How can parents change schools?

 I've taught in an inner city now for two years and I think I can tell you exactly what differences parents can make.  To begin with, and this may sound simple but it's not for all parents, parents need to actually get involved with the school.  Go to PTA meetings.  Make time to go and meet all of your children's teachers face to face.  Call their teachers once a week, or ask for an continuous update about your child's grades and what they can do to improve.  There is technology now that allows teachers to put grades and scores online where parents can log in and see, confidentially, their child's scores and grades.  GET INVOLVED.

Now here's the problem.  If you go to an affluent school district, you'll see that many parents already are involved. Very involved.  Many teachers know that parents will question them and call on them to explain their curriculum, their assignments, the scoring methods.  Because of this teachers are more careful to provide top educational opportunities for students.  That part isn't the problem, that stuff is good.  Here's the actual problem.  When you move over to a lower income area, many parents can't provide the same amount of time to insuring thier child is receiving the right kind of education.  Many parents are single and can't get to school while they're are at work and taking time off isn't an option.  Some parents are KIDS THEMSELVES, and basically haven't developed the maturity to realize the impact of their actions for their child.  Many parents have a long held contempt for "the system" and are intimidated by school officials and such (in affluent neighborhoods, parents intimidate bad teachers).  There are also a lot of cases where parents themselves either don't speak English, therefore making communication more difficult between teachers and parents, OR they are in fact illegal immigrants that had their child here in the states and they are fearful of any interaction with "the system."  Please notice that in many of these instances the parents are powerless to effect change.  

A teacher at my first school called a student a "nigger." Now in an affluent neighborhood that teacher would have been removed the very next day and if he/she wasn't there would have been hell to pay from all the parents.  At an inner city school, the children are given no voice.  No parents are coming to stand up for them.  In fact, they are use to things not working out for them so they come to expect it.  THe principal tried to remove the teacher, he got lawyered up.  When it went to the school board for trial, the student, nor any parents, went to the trial to represent themselves and the teacher was let off because his story was that he was only saying what another student said.  There was no one to argue against his story.  This story still disgusts me and the teacher is basically ostrasized by the staff but everyday he is still alone with about 100 kids through out the day.  What can we do?

 When we have back to school nights, I have gotten less then ten families that actually come to see me.  I've spoken to teachers that work in more affluent areas and the differences are staggering.  They get the majority of their students's parents to come and they never have enough time to see them all.  THey have to make appointments with parents on a regular basis.  They know parents by their first names because they speak to them so often.  My school was the exact opposite.

 Now, we've looked at the problem.  And we've seen what the solution is.  More parental involvement.  But here's the thing.  Many of the reasons that I mentioned that parents weren't going to their child's school weren't matters of choice.  Believe me many of these parents would like to be there more often.  

Here's what I propose. 

PTAs in affluent areas take on a school to be their "buddy."  Many of those parents are incredibly organized and they know how to get a message out and how to get a response from the school.  They are well informed and for the most part they have received a higher level of education.  If PTAs in these areas chose a single school in a lower economic area they could effectively create change.  It could all be combined as well by say creating a UNION PTA, that covers many schools, thus strengthening the parents together.  THat way, when there are fifty to a hundred parents at one school, and there are only a dozen at another school, they can pool their resources and get the schools to start listening to them.

I've always given an ear to my students, and they must realize it because sometimes they'll bring friends in to talk to me.  Many times they are having problems with a teacher.  My advice to them many times, aside from those complaints of too much homework and such, is to tell their parents.  Ask their parents to call the school, call the teacher, write a note for you to give the teacher.  Something, anything that shows the teacher that you aren't alone.  They can't take advantage of you because you've, well you've got people.  You've got someone that will stand up to it.  Unfortunately, teaching is really tough.  Administration doesn't always work to a teacher's advantage, collaboration is nonexistant, and spirits can be constantly broken.  Parents help keep us on track.  I've only been teaching for two years.  I already feel the strain.  Parents can help lift up teachers by challenging them to do better, by helping to raise funds for school trips or for more materials.  The list goes on and on.

I would love to see parents join together.  PTAs join together, because I think that many of these parents have enough love and compassion to spread it around.  If you were a single parent, and worked two jobs, wouldn't you be forever grateful if someone did that for your child.  If someone showed you the ropes on how to change their schools, how to organize, how to be effective?