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Thursday, October 26, 2000
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Professionals and Parents: Adversaries or Allies
Dr. Andy Hargreaves,
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto
This presentation draws on research on the emotions of teaching, especially those concerning teachers and parents. It shows how, in an age of accountability, anxiety levels between teachers and parents are increasing. Instead of promoting improvement, parents retreat back to nostalgia for the schools of yesteryear. Instead of having relationships with parents, secondary teachers in particular have only strings of disconnected interactions with them. Instead of using their professionalism to connect with parents, teachers too often hide behind that professionalism and keep parents at a distance. Too often, teachers and parents are adversaries, not allies. Teachers need to build more open relationships of reciprocal learning with all parents. This will not only help students learn better, but create allies for teachers who better understand the difficulties and complexities of teaching today; allies who will form part of a movement to defend, improve and secure greater resources for public education and the work of teachers within it. Dr. Andy Hargreaves is Director of and Professor in the International Centre for Educational Change in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. His work in the area of educational change is internationally known and respected and he has discussed this topic with teacher and administrator groups in many countries.
Focus: Improving teacher and parent relationships
Location: Mendota 8 Alliant Energy Center