Comments on: Parent involvement brainstorm http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/ Covering the beat of Portland Public Schools Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: marcia http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-31319 marcia Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:26:01 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-31319 Hey Eric, you can volunteer in my classroom any time. You seem to "get it." And yes, there are other opportunities to help in schools that do not involve helping in the classroom. If you are helping in the classroom, Eric's list is a great standard to follow. Hey Eric, you can volunteer in my classroom any time. You seem to “get it.” And yes, there are other opportunities to help in schools that do not involve helping in the classroom. If you are helping in the classroom, Eric’s list is a great standard to follow.

]]> By: Cindy http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30997 Cindy Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:47:26 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30997 I am fortunate enough to live in a school district with only 20 children in each classroom + aides + parents in the class. I just worked in a 3rd grade class today which allowed the teacher to work with 4 students at a time. We need to have respect for all parents and their constraints. Offering childcare definitely boosts the participation. Here are some ideas from a PTA president which have some good ideas about how to inspire participation http://tinyurl.com/dz74m3 Hear her thoughts on inclusion. It really helps to invite parents 1 on 1 so they don’t feel alienated. Don’t underrate how important it can be to include all of the children in the school community. I like a previous comment which suggested you know each child’s name and greet them in the playground. Another idea is to run the girl scout or boy scout meetings immediately following school dismissal and ask the principal if you can use a classroom or borrow the multi-purpose room. More will participate as it just extends the school day and parents just need to pick up at a later time. Scouts are also low cost and thus inclusive. I am fortunate enough to live in a school district with only 20 children in each classroom + aides + parents in the class. I just worked in a 3rd grade class today which allowed the teacher to work with 4 students at a time. We need to have respect for all parents and their constraints. Offering childcare definitely boosts the participation. Here are some ideas from a PTA president which have some good ideas about how to inspire participation
http://tinyurl.com/dz74m3 Hear her thoughts on inclusion. It really helps to invite parents 1 on 1 so they don’t feel alienated. Don’t underrate how important it can be to include all of the children in the school community. I like a previous comment which suggested you know each child’s name and greet them in the playground. Another idea is to run the girl scout or boy scout meetings immediately following school dismissal and ask the principal if you can use a classroom or borrow the multi-purpose room. More will participate as it just extends the school day and parents just need to pick up at a later time. Scouts are also low cost and thus inclusive.

]]> By: sheila warren http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30170 sheila warren Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:02:39 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30170 Eric we need your thread. Thanks Rose Its ironic your description of PTO/PTA what they can do and have done. (racisim and segregation)I wish I could say more. I have some stories to tell. Eric we need your thread.

Thanks Rose Its ironic your description of PTO/PTA what they can do and have done. (racisim and segregation)I wish I could say more. I have some stories to tell.

]]> By: Rose http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30162 Rose Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:21:59 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30162 Sheila, I appreciate your comments. I don't see why this should be so hard to admit and address. Here's another piece: Historically, parent organizations in the United States were the kind that threw rocks when black kids showed up at their schools. There is a longstanding history here of PTOs promoting racism and segregation. They have done this either very openly, which is now rare around here, or covertly, which is perhaps more common. Like Nancy, I've seen many examples of the covert racism, which I think is often unintentional but still very real. Like the recent PTO newsletter I got for the next meeting that let me know very clearly NO CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED. Now, I thought we had a great meeting last month. There was a horde of extremely well-behaved children who read books and played quietly throughout the meeting. Come to think of it, all were black children. All had working parents like me. But with this flyer I am thinking probably I am not welcome to bring my kids to the next PTO. You know what? That means I can't go. Which made me think, why not just be a little more welcoming? The kids weren't a problem last time. Sheila, I appreciate your comments.

I don’t see why this should be so hard to admit and address.

Here’s another piece: Historically, parent organizations in the United States were the kind that threw rocks when black kids showed up at their schools. There is a longstanding history here of PTOs promoting racism and segregation.

They have done this either very openly, which is now rare around here, or covertly, which is perhaps more common.

Like Nancy, I’ve seen many examples of the covert racism, which I think is often unintentional but still very real.

Like the recent PTO newsletter I got for the next meeting that let me know very clearly NO CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED.

Now, I thought we had a great meeting last month. There was a horde of extremely well-behaved children who read books and played quietly throughout the meeting. Come to think of it, all were black children. All had working parents like me. But with this flyer I am thinking probably I am not welcome to bring my kids to the next PTO. You know what? That means I can’t go.

Which made me think, why not just be a little more welcoming? The kids weren’t a problem last time.

