Letter to the Editor - letters@haaretz.co.il
"Involvement Without Intervening"
Avirma Golan writes about the limit, where one needs to draw the line and prevent parents from determining where other children should learn. Nitzan Israel supports the position that limits parents from overly intervening, which is likely to cause harm, however, encourages their involvement.
Studies show that parent's support of their children, taking interest in what is being done in the school, and a connection with the school are deciding factors that influence the child's mental well-being and chances for success. Parental involvement is positively connected to children's motivation and academic success, together with improved mental well-being and social functioning.
Families that are highly involved have knowledge of the happenings in the school and in the life of the child. The connection with the learning institution ensures the child's welfare and a quality education. Parents and teachers that join hands and cooperate contribute greatly to the children's education, especially in situations where there are children with special needs in the classroom.
In the educational system in Israel, there isn't legislation that defines parent's rights. In different countries it can be noticed that in recent years there is a movement to encourage, and occasionally to require, different measures for establishing the position of parents in the educational system. This movement - noticeable in the world and even in Israel - is part of the process of decentralization in which educational responsibilities are being transferred from the national government to local authorities that are more able to influence the community of parents.
Nitzan Israel views parents as a resource and tries to encourage cooperation between parents and teachers. The comments of the judge, Oded Mudrick, should be read in this spirit. So, if the judge writes that the child who disturbs the class should be made to feel part of the class and should be included in the class in which he currently learns, accordingly there is also support for the involvement of parents. In this particular case, the school should have involved the parents and guided their involvement and not have waited until the point of desperation.
Maly Danino
Executive Director, Nitzan Israel
