By Jerrick L. Terry

 Many individuals and institutions play a part in acculturating and socializing children and youth. The family, of course, is the most important for young children, but in modern societies formal institutions also help determine what a child learns and how well he or she is prepared to function in society. Berger (2011) states that an understanding of parent involvement from a variety cultural groups and how families’ funds of knowledge have evolved over time. Social Changes and Families

  The history of parent involvement begins by understanding the differences between families throughout the world and in our nation (Berger, 2011). NEA Today (1991) says, across the nation, polls indicate that the public overwhelmingly supports the idea of parent involvement and believes that parents play a major role in children’s education. History of Parent Involvement

  New England Colonies  Middle Atlantic Colonies  Southern Colonies Historical Views of Children

  The Child Study Association of America (CSAA) was formed in a group of New York City mothers (Berger, 2011). The CSAA throughout its history has emphasized child study and parent study. Berger (2011) stated that CSAA is the oldest and largest organization solely committed to the study of children. Historical Influences on Parent Education and Involvement

  Comenius  Locke  Rousseau  Pestalozzi  Froebel Social Thinkers

  Establishing Quality Child Care  Change in Social Skills  Parent Cooperatives  Parent Education  Changes of Views of Children The Early 20 th Century and Childrearing

  American Family Changes  Involvement of Dads  Parents Given information  War on Poverty  Head Start Civil Rights and the Family

  Partnerships for Family Involvement in Education  Family and Medical Leave Act  Technology  Understanding Change 21 st Century Emphasis on Education

 The family, of course is most important for young children. Many children do well in school because their family environment has provided them with good preparation for succeeding in the traditional classroom. Others do poorly in part because they have not been well prepared and the schools generally have not made successful adjustments to overcome this disadvantage. Poverty is a major problem for many families. Many observers connect the substantial poverty rates among children with the high incidence of single-parent families. Conclusion

 Beck, L. G., & Murphy, J. (1999). “Parental Involvement in Site-Based Management: Lessons from One Site,” International Journal of leadership in Education, pp Berger, E. H. (2011). Parents as partners in education: Families and schools working together (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Comenius, J. (1998). The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart, translated and introduced by Howard Louthan and Andrea Sterk. New York: Paulist Press, pp Digest of Education Statistics, 1997, Table 25, p. 30; and “Parent Involvement,” NEA Today (March 1991), p. 12. Fan, X., and M. Chen. (2001). Parent involvement and students’ academic achievement: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review 13, no. 1: 1–22. Froebel, F. (1889). The Education of Man, trans. W. Hailmann. New York: Appleton. References

 Hill, R. (1960). The American family today. In E. Ginsberg (Ed.), The nation’s children. New York: Columbia University Press. Hornby, G., & Lafaele, R. (2011). Barriers to parental involvement in education: an explanatory model. Educational Review, 63 (1), Locke, J. (1959). An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, ed. Alexander Fraser. New York: Dover. Pestalozzi, J. H. (1900). How Gertrude Teaches Her Children, trans L. E. Holland and F. C. Turner. Syracuse, N. Y.: Bardeen. Rousseau, J. J. (1992). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Indianapolis: Hackett. References (Cont’)