The Importance of Parent-Teacher Partnership and Collaboration

Nowadays, schools and home seem to be in a constant argument about whose responsibility the child's behavior is. In as much as values are first learned in the home; educators should not discount that the students spend more of their most active hours in school. Hence, the school values have great impact on the students too. It is a two-way street nurturing the student. The responsibility of children's behavior is a partnership and a collaboration between parents and school.

Parents have a unique contribution to make in their children's schooling. They have a different idea of the child than that of the teachers'. The parents know the child's history: physical, medical and social. They know the role the child plays in their home. The parents have knowledge of the significant person the child interacts with. They also have foremost idea on what makes the child happy or sad.

Teachers however, bring in a different perspective as a child development professional who aptly knows the norm-accepted milestones and appropriate behaviors of children. They see how these children interact and behave with peers. They are also able to see and observe the children in a more open and non-biased manner. Teachers may also be resource people to link the parents to services their children may need; psychologist, audiologist, therapists et.al.

It is time to shun the blame-game. A true parent-teacher partnership and collaboration begins with recognizing the strengths that each party may offer. By pooling and sharing this knowledge, they become more equip in helping the child develop into his utmost potential. Generally, parents today express their desire to learn best ways to raise their children. They want to learn how to improve their child-rearing skills.Creating a partnership allows the parents to ask the teacher (expert) and makes way for the teacher to mentor seeking and eager parents.

Through close teacher-parent partnership and collaboration, parents can find ways to become more efficient as parents and as teachers to their children. Parents are children's teachers too. They teach by word, by all they say and do, they teach by example. The close relationship helps parent see that their everyday experiences with their children give teachable moments, opportunity for learning and education. It helps parent realize their share of responsibility in rearing the school-aged children. Teachers can keep parents informed of the children's development; beyond the academic markings and scores. Teachers and schools should offer better feedback about the child's development; emphasizing that schooling is beyond academic markings. Parents learn to appreciate their children's abilities and social character which the child is unable to express inside the home.