Are Parents Alienated or Just Too Busy to Be Involved with the Schools?
It's clear from the survey that many parents don't feel that they have a voice in the
schools - and this feeling increases as their children get older:
·
36% report being left out of things going on at their child's school (29% in
K - 6, 45% in 7 - 12), and
·
41% feel that what they think doesn't count very much at their child's school
(33% in K - 6, 51% in 7 - 12).
That said, 53% of parents also report spending too much time at work, with 29%
admitting that they don't know what's going on at school (Exhibits 2.4 - 2.5).
Exhibit 2.4
Parents' School Alienation
Base: All Parents
% "Strongly/somewhat agree"
Parents
Total
K-6
7 - 12
Base:
2017
1162
855
%
%
%
I'm left out of things going
on at my child's school . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 . . . . . . . . . . .29 . . . . . . . . . . .45
What I think doesn't count
very much at my child's school . . . . . . . .41 . . . . . . . . . . .33 . . . . . . . . . . .51
AVERAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 . . . . . . . . . .31 . . . . . . . . . .48
Exhibit 2.5
Parental Availability
Base: All Parents
% "Strongly/Somewhat Agree"
Parents
Total
K-6
7 - 12
Base:
2017
1162
855
%
%
%
I really don't know what is
going on in my child's school . . . . . . . . .29 . . . . . . . . . . .19 . . . . . . . . . . .42
I spend too much time at work . . . . . . .53 . . . . . . . . . . .53 . . . . . . . . . . .53
AVERAGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 . . . . . . . . . .36 . . . . . . . . . .48
31
