Cooperation with Parents

The school’s curricular emphasis has changed from a primary focus on literacy and knowledge acquisition to transmitting of 21st century life skills. This transition from standard traditional education (“reading, writing, ‘arithmatic”) to whole life education in school is one reason why it is important to involve parents in school life and concepts. Comprehending children’s behaviour is another reason for developing and maintaining strong contact with their parents. The aim is to develop the school as a personal institution which can be personally consulted by parents even in the event of problems connected with their children, but also vice versa. Behavioural problems may stem from psychological or medical disorders, social or cultural differences. The school and the parents should work together to face and solve any such problems. Otherwise, efforts on one side or the other may tend to lead in different directions or may even oppose each other. Parents should also come to know school as a centre where they can find out which people or organizations apart from the school they can turn to together with their children’s teachers when needing specialized advice or counsel.