those parents, contradicting stereotypes and widespread beliefs about parent involvement in their children\'s learning process, are in fact deeply involved, and do not delegate the school to teach students such things as moral values and discipline. The idea shared by various scholars that families are at present undergoing both a value and an authority crisis and that they expect their children\'s school to do what they feel unable to do has not been corroborated by this study. In face of the results obtained, some suggestions have been put forward on how the school might develop an effective partnership with students\' families: establishing symmetric and coresponsible relationships with parents and offering them an opportunity to stir up debate and reflection on the issues they experience with their children on an everyday basis.

O presente estudo procurou avaliar o grau de envolvimento dos pais, das classes sociais média-alta e alta na educação escolar dos filhos. Para isso, algumas escolas que atendem a esse público foram procuradas com a solicitação da permissão de conversar com algumas das famílias de seus alunos. A seleção das escolas particulares da cidade de São Paulo foi feita a partir dos resultados de seus alunos no exame do ENEM (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio): escolheu-se uma escola com boa colocação (entre as dez primeiras), uma com colocação média (entre as 60 primeiras) e uma que não obteve bons resultados. O instrumento para a coleta de dados foi a entrevista semi-estruturada com casais de pais ou apenas com a mãe. Foram realizadas 13 entrevistas, totalizando 21 entrevistados. A análise dos resultados revelou que esses pais e mães, contrariando estereótipos e/ou crenças comuns a respeito do envolvimento dos pais na vida escolar dos filhos, mostraram-se muito envolvidos com a escolaridade dos filhos e afirmaram não delegar à escola tarefas como a formação de valores e o estímulo à disciplina. A ideia de diferentes estudiosos de que a família vive uma crise de valores e de autoridade e que delega à escola tarefas que não se sente capaz de realizar não foi corroborada neste estudo. Em face dos resultados, foram sugeridos alguns caminhos para que a escola possa desenvolver uma parceria efetiva com as famílias de seus alunos: estabelecer relações simétricas e de corresponsabilidade com os pais e oferecer a eles espaços de debate e reflexão sobre questões que vivenciam no dia-a-dia com seus filhos. / This study aimed to assess the degree of involvement of both high middle-class and upper class families in their children\'s education. The selection of private schools in São Paulo, SP, was based on students\' performance at ENEM (National High School Standardized Examination). Three kinds of schools were chosen: one ranking among the top ten first, one from the sixty top first, and one whose performance was below average. A semi-structured interview was used as the instrument for the collection of data. Thirteen interviews with couples or with just the mother were carried out, totaling 21 interviewees. The analysis of the results shows that those parents, contradicting stereotypes and widespread beliefs about parent involvement in their children\'s learning process, are in fact deeply involved, and do not delegate the school to teach students such things as moral values and discipline. The idea shared by various scholars that families are at present undergoing both a value and an authority crisis and that they expect their children\'s school to do what they feel unable to do has not been corroborated by this study. In face of the results obtained, some suggestions have been put forward on how the school might develop an effective partnership with students\' families: establishing symmetric and coresponsible relationships with parents and offering them an opportunity to stir up debate and reflection on the issues they experience with their children on an everyday basis.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION in the Department of Educational Psychology of the UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND, 1998. / The aim of this study was to pursue an investigation on parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning. From the literature study it became evident that education in South Africa has collapsed in many schools. The majority of schools of the former education departments responsible for Black education are characterised by a high failure rate, early school dropout, a lack of discipline, low morale and an anti-academic attitude amongst pupils. To these schools very little has changed since 1994. It would appear that a "culture of teaching and learning" in these schools does not exist. The ongoing turmoil in these schools underscores the failure of parents and principals to work together as partners in assuming responsibility for creating a culture of learning. Creating a culture of learning involves a collaborative act between parents and principals. Neither the parent nor the principal alone can fulfil the task of educating the child adequately. In the interest of the education of the child, the contact and cooperation between parents and principals should denote a partnership. Although the premise exists that parents (child's primary educator) and principals (child's secondary educator) are indispensable partners for creating a culture of learning, the situation is far from satisfactory. A huge majority of schools in the previously disadvantaged African community has failed badly. The causes for the absence of a learning culture can be attributed to factors concerning the pupils, factors concerning the school environment, problems concerning the homes of pupils and their living environment as well as the lack of parental involvement in the formal education of their children. Parents and principals as educators have a vital role to play in creating a culture of learning. Parents should have no uncertainties as to their educational responsibilities as primary educators. Principals are both educational leaders and managers and their primary task or responsibility is to ensure that effective teaching and learning takes place at their schools. For the purpose of the empirical investigation two separate self-structured questionnaires for parents and principals were utilised. In addition five postulates pertaining to a partnership between parents and principals were formulated to give direction to this study. The questionnaires that were completed by parents and principals were analyzed and thereafter the data that were obtained was processed and analyzed. This study has confirmed that a meaningful partnership between the parents and the principals is lacking in the majority of schools with regard to the mutual sharing of: * responsibilities; * information; * decision-making; * skills; and * accountability. In conclusion a summary was presented and based on the findings of this study, the following are some of the recommendations that were made: * Effective media-based parent education programme on parental involvement must be instituted. * The establishment of schools as community learning centres must receive immediate attention. * The principal must receive training in and accept responsibility tor initiating parental involvement. The Department of Education and Culture must: ° ensure that parents and principals are encouraged and supported to become partners in creating a culture of learning by providing them with the necessary guidelines and information; ° make certain that workshops, seminars, lectures and in-service training programmes are conducted for principals on school management and parental involvement; ° provide all members serving on Governing Bodies full training and support in the responsible exercise of their duties, powers and functions; and ° actively propagate the importance of nurturing a harmonious partnership between parents and principals by promoting mutual trust, respect, loyalty, frankness and understanding for each other. The teaching profession and teacher unions must assume responsibility for creating a culture of learning. The principals and inspectors must ensure that effective teaching is taking place at schools. In undertaking their teaching responsibilities, teachers must become highly professional. The principals and teacher unions must take disciplinary actions against those teachers who violate the code of conduct for teachers.

