Why parent associations are essential for schools in St. Pölten

Why parent associations are essential for schools in St. Pölten

In recent years, a remarkable change has taken place in the parents' clubs of many schools in St. Pölten. Committed parents who once took a permanent place in school life seem to be becoming increasingly rare. This development brings with it many questions, especially in view of the important role, the parent associations play in the education system. Wolfgang Grabensteiner, who sits on the board of the regional association of the parent associations and directs the fortunes of the parents' association of the Theodor-Körner-Mittelschule, explains the causes and consequences of these trends.

A central problem that is noticeable in the discussion is the growing distance of the parents to school. "Parents are withdrawing more and more from education," says Grabensteiner. This departure is expressed in falling number of participants in parents' evenings and a general lack of interest in school activities. Even serious topics such as frequent absenteeism in class often do not bring any response from the parents.

The challenges of the parent associations

This situation is worrying, because the parents' associations are important not only for the mediation between parents and teachers, but also for the support of families in financial difficulties. It is often the same parents who are committed. When their children leave school, the clubs remain strongly at risk without new members. Searching for successors is becoming increasingly difficult, a fact that questions the future of the parent associations.

Three main reasons are mentioned for the decline in interest to the parents' clubs: the increasing professional activity of both parents, the growing distrust between school and parents and the general return of parents into the passive role of the observers of their children instead of actively involved. This means that the positive aspects of membership in a parent association are often overlooked.

active members of such clubs benefit from closer contact to school and are better informed about the needs of their children. The result is not only a more harmonious school life, but also valuable support for families with low incomes. Parents' associations can help, for example, with excursions or organizing school events and enable access to financial resources that would otherwise not be available.

The core tasks of the State Association of Parents' Associations (Levnö) include a number of essential functions: They represent the concerns and interests of parents at the political and level of education, promote the exchange between different schools and offer legal and pedagogical advice. The organization of workshops on important topics such as education and education policy also plays an important role.

The need for parent clubs becomes increasingly clear the more one deals with the challenges and the positive record of their work. Despite the difficulties with which they are confronted, schools need committed parents to actively support the learning of the children and to further strengthen the school community. A large part of the positive effects that come from these groups could be lost if new ways will not be found soon to integrate more parents into the clubs.

For more information about the situation of the parent associations and their important role in school communities, At www.meinbezirk.at .