The study aimed firstly to explore whether there were any differences in the quality of parent-child interactions in those children who scored high and those who scored low on the Pupil Behavior Rating Scale. Sixty-five pupils were randomly selected and rated on the Pupil Behavior Rating Scale concurrently by the teacher and the researcher. Ten of the highest performers and 10 lowest performers were then studied predominantly by the use of a questionnaire constructed by the researcher. However, the results of the study was hampered by the use of the questionnaire in that, unlike participant observation, it only showed differences in a limited number of areas. Much useful information, however, was obtained about the two groups of families, especially relating to socio-economic variables and attitudes to pre-schoo1 education. A second aim was to investigate the role of the social worker in promoting parental involvement in pre-schoo1 education. Here, the utilization of a needs assessment profile indicated that groupwork and social work intervention aimed at teachers were possible ways to promote parental involvement in pre-school education. An intervention programme was thus planned and executed by the researcher which confirmed that the social worker can be a useful resource in promoting home-school relations. Recommendations were made in regard to the role of the social worker, how the school system can be improved to promote parental involvement, and suggestions on future research. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1987.

In school library research programs involving enquiry-based learning, a challenge for students doing research emerges when they take their projects home and turn to their parents for assistance. Often parents do not have sufficient knowledge of the research program and critical thinking to be able to effectively help their children. Many of them are unfamiliar with an inquiry-based research process and this inevitably leads to anxiety for both parents and children. A literature review revealed that parents do want to help their children at home with schoolwork, but are confused about the amount and kind of assistance they should provide. Moreover, research on parent involvement in school library research programs is virtually nonexistent, which stimulated the researcher to conduct this study. The purpose of this study was to investigate a parent/teacher-librarian (PTL) collaboration process intended to assist parents wanting to help their children more effectively with research homework. Before the implementation of this study, a school library research program was well-established (1988-1999), but it included no formal integration of parent involvement. The study investigated (a) parent, student, and teacher-librarian concerns that arose during collaboration, (b) resolutions of those concerns, (c) techniques that facilitated collaboration and parent assistance, and (d) the benefits and disadvantages of the collaboration process. One questionnaire was mailed at the beginning of the study to the parents of all 72 grade seven students in one Lower Mainland elementary school and, as a final evaluation, a second questionnaire was mailed to the parents of 28 grade seven students who had committed time to be in the study. Between the two questionnaires, a subset of eight parents and their corresponding children became primary subjects and were interviewed after they had worked with their children on research question formulation at home. Previous to working with their children, these eight parents had received a detailed overview of the student research program, two training sessions with the teacher-librarian and a variety of options for communicating directly with her at any time during the study. A major objective of the study was to collaboratively solve the major concerns that emerged during the study and a procedure was developed for that purpose. The parents and teacher-librarian together created guidelines for future parent involvement where resolutions of the concerns were stated. The greatest concern for all parties was the dilemma of balancing the student desire for independence and ownership of the projects with the parents' offer of help. The guidelines helped clarify the right kind of assistance for parents to give, while the overview and two training sessions increased parents' research knowledge base and allowed them to suggest improvements to strengthen the collaboration process and the library program. Because the PTL collaboration process provided all participants with more benefits than disadvantages, both the parents and teacher-librarian unanimously agreed that the PTL collaboration process merited continuance. With the supporting structure of a parent/ teacher collaboration process attached to learning activities at home, parent confidence about guiding children can be increased, the students can see positive results in learning, and a school library research program can thereby be strengthened. The teacher-librarian, the researcher in this study, felt her practice was improved with the addition of the PTL collaboration process. Moreover, its continuance could contribute ultimately to the development of students whose convictions are based on more reflective enquiry and thoughtful research.

This research project attempted to investigate the Management of the School-Parent Relationships in a Primary School. The aims of this study were to determine to what extent parents participate in school activities and whether parental participation in school activities is being optimised. An important pre- condition in developing a positive relationship between schools and parents is the need to persuade school-based personnel that their professionalism includes recognising the integral role of parents in the educational enterprise. The key focus of this study was to determine the perceptions of school based personnel and parents of the learners of the school regarding the current state of the relationship between the school and the parents. The subjects of this study were the principal, two heads of department, the school-clerk, thirteen level one educators and a sample of eighty parents of the learners of the school. The study was conducted at a Primary School in the Chatsworth District. The overall aim was enhance the relationship between the school and the parents at the researched site. This study employed the quantitative approach in its methodology. Data were gathered from interviews and questionnaires The results of the study have revealed that there is potential to enhance the relationships with parents at the school. Efforts to improve the relationship includes, encouraging parents to identify with the aims of the school, providing some form of education, training and guidance for parents who do not fully understand their role in education, adopting a participative and consultative style management when interacting with the parents, identifying skills and competencies of parents, encouraging effective two-way communication with parents, accommodating parents with busy work schedules and acknowledging parents for their assistance. This research project has also proposed possible recommendations to assist the school based personnel and the School Governing Body to develop and sustain stronger and positive relationships with the parents. The study concludes with recommendations for further research. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

This study is partly responding to an uproar from the public generally and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (KZNDoE), in particular, that in most schools within the province, there is a lack of parental involvement whilst serious problems in many schools persist Many schools in KwaZulu-Natal province are experiencing problems which have eventually resulted in poor quality education. This study explored how principals promoted parental involvement in secondary schools. The promotion of parental involvement in the affairs of the school is one of the responsibilities of the school principal. In view of this expectation by the government and the Department of Education, this study therefore, was underpinned by an assumption that principals are promoting parental involvement in schools. The study sought to get an insight into what principals did in order to promote parental involvement. It also attempted to find out what principals regarded as the benefits of promoting parental involvement in schools, and what they consider as barriers. The studied schools were drawn from three different South African social contexts of semi-urban and rural areas. This study adopted an interpretivist qualitative case study approach comprising three secondary schools. I chose interpretive research paradigm because it allowed me to interact closely with participants to gain insight and form clear understanding. The findings showed that participating schools were, to a large degree, successful in promoting parental involvement in the affairs of the school, despite some obstacles which persisted. The findings revealed that socio-economic issues such as unemployment, poverty, HIV/AIDS pandemic, poor communication between the schools and parents, educators who seem to be unwelcoming to parental involvement, low level of education of parents, reluctance of some parents to involve themselves in school affairs, were the main barriers to effective parental involvement. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

This creative project attempted to help six indigent black kindergarten mothers from an inner city school community to develop better self-concepts through a systematically planned sequence of workshop sessions conducted by the author.The sessions were on good grooming and charm, physical fitness and diet, home planning and budget, social activities and political awareness.The Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Sentence Completion Test were administered to the six mothers pre and post. A comparative evaluation of test data indicated a decrease in conflict of emotions by the Sentence Completion Test and an increase in the total positive score by the Tennessee Self Concept Scale.The writer concluded that progress was made toward the development of better self-concepts by the mothers as a consequence of these experiences.

Thesis (MEd (Religion Studies))--University of South Australia, 1994

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Duquesne University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 120-128) and index.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2007. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Education, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-32). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.