INDEED, the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" can best depict the vital role of the strong relationship and collaboration between the home, the school and the community in helping our youth develop their fullest potentials and responsibly carry out their distinct part in our common goal of nation building.
Parents are their children's first teachers. Adams and Baronberg cited that parents and families have the most direct and lasting impact on children's learning and development of social competence. Various researches conducted over the years show that "home conditions and family which include the parenting and decision-making styles, rules and discipline strategies, family caring relationships vs. conflict highly affected students' behavior in school and in the community." Other studies also confirm that parental involvement helps prevent or reduce students' behavior problems in school and increases student achievement, over time, regardless of family background. When parents are involved, students achieve more, exhibit more positive attitudes and behavior, and feel more comfortable in new settings. According to the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network which is based in South Carolina, US, "early childhood providers need to reach out to families in order to build the kind of relationships that engage them as active partners early in their children's education."
There are many forms of parental involvement. The research entitled "The Impact of Parental Involvement, Parental Support and Family Education on Pupil Achievements and Adjustment" by British Professor Charles Desforges state that good parenting in the home also include the provision of a secure and stable environment, intellectual stimulation, parent-child discussion, good models of constructive social and educational values and high aspirations relating to personal fulfillment and good citizenship; contact with schools to share information; participation in school events; participation in the work of the school; and participation in school governance through the Parents-Teachers Association or PTA.
On the other hand, teachers in the school are tasked to continuously enrich the students' experiences at home, thus strengthening the valuable, personal traits and characteristics initially developed through the initiatives of their parents. Early care providers need to engage parents as soon as their child is enrolled in the program and ask for assistance in understanding the child's background and the family's goals for the child. Sensitivity to family and cultural differences is crucial and can be heightened by the care provider's ability to listen and encourage communication.
Evidently, this network of home, school, and the community greatly impact the holistic development of a young learner. This fact alone gives school administrators, parents, and community leaders this task and responsibility to work together and ensure that these students be brought up in a way that is ideal and essential for them to propel their own progress and advancement, and in turn become productive members in the community, and in our country.