There is much discussion on what schools need to do to turn student failure into success. Some solutions that are frequently mentioned are improved use of technology, expanded school hours, extended school years, smaller class sizes and so forth. All of these proposed solutions have merit, but there is an elephant in the room that many pretend not to see. That elephant is the most important factor in school success. It must be acknowledged and addressed before schools can turn chronic school failure into success. That ignored factor is the importance of the home in helping children thrive in school.
To back up this point the McREL research organization studied all the factors that impact student success and failure. They found that 80% of the difference between students who do well in school versus those who struggle can be found in the home. Only 20% of the factors leading to success or failure could be attributed to differences in schools.
McREL then dug deeper to find out what was the greatest difference between homes of students who went on to higher levels of school achievement and those from whom struggling students came. The answer, McREL found, can be summarized in two words – expectations and aspirations.
Homes where the parents expect students to maximize their learning potential tend to have children who worked up to their abilities. These homes communicate their desire for the students to do well and follow up with monitoring their progress. They do not settle for less than full effort and communicate early and often about the importance of school success.
These homes support the students in their studies and encourage them to stretch themselves. They expect their youngsters to cooperate and behave at school and work with the teacher to make the most of their school opportunities. The importance of school success is further communicated by the parents’ active support of the school.
They expect their young to extend their educations beyond high school. These aspirations also include believing that their young will have many opportunities to become successful in the world of post secondary education and work. Such beliefs are communicated to their youth. As a result, these students view the future as one with many possibilities. They also come to believe in their ability to seek training and careers that will bring them satisfaction and success.
The expectations and aspirations of parents of these students cause youth to view their futures positively. It also motivates them to do their best and seek to make the most of their school opportunities.
It is important to mention one disclaimer to the above information. High parental expectations and aspirations do not guarantee student success. Much of the outcome is still dependent on the young people themselves. Despite the parents’ best efforts, young people can make bad decisions and reject the direction the parents have set for them. Also some students’ school success is limited by physical or mental barriers.
This said it is still true that high parent expectations and aspirations are key components in helping students reach their full potential. While they do not assure that students will do this, high parent expectations and aspirations greatly increase the odds that students will achieve school and life success.
In closing it is critical for parents to expect their students to do well in school and to back up these expectations with support throughout their school careers. It is also important for parents to help their children aspire to success beyond high school. Such parents tell their children they are capable of attaining not only school success but also future adult success. They help their young see that future opportunities are limitless for those who strive to reach their goals.
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