| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立花蓮師範學院 === 學校行政碩士班 === 93 === A Case Study of Parents’ Involvement in the Educational Affairs
at an Elementary School in the Ci-Xing Waldorf School
Abstract
This research aims to explore Ci-Xing Waldorf School parents’ attitudes towards participation in school affairs, types of affairs parents are willing to participate, and parents’ roles in such participations, as well as to understand and explore possible causes hindering and ways to promote parent participation. This research was conducted with a goal to propose suggestions for improvement of parent participation in school affairs through understanding the factors of why parents of Ci-Xing enters the Ci-Xing Community and their overall opinions towards Waldorf education.
This research adopted questionnaire survey as the main research method and interview as the supplementary approach. The “Survey of Parent Participation in School Affairs” designed by She Feng-Ci (2002) was used as the survey tool, which was implemented on subjects of this research consisting 180 parents of students of Ci-Xing Waldorf School (main sample body). One hundred and twenty effective samples were returned. All collected data were analyzed with cumulative frequency distribution, percentage, chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA. Interviews were conducted by two administration staff, four teachers, 12 parents (including 4 parents from the PTA and 8 general member parents), and two students.
The following is a summary of conclusions derived from this research:
1. Parents of Ci-Xing Waldorf School have positive attitudes towards parent participation and school affairs. These two factors reached the level of significant positive correlation.
2. The attitudes of Ci-Xing Waldorf School parents towards participation in schools affairs vary by personal variables.
3. Types of school affairs interested by parents vary by personal variables.
4. Among the types of affairs interested by parents, parents’ opinions for the topic “Parent Education” have the biggest differential.
5. School Teaching Staff and parents think that the roles of parents should be “Supporter”, “Assistant”, “Promoter”, and “Decision Maker”.
6. Most school teaching staff and parents think that the best ways for parents to participate in school affairs are “Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)” and “School-Parent Committee”.
7. Most Ci-Xing School parents agree that parent representatives can “express opinions” and “vote” in education policy meetings and curriculum evaluation.
8. The main reasons hindering parent participation are “too busy”, “lack of interaction”, “differences in opinions”, and “difficult to participate”.
9. The main reasons that promote parent participation “communicate education ideologies”, “provide teaching methods”, “set up parent-growth groups”, and “provide regularly published schedule on major school events”
10. Reasons why Ci-Xing School parents enter the Ci-Xing Community:
(1) Parents’ education ideology matches the education model of Ci-Xing.
(2) It is a better choice after comparing Ci-Xin with public schools.
(3) The decision was produced through an incidental encounter.
(4) The choice is made with consideration to a balanced in education ideology and financial abilities.
(5) It is a self-realization in expectations for education.
11. Ci-Xing School parents’ opinions towards Waldorf Education:
(1) It is an education system that emphasizes “whole person (physical, mental, and spiritual)” development, instead of focusing on knowledge acquirement.
(2)It is an education system with education activities conforming to the nature of education.
(3) With different education model, children developed from this education system will have different qualities from children developed within the current education system (for example: children may have lasting interest for learning and children may be more independent and confident. Children may be cultivated with persistence and strong will, passion for life, value for life, and respect for life).
Based on the above conclusion, we have the following suggestion for relevant organizations and persons:
1. Suggestions to education administrative organizations
(1) Set up a delegated body to promote parent participation.
(2) Promote flexible work-hours to provide more opportunities for parent-child activities and sponsor parents’ participation in