A Ghanaian Parent?s Remarkable Example at Brookview

Mavis is her name. She is simply known as that by most in the Toronto Ghanaian community. Those who have interacted with her in one way or the other know Mavis as the cook for many of the Ghanaian Restaurants in our community who was also able to hold a highly demanding full time position with the responsibility of a Management/Quality Assurance role at the same time. She is a very hard working single parent endowed with multiple talents. Though Mavis lives in one of the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Toronto with her two sons, she has not allowed herself to be disadvantaged by dedicating enough time to her children. She also finds time to volunteer at her children?s school when necessary. A Ghanaian mother with laudable principles of parenthood in the land of materialism and ?blinded? freedom? Rarely do you find such Ghanaian parent! Mavis is at present volunteering her services in the classroom at the Brookview Middle School. Mavis had one objective in mind when she took on a volunteer work at Brookview. And that is to assist in her children?s education and many other children who will require her assistance.

As an educator, this example of involvement is remarkable and can be achieved by the rest of the parents who are also seeking a better future for their children as Mavis is. I am also urging parents to be more aware and involved in their children?s school curriculums. As a father of four boys, I speak to the success of parenthood, hence gratitude. The future of our children is in our hands (by God?s grace) and today?s reality can be changed for a more rewarding one tomorrow if parents get more involved with/in their children?s education.

I know that the Canadian Education System allows parents to get more involved in their children?s schooling. Unfortunately, many Ghanaian parents do not know this right. Some also do not know where to start. It?s simple. Just make a telephone call to the school/teacher of your child to find out how your child is performing.

On April 12, 1995, the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training (OMET) issued its Policy/program Memorandum No.122 requiring all school boards in the province to have in place policies regarding the formation of school councils by June 1996. Theoretically, the essential function of school councils is to give voice to parents and members of the community by removing some of the major aspect of the administration for an individual school from the purview of a central board of education.

The Ontario initiative is the result of the recommendation of the Ontario Royal Commission on Learning (1995) and the Ontario Parent Council (1995) that school councils be established to enable parents and students to assume a more responsible and active role in education programs and services within their local community(OMET, 1995,p.l). Perhaps, the school councils? participatory role in academic development of the school is limited or even eliminated from its mandate by the OMET precluding the council from having specific influence in the policy area of curriculum. This notwithstanding, the councils have tremendous advisory role to the play in the life of the school.

However, there is no sufficient motivation for parents who are, for the most part, motivated solely by their narrow concern with educational opportunities for their children to get involve with the school councils (see Golench, 1997). Though the government?s initiative, to me, provides activity and empowerment, many parents have seen school councils as non-starter. Such parents find themselves either too busy with daily life or have no interest to volunteer on the school councils. There should be therefore appropriate motivation for enthusiastic voluntary participation from parents. The public willingness must be whipped up and sustained among parents through encouraging parents? involvement in school programs. The potential for assistance and knowledge that lies in the community beyond the school?s parents is a significant untapped resource. School Councils should not be seen as or make to look elitist. Other areas which avail themselves to parents? involvement are school open days, curriculum nights, parent/teacher interviews and educational fairs.

Get Involved! I would therefore encourage parents (especially Ghanaians) to take opportunity of school councils and teacher/parent conferences to influence the school life for their children and the community at large. Those who can should volunteer to serve as community representatives on these councils or find some time to volunteer in the classroom as Mavis (a Ghanaian parent residing in Toronto) is doing at Brookview Middle School.