[AAACE-NLA] NIFL: Teach the Parent, Reach the Child

[AWilder106@aol.com]

Art, Margery,

I'm really confused, here.

When I was a school teacher I did not want parents involved in homework, in teaching their children.  If I were  working with the child I wanted to know I was working with the child, not a parental overlay.  I also made home visits to families if they couldn't come to school for conferences, we talked about parental values, what they wanted for their children, my role in their children's lives.

Now that I'm in adult literacy, and read about mother's level of education reflected in child's progress in school I am baffled.  I can accept it, but it looks to me  that the school (or program) has no effect on the child, child is just passed through the system.

Is there anything between theory and practice that shows parental effects on child literacy as the child grows?  As  parental literacy increases?  I know of one study, but there needs to be a stronger linkage.

I apologize ahead of time, because I know I am only seeing a piece of the puzzle, but Art's experience resonated with my own experience, and I'd  sure like to hear from others.

Thanks,

Andrea