Parents are needed in the education of their children. When teachers and parents work together, it should positively affect their progress (Guy-Evans, 2020). Good teachers and parent relationships are all to the advantage of the students to improve their behaviour and academic. That will result in a better place in society to become the best version of themselves.
Working in a community in Polokwane is challenging, with a metro area population of 797 127 in 2022, 97.3% people of colour and 2.4% white. 50% of the people in Polokwane are children under the age of 18 (Statistics South Africa, 2016). With this large number of children, Polokwane has many different schools to accommodate the other languages spoken in the province and accommodate different beliefs. The school is working together to organise sports and cultural events that children help challenge one another in sports like soccer and netball and in culture as debate, chess, and spelling competitions. It makes the community a good and safe environment for children to grow up.
Figure 1.1. Community Engagement Continues (McCloskey et al., 2011, p. 8) explain the flow of increasing community engagement. Outreach is one of the first steps to including the community in the school. In the school and Intermediate phase currently working, teachers adopt a baby house into the grades. To reach out to those who have needs and make the students aware of their community. To make the students excited, and that will flow to their parents. Community empowerment is “a group-based participatory” (McCloskey et al., 2011, p 15) that flows into three levels: the teacher, the school/student, and the community.
Parents have different roles and contributions in their children`s life. Some parents will be involved in their education, and others being much more engaged. Teachers need parents’ influence in educating their children, as God gave them the responsibility to train them on the right path (Proverb 22:6). Parents that are engaging are more likely to have different influences on educating their children. A good connection between parents, careers and the community can help and guide students to academic success (Đurišić & Bunijevac, 2017). Parents who are involved are helping their children but are not as active when they are engaged. Teachers generally reflect on parental engagement as more expressive than parental involvement.
Reference list
Đurišić, M., & Bunijevac, M. (2017). Parental Involvement as an Important Factor for Successful Education. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 7(3), 137–153. https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.291
Guy-Evans, O. (2020). Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bronfenbrenner.html
McCloskey, D. J., McDonald, M. A., Cook, J., Heurtin-Roberts, S., Updegrove, S., Sampson, D., & Gutter, S. (2011). Principles of Community Engagement. Clinical & Translational Science Awards (CTSA), 193. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/communityengagement/pdf/PCE_Report_508_FINAL.pdf
Statistics South Africa. (2016). South African Community Survey 2016. Wazimap. https://wazimap.co.za/profiles/municipality-LIM354-polokwane/#children
Teacher in progress 