Asian American parents' involvement practices challenge the traditional definition of parent involvement (participation in school activities). In this paper, I argue that research and practices focusing only on this narrow definition of parent involvement may not be culturally sensitive approaches to supporting the home-school connection. The…

Reviews support for parent-involvement practices, documents how underutilized parent involvement is in the public-school system, and examines some barriers accounting for the underutilization of this beneficial teaching practice, such as conflicting beliefs about the ways parents should be involved. (Contains 39 references.) (Authors/PKP)

Discusses what is necessary for restructuring the roles and relationships among parents of adolescents and schools to achieve more meaningful partnerships. Describes needs of adolescents such as appreciation and belonging. Offers specific examples of how parents and schools can collaborate to build positive adolescent identities. Recommends how…

Examines parents through the lens of cartoons printed in educational journals. Suggests that journal editors share many ideas with educators, their readers, and that the ideas expressed in cartoons may be construed as anti-parent by preservice and inservice teachers. (Contains 3 cartoons and 20 references.) (WFA)

By creating and fostering a community climate, everyone becomes invested in education. Culture is a pattern of shared basic assumptions that creates the social skills and behaviors of people within the organization and conveys a unique organizational identity. Community support enhances motivation, desire to learn, and willingness to succeed. (MLH)

An education professor became frustrated with a school's inept response to his complaints about instructional quality in his son's high school honors English class. The principal agreed with the parent, but said he could do nothing. Unfortunately, educators do not value unfavorable parental input. Parents have no advocates and little influence…

Geography does not make community, nor does membership or casual affiliation. When the school functions as a community, its constituents associate, share common educational values, and become responsible for one another. As this journal issue shows, teachers are not isolated practitioners but professionals integrated into the web of community and…