The home and the school : how parents provide educational support to their children

Abstract

In the study I review the parental involvement in education with a group of parents, whose children are in the last three years of primary school. The study is a sociological analysis of what goes on at home with respect to education outlining its importance and influence in the family. The major educational suppo11 is given at home. Parents constantly supervise homework and take initiative towards extra cun-icular activities. Various factors contribute to the increasing interest of the parents. Moreover there are submerged differences, stemming from varying constraints operating in different families. This is also reflected in the complementary support given, that is, interest in schools and teachers. This qualitative study adapts a listening philosophy aiming to voice what parents are doing and think behind the scenes. This can give light to those aiming to involve parents more closely in the education service. In the end the study explores the nature of involvement through a careful appraisal of the concept of participation.