Dear Sticky Wicket,
Why is there a pervasive perception that white parents are more involved in their child’s education than minority parents? Is this an excuse that white America likes to hide behind for generations of educational inequality?
~Concerned in Concord
Dear Concerned in Concord,
As a former teacher at a high school in the South Bronx, New York, I am pleased to report that minority parents were extremely active at my school – and at least as active as white parents. Statistically speaking though, the statement that “white parents are more involved in their child’s education than minority parents,” is unfortunately true.
A 2007 report by the National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES) found that while 83 percent of white K - 8th grade students belonged to parents who claimed to have attended a school or class event, only 69 percent of black parents, 75 percent of Asian parents, and 68 percent of Hispanic parents reported attendance. Furthermore, 61 percent of white students’ parents reported volunteering or serving on a school committee. In comparison, only 41 percent of black parents, 49 percent of Asian parents, and 37 percent of Hispanic parents made the same claim. Unless parents are being dishonest, it seems that there is indeed a gap in minority parental involvement.
With regard to your question about the use of this statistic by white America to excuse educational inequality: I cannot answer this with a statistic, only an opinion. Let’s begin with the question, is it an excuse for educational inequality? Perhaps, but more likely this is indeed part of the challenge, and a root of this inequality. It may be useful to explore some of the reasons for which such a statistic exists, and how that affects the treatment of minority students.
There are likely to be many justifiable explanations for which minority parents statistically tend to be less involved. For example, minority parents are more likely to speak English as a second language and most parent teacher meetings occur in English. There’s also a wage gap to consider. According to statistics from the Personal income in the United States and Household income in the United States, the average white household income is $48,977, for Hispanics $34,241, and for black families the figure sits at $30,134. (A notable exception is the Asian average household income, which is the highest, at $57,518). Time is often a luxury that goes along with money, and families that are financially strapped may be less likely to have the time and resources ( e.g., a car), which may be required to be active in school meetings and events.
Furthermore, according to 2009 data from National KIDS COUNT research, only 24 percent of non-Hispanic white children live in a single parent home. That figure increases to 67 percent for black children, 40 percent for Latinos, and 53 percent for American Indian children. (The exception, again, is that only 16 percent of Asian children live in a single parent household.) Naturally, it’s twice as easy for two parent households to find the time to attend school meetings and functions, versus one-parent households.
I do not have evidence that white America is “hiding behind” the excuse that minority parents are less active in their children’s education to justify these educational inequalities. In fact, this lack of involvement and the impact it is having on our children has been the subject of much public discussion. For instance, the Wisconsin State Journal blog published a feature in February 2010, about a black father who is very much involved in his daughter’s education.
The article discusses the importance of minority parent involvement, as well as a desire and openness to hear these parents’ opinions about the education system. It also explains what is currently happening to encourage minority attendance.
In this article, parent volunteer Jonathan Rubun notes: “We can do absolutely nothing and have 25 (white) parents show up at every meeting. And they’re the same parents, and they provide the same perspective on the issues repeatedly. They’re great parents and we love them, but we need a wider perspective, I think.”
Parent outreach specialist Barb Rubin goes on to explain the phenomenon of a white majority Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and how it affects all students, minority and otherwise: “PTO is a white, middle-class organization. We know how important it is to empower parents of color so that they can advocate for their children in the school system. People who are not in the mainstream of our society don’t understand about how the school system works. So our idea is to show them how the school works, how to communicate with teachers, how to communicate with the school district, and how this will help their children in terms of getting a good education.”
In conclusion, I encourage you – and other readers – to join in discussions such as the one on Wisconsin State Journal blog, and to take part in the solution rather than to react to the problem by placing blame. After all, if we are going to enact change and achieve equality, white and minority parents, students, and teachers must all work together.