| Parent Education should be a high priority for Adult Education |
5/23/03 9:26 AM |
| Author:
Doug Spangler
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Within the SB 823 discussion, I am responding to the question about what else should be a funding priority for Adult Education. Parent Education must, very definitely, be on that list.
Whoever made this list only mentioned "Basic Ed, ESL, and vocation training." I am totally surprised that the currently state mandated Adult Education subject of Parent Education is not there. In reviewing this past week's discussion in all the various bills, I notice that one subject keeps coming up in a lot of them: the need for increased parent/family involvement in the education of children. Furthermore, the national research on this subject is voluminous. Children learn better when parents/families are actively supporting their education in a variety of ways. Everyone in the field of education knows this. That's why I'm very curious as to why the subject was left off the list of needed Adult Education subjects.
Perhaps there is the idea of the community colleges providing appropriate Parent Education. I agree with the person on Wednesday who said that the community college and the Adult Education are NOT duplicative systems. First, I know that parent education at the Adult Education level can be more flexible to the parent education needs of a local school system, more cost effective, more able to reach the grass roots families, more able to work with the various grant liaisons, etc. in the local schools, and better able to reach a wider audience. Overall, it has been my experience that Adult Education is superior to the community colleges in meeting the needs of parents/families.
The issue is clear. The comments are increasing about the growing needs of parental and family support of children's education. The research has been established. Those of us who are actually working in the field know what is effective. Parent Education MUST be made a high priority in Adult Education.
Posted as a reply to:
SB 823 - Adult Education by Charles Ratliff 
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