Publication=Fairfax_Journal; Date=25.09.2001; Section=OPINION_PAGE; Page=6;
Book=A; - LETTERS
Role of dads in school is critical
Mom and Dad, just a note to remind you as we begin the new school year that
your presence in the school is critical to your child's success.
Numerous studies over the past decade have confirmed the importance of your
involvement. Liberal and conservative policy makers and educators have come
to agree that parent participation unlocks the door to student achievement.
Only very recently have we learned that dads, especially, hold the key.
Most research up to several years ago focused on the roles of both parents,
and did not distinguish between their contributions.
Less than three years ago, the National Center for Education Statistics
released the findings of the study, titled "Father's Involvement in Their
Children's Schools."
Remember the headlines? "Studies Link Father's Involvement to Children
Getting A's in School." This was the first time a national survey focused
on the role of the father. In fact, most of the research for the past two
decades has focused on the mother's role.
The findings were not intended to lessen the importance of the mother's
role, but to highlight the critical contribution you make, Dad.
Bottom line: Based on the National Household Education Study, if you attend
your child's teacher-parent conferences, school meetings and sports events,
and help out at a class event, your child will likely receive higher grades.
Your child also will enjoy school more, and is likely to participate in
extracurricular activity regardless of the mother's involvement.
The study found that after accounting for the mother's involvement and
looking at single-father families, children are twice as likely to get
mostly A's if their fathers are involved in school.
The study found that was true even in the poorest of families. It also
found that children do better, regardless of whether their fathers live
with them, as long as those fathers are involved.
Dads, if knowing that your child is far more likely to get A's in school if
you are involved is not sufficient encouragement, let me share with you
statistics compiled by Marty Dart of Stanford University not long ago about
dads who are absent from their children's lives:
70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless
homes (Source: U.S. Department of Justice Special Report).
63 percent of youth suicides are from fatherless households. (Source: U.S.
DHHS, Bureau of Census).
90 percent of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.
71 percent of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (Source:
National Principal Association Report on State of High Schools).
Most youths sitting in prison come from fatherless homes.
Dart's list of dismal statistics for fatherless families goes on and on.
Dart predicts the statistics will be worse for children born in the 1990s.
I know there are many dads who do contribute to their children's education,
and I salute all of you who made, and are still making, significant
contributions, long before the 1998 announcement of the survey.
After the media blitz, educational organizations began calling for "Bring
Your Father to School" programs.
A 2-year-old Pittsburgh program has been so successful that Pennsylvania
Gov. Tom Ridge is taking the program statewide this school year.
Fairfax County Public Schools are aware of the need to open the doors wide
to parents. However, I would like to further that initiative to introduce a
"Bring Dad to School" program. If you would like to help, contact me at
(703) 923-0146 and we'll run with it.
Neither socioeconomic status nor political philosophy matters, only that
you are a dad.
Both President Bush and former Vice President Al Gore agreed on the
importance of a father's role in children's lives.
Gore said, "This study should encourage millions of American fathers to
step up to the plate and make a difference in their children's education."
RITA THOMPSON, At-Large Member, Fairfax County School Board