]]> By: Steve Rawley http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30161 Steve Rawley Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:15:29 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30161 I can personally vouch for eric's good intentions and character. I'd love it if he'd write a post on how to be an effective school volunteer. I can personally vouch for eric’s good intentions and character. I’d love it if he’d write a post on how to be an effective school volunteer.

]]> By: sheila warren http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30150 sheila warren Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:28:13 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30150 thanks eric. you are a personable person. i tip my hat to you. i myself don't want to be right. i just want to be listened to. i believe this is what you were trying to accomplish on this thread also. we exchanged our opinions, our emotions, i think we finally came to a common ground.your comment(We all come from different walks of life, and sometimes it is difficult to find time to walk in another’s shoes). this is a comment i make over and over again. as you have guessed by now i am a person of color. in learning bits and pieces about your story. you have a lot of experience volunteering in classrooms. this is valuable information. sometimes i am asked to talk about parent involvement to parents of high risk kids. your info. would be tips i can give them in case they do find themselves helping in the classrooms. thanks for you persistant comments and opening up your heart to hear. we need more to hear with their hearts. thank you thanks eric. you are a personable person. i tip my hat to you. i myself don’t want to be right. i just want to be
listened to. i believe this is what you were trying to accomplish on this thread also. we exchanged our opinions, our emotions, i think we finally came to a common ground.your comment(We all come from different walks of life, and sometimes it is difficult to find time to walk in another’s shoes). this is a comment i make over and over again. as you have guessed by now i am a person of color. in learning bits and pieces about your story. you have a lot of experience volunteering in classrooms. this is valuable information. sometimes i am asked to talk about parent involvement to parents of high risk kids. your info. would be tips i can give them in case they do find themselves helping in the classrooms. thanks for you persistant comments and opening up your heart to hear. we need more to hear with their hearts. thank you

]]> By: pdxmomto2 http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30144 pdxmomto2 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:58:45 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30144 Not to defend/berate anyone but I didn't know that was a code word either. Is there somewhere a person look this stuff up on the internet? Not to defend/berate anyone but I didn’t know that was a code word either. Is there somewhere a person look this stuff up on the internet?

]]> By: eric http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30128 eric Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:16:56 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30128 To be candid, I didn't know that "disruptive parent" was a derogatory term. I wouldn't have used it if I had known. Clearly based on the responses here and the responses of others I have offended people. I am truly sorry if I have. I also honestly thought that I was providing some fresh insight into what it takes to get more parents into the classroom. I think enough people have responded here to show me that I was wrong. I don't know any names, other than 2 on these posts. So I took what everyone wrote at face value. If I should have valued the opinions of some over others, I am sorry. We all come from different walks of life, and sometimes it is difficult to find time to walk in another's shoes. If I could, I would. But, as always, I will at least continue to try to improve myself. And maybe I will have learned something here today. If I can take away a bit of a different perspective on race relations, maybe I can help the kids I work with be better citizens. Best of luck on your endeavors to make PPS a better place. To be candid, I didn’t know that “disruptive parent” was a derogatory term. I wouldn’t have used it if I had known. Clearly based on the responses here and the responses of others I have offended people. I am truly sorry if I have.

I also honestly thought that I was providing some fresh insight into what it takes to get more parents into the classroom. I think enough people have responded here to show me that I was wrong.

I don’t know any names, other than 2 on these posts. So I took what everyone wrote at face value. If I should have valued the opinions of some over others, I am sorry.

We all come from different walks of life, and sometimes it is difficult to find time to walk in another’s shoes. If I could, I would. But, as always, I will at least continue to try to improve myself. And maybe I will have learned something here today. If I can take away a bit of a different perspective on race relations, maybe I can help the kids I work with be better citizens.

Best of luck on your endeavors to make PPS a better place.

]]> By: Nancy R. http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30126 Nancy R. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:31:20 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30126 This is one place to start: http://wackymommy.org/blog/archive/2007/09/19/thursday_thirteen_111_thirteen_ways_i_learned_about_racism/ This is one place to start:

http://wackymommy.org/blog/arc.....ut_racism/

]]> By: PPSexpatriate http://ppsequity.org/2009/04/09/parent-involvement-brainstorm/comment-page-1/#comment-30121 PPSexpatriate Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:01:35 +0000 http://ppsequity.org/?p=280#comment-30121 WHAT?!?!?!?!?! Nancy, that must've been a long time ago, cause we're in a post-racial society now. /sarcasm Do we need a thread with articles folx should read about unlearning their own isms before they post? I think it would save time with this piece. WHAT?!?!?!?!?! Nancy, that must’ve been a long time ago, cause we’re in a post-racial society now.

/sarcasm

Do we need a thread with articles folx should read about unlearning their own isms before they post? I think it would save time with this piece.

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