They can make it. Support them Xue Feng Zhang Community Information Officer South West Sydney Region Ph D Candidate, University of Sydney

1. Strength of NSW HSC courses  Despite the gap between high performing schools and under- achieving schools, every HS has top band students because: Teachers have similar qualifications and pre-service and in-service professional learning and they all care for their students Government provides extra funding and resources to schools who need more supports School achievements come more from efforts rather than ability Only about 5.6% of students of each grade are enrolled in selective schools Regardless of their cultural and social backgrounds, all parents can support their children’s schooling

2. Why parent support becomes so crucial? Last generationCurrent generation o Parents were less educated Now parents are more educated o Education was not for everybody Education is for everybody o Families were bigger with more children Now families are smaller, with fewer children o Children went to school 6 days a week and there were fewer public holidays Now children go to school 5 days a week and there are more public holidays o Fewer opportunities of after-school learning More opportunities of after-school learning; also more distractions to school learning, e.g., computer games o Fewer family problems More complicated family problems, e.g., higher rate of devoice, greater pressures on migrant families, etc

2.1 Four parenting styles: which one do you belong to? Authoritative: democratic style of parenting, parents are attentive, forgiving, teach their offspring proper behaviour, have a set of rules, and if child fails to follow their is punishment, if followed their is reward/reinforcement Authoritarian: strict parenting style, involves high expectations from parents but have little communication between child and parents. Parents don't provide logical reasoning for rules and limits, and are prone to harsh punishments Permissive: parents take on the role of "friends" rather than parents, do not have any expectations of child, they allow the child to make their own decisions Uninvolved: parents neglect their child by putting their own life before the child's. They do provide for the child's basic needs but they show little interaction with the child

2.1 Four parenting styles: which one do you belong to? Authoritative: It is believed to have a strong connection to positive parental attachment. This style is characterized by high demandingness but high responsiveness, as well. Authoritarian: It places high demands on behavior and expectations with no regard for child input. As a result, it is not necessarily conducive to positive child outcomes. Permissive: Children tend to have negative behavioral outcomes because of a lack of set limits or expectations. Uninvolved: children of neglectful parents have been shown to have the worst outcomes of all parenting styles.

2.1 Four parenting styles: which one do you belong to? Authoritative: The best styles but many parents fail to be fully authoritative for various reasons. Authoritarian: Some migrant parents tend to be authoritarian, yet they make up for the negative effects with a strong family bound and with parental sacrifice for their children. Permissive: Children tend to have negative behavioural outcomes because of a lack of set limits or expectations. Uninvolved: children of neglectful parents have been shown to have the worst outcomes of all parenting styles.

What style of parenting is this?

3. The gap between high achieving and under-performing students are wide apart A 1996 research study in NSW shows The top 10% of Yr 3 students are already up to Yr 5 in reading. The bottom 10% of Yr students are about 1 or 2 years behind the average level. MySchool statistics shows (2011) The gaps between our schools are increasing. The whole picture is very complex. Some low socio-economic status (SES) schools perform exceptionally well above average, thanks to the joint commitments between school (Department policy and school management) and community (community services and parents).

4. What helps teenage boys to achieve well academically Have good attendance Understand of what are taught Complete homework from school Have a broad interest in social issues, read widely and watch good quality TV programs Develop a love of sports, visual arts or performing arts High expectation Experience of success in at least a subject or a creative activity, e.g., football, swimming If necessary, do extra learning after school Encouragement and practical supports from parents, e.g., providing resources for learning, times to take them around for recreational activities, even tutoring services

5. Know where to find extra supports  Ask your son what extra support he needs.  Always count on your boy’s school first for extra supports, such as talking with your son’s teacher about his performances, including behaviour, or finding if there is a homework support program in the school.  Borrow books from the school library or local council library  Talk with your friends or neighbours who have children of the same age.  Find a “support person” for your son’s education, either your relatives or good friends, who knows education well.  Find information about education services and consultations around your neighbourhood.  Attend education workshops run at your school or community centre.  Think about tutoring services, which is not a bad idea when competition is so strong now.

6. Various pathways to success for teenagers  Students can complete their HSC in 2 to 5 years.  If they do not well enough in their HSC, they can come back to do it again. They do not have to repeat all the subject/courses if they have done well in some of their subject/courses.  Students can include one VET (TAFE) course in their HSC and still move on to Uni. This helps them to find a part time job when doing their study at the uni.  If they do TAFE courses in certain subjects, once they complete a diploma, they can move on to uni, completing their degrees in about two years.  About 85% of the award-salary jobs advertised on the media require applicants to have a TAFE Certificate or uni degree. Therefore, we need to have a high expectation for our teenager sons. Encourage them to be a life-long learner. They will make it and be a trade person or professionals or successful self- employed person.

Questions and answers:

References: Parenting Styles and Child Outcomes (2010). Parenting Styles and Child Outcomes in Multiple Contexts: Implications for Practice. Retrieved in June2013 from