Annie Murphy Paul's Article Why Parenting Is More Important Than Schools?

Many people believe that urban schools are failing to educate all of the students they serve, but in reality, they are only failing a portion of them. Reports and observations give off the perception that these schools students achieve less, retain less material and the student’s success after the schooling process is over, is low. Some of the students are failing because they are lacking things like school readiness, a basic understanding of the English language or simply because they are not engaged. Schools need to find a way to incorporate each student in their own education and not forget about those who are struggling. Academic success hinges on many different factors that the families, students and schools are all responsible for helping.

She mentions how schools would have to increase their spending by around 1,000 dollars per student to achieve the same results that are gained through parental involvement. Geoffrey Canada’s Harlem Children’s Zone is a great example of how parents can be involved in their child’s early education. Canada created this project as a way to help low income parents rear their children toward the goal of them being ready and having success in school. The program starts at birth and follows the children to college and operates on the principle that each child will do better if the children surrounding them are also doing well. By entering their children into this program, the parents are helping to ensure that the child is on the same level playing fields as all of those who enter school. Parental involvement is key in a child’s education, but for parents who are working multiple jobs or do not speak the same language that is being taught at the school, it can be very difficult. Lower income families may struggle with parental involvement because of a lack of resources or time. The language barrier also creates a divide in the communication lines between schools and families. Parents who cannot understand what their child is learning are not going to want to be as involved. They won’t be as willing to talk to the teacher or other parents if they don’t understand what is happening because of a language or educational