Parent partners

17th April 2009, 1:00am

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Parent partners

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/parent-partners

Although I agree that many of the problems of children’s behaviour at school begin at home, as you stated in your editorial, I think it is wrong to talk about “pupil behaviour” and “parent behaviour” (“Unholy alliance of hate has no place in schools”, April 10).

I have taught at state schools in South Korea and the Czech Republic. From my experience of parents in both countries, I think it is important to see them as partners in education. Good and effective teaching depends on the co-operation and goodwill of parents.

If a pupil is misbehaving at school, chances are they are behaving even worse at home. Good parent-teacher relations were also a feature of the good schools that I attended in England.

Better relations with parents could be fostered through regular meetings (more than once annually) between teachers and parents, so that co-operation and good communication are made regular features of school life.

Parents should be seen as part of the solution to educational issues, not the problem.

Shouvik Datta, Orpington, Kent.

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