Open Doors

Be creative in drawing people into the school building.

• Parental buttons. Not every parent will respond to an open house or an invitation to attend a PTA meeting. Those who don't, however, may enthusiastically attend an arts night or a family math or science program. Other ways to draw parents into the building are community service projects, creative arts performances, special assemblies (let parents know via the school newsletter when the Reptile Man comes), talent shows, science fairs, library help, and task forces on computers, literacy, foreign languages, or the arts. Even parents who have their own negative history with school want to see their children perform. If educators see these events as opportunities to make parents happy and comfortable, their support is more likely. One school with little parental involvement decided to provide professional development opportunities for parents, to eliminate some of the perceived secrecy that surrounds the education profession. The goal of its parent empowerment workshops was to give parents the knowledge to participate fully in their children's education. Weekly forums, hosted by school board members, English as a Second Language specialists, the local school advisory committee head, the Parent Teacher Organization president, the principal, or business partners covered various aspects of school, such as curriculum, testing, hiring procedures, special education programs, and keys to successful parent-teacher conferences. Attendance rose further when the workshops were moved into the community, aided by collaboration with a local priest, reporter, and the director of a community center. The school reported that after these sessions a wall came down; parents' comments noted that before these classes, they had been afraid, insecure, and intimidated by school (Wells, 1997). Afterward, their confidence level went up and so did their ability to support their child's school.

• The crowds. Open the school to community events such as "bring your own blanket "family movie nights in the school gym, or evening read-ins at the school library. Offer performing art spaces and conference rooms that welcome meetings of the public or local businesses. One school even hosted a juried show of professional artists, and used the opportunity to showcase its own students' art. Change the mindset that schools are only for children. The more a school draws people in, the more familiar people get with it. Familiarity breeds empathy. Empathy breeds support.

• The lawmakers. Bring legislators into the schools and make sure they stay for more than a few minutes, so they can see something positive: kids engaged in challenging tasks and teachers providing meaningful content. The goal is for them see that tax dollars are being spent wisely and profitably. Engage them before the legislative session, before a bond measure comes up or an education-related issue is slated for a vote. The aim is to show them how their support of schools reflects favorably on them, proving that their position to support public education has been wise.