This family histories research study uses life history methods to explore narratives of parents’ lives regarding ways in which they socialize their children and engage school staff around issues of race and racism. The information gathered is from interviews with the two primary participants, two focus groups; one with each primary participant and the adults with whom they are raising their elementary school (Pre-K to Grade-5) children, and follow-up interviews with both primary participants. The first finding in this study is that the family life stories in both families play a direct role in socializing their children, in that the parents have shared many of their life stories related to race and racism with one another and their children prior to and regardless of this study. The second finding is that the family life stories in both families play a role in their engagement with school staff around issues of race and racism. Both findings are revealed within the themes of overt racism, covert racism, awakening (the process of one suddenly realizing something he/she had never realized), and closeness (the feeling of some level of emotion or personal connection). Also discussed, following the themes and findings, is the commonality between the two families in this study, enrolling their children in the same racially and culturally diverse International Baccalaureate school. Recommendations include: bringing to the attention of educational leaders and policy-makers the advantages of analyzing ones’ own history; providing the opportunity for voices most often unheard to be listened to and heard by policy-makers and decision makers; and that further research into the impact of policies that are intended to address issues related to race, racism, and other equal opportunity and/or anti-discrimination efforts are confirmed impactful through the voices of individuals.

This qualitative study investigated parents’ and principals’ expectations of their roles in the parent-school relationship and how they defined, encouraged, and realized parental involvement within an urban Catholic high school setting. Through pattern analysis and axial coding of the data collected from parents and principal interviews, documents, and observations at parent-school meetings and events, four patterns emerged: (a) the underlying child-centered mission, (b) the parents’ role in supporting the student, (c) the parent-school relationship created to support the student, and (d) the principals’ role in creating a trusting environment that promotes parental involvement. Further analysis was guided by the parental involvement frameworks of Epstein (2001) and Barton, Drake, Perez, St. Louis, and George (2004) and the Catholic school mission. The findings revealed that the child-centered goal guided the parents’ and principals’ expectations of shared responsibilities, although the parents varied in how they defined parental involvement activities. Parents expressed the importance of the school’s role in creating a caring and respectful environment that encouraged a strong parent-school relationship. The principals addressed the Catholic school mission and how they developed the school culture, climate, and environment to support that mission. This study author concluded that Catholic schools have the opportunity to create strong parent-school relationships that encourage differentiated parental involvement. In addition, she concluded that the role of all schools is to provide a relationship built on trust and the knowledge that parental involvement requires consideration of the varied types of involvement and ways in which parents choose to mediate the types of parental involvement.

This study is an historical study of parent participation in school level decision making, particularly in curriculum issues, in relation to the Victorian Government policies of Devolution through the 1980s. It was conducted as a case study of one rural secondary school, examining how the role of parents in the school�s curriculum development and associated decision making structures may have changed during the decade from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. Three conceptual models were established, which served as analytical frameworks for the field data: a Theory model of how school level participation could operate, a Policies model deriving from the expectations of the major Government policies of the time, and an Historical model based on research and analyses of practice in Australia and overseas. The findings indicate that little effective parent participation developed or took place in the school over the period under study. Major contributing factors identified are the lack of policy direction and official mechanisms, especially in implementation of change, the definition of appropriate participant roles, the culture of traditional authorities in education (teacher in the classroom, principal in school processes and bureaucracy in administration), and the local factors of community attitudes and demographic profile. While the local factors are significant, it is concluded that the policies did not provide sufficient direction or mechanism to overcome the entrenched culture of traditional authorities in schooling. Changes in practice were directed more by the influence of specific personalities in single situations than any development of general attitude or institutional structure.