Parents as partners wasn’t thinking outside the box; it was just making the box bigger
Parents were not perceived as hovering helicopters
When principals heard “engagement” they thought “welcome in” and not “run for the hills”
Parent engagement meant more than council meetings, going on trips and donating money
Schools did not see ‘parent knowledge’ as an oxymoron
Schools wanted to call you back - and vice versa
Parents were asked “What are the outstanding things you do with your child?” and not “What on earth are you doing with that child?”
Families were be greeted warmly at the school door and not coldly shown the door
The over-worked office staff welcomed you as a friend and not an annoyance.
Parents were asked to tell what they knew about their child at parent-teacher conferences
Parent-teacher meetings were always attended because they were arranged based on parent availability
School council decision-making was not about which chocolate bar to sell
School councils were places where all parents were supported
All school councils were about student achievement and not building cliques
Home-school partnerships were more Modern Family and less Father Knows Best
Exceptional children weren’t treated as the exceptions to the rules
Parent advocacy was not parent adversary
ADHD was treated as Artistic, Delightful, Happy, Demonstrative
Parents acknowledged that their ‘jewel’ could also be a ‘Precious’
Principals were curriculum leaders not administrators, plumbers, painters, cleaners, paper pushers
The profession of teacher was hailed as one of the most valuable in society
Staff fitness began with a get-to-know-the-community walk before the first day of school
All students understood they had a role & responsibility in their learning
Learning spaces went beyond the walls of the school and into the community
Community perceived the school as a place where they could learn and teach
ALL families were seen as gold bullion; none as pennies
Being multi-lingual was perceived as an asset and not a deficit
Parent behaviour was not pre-judged by cultural and racial background
Parent’s past experiences did not colour perceptions of their children's schooling
Equity meant multi-lingual books, relevant resources, valuing differences
Our various cultures were incorporated into the everyday life of the school
We asked “How does your family do this?”
Parent engagement was everybody's business
A unified chorus proclaimed “Let’s work together!”
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