This BCTF sponsored conference examined the accountability mandate placed on BC’s public schools and its impact on learning, teaching, and the principles of public education. As part of this conference Anita Parhar and I developed a workshop on “what do parents want” with a particualr focus on minority and First Nations parents.

‘What parents want.’

This workshop explores the diverse expectations of parents as they advocate for their children within our public education system. Led by Charles Menzies (parent activist and UBC faculty member) and Anita Parhar (UBC doctoral candidate in Educational Studies) the workshop will emphasize the diversity of parent interests and experiences while paying particular attention to the concerns of First Nations and minority parents. Drawing upon the professional and personal experiences of the workshop facilitators and participants the goal of this session is to identify key parental expectations for BC’s public education system.

Workshop outline and agenda. Download file
Guided group discussion script.Download file

At the conference two workshops were scheduled:
9:15a.m.-10:45a.m.
2:40p.m.-4:10p.m.

Overview Bibliography

• On the gap between expectations and actual performance see: Neil Guppy and Scott Davies “Understanding Canadian’s Declining Confidence in Education.”
• On the role of Aboriginal parents in education: Tracey Friedel ”Barriers to change in an urban setting.
• On creating a place for parents: Debbie Pushor and Bill Murphy ”Creating a place for parents.”

Additional Resources

• On the perspective of Native American parents and leaders.
• On the relationship between parental expectations and children’s educational performance. Min ZhanDownload file
• On the role of social class. Graham Kinloch, Social Class and Attitudes Toward Education ; Vivian Louie, Parents’ Aspirations and Investment. Parents’ Aspirations and Investment.
• On parental expectations of their children’s teachers. Moshe Tatar and Gabriel Horenczyk Download file
  On parental expectations with respect to special education learner categories: adolescents with disabilities;
  parents of children with disabilities in general;with reference to children with different ‘genetic syndromes’;
  with respect to gifted learners .

• On parental expectations as linked to parental levels of education.
• On parental expectations with respect to preschool education.
• On parental expectations with respect to technology education.
• On the role of parents as partners.

Papers by workshop organizers related to theme.

• Parhar. Minority Parent Participation
• Menzies. On Parent/teacher partnerships: An Uneasy Custody.
• Menzies. A parents’ reflection on the October 2005 teachers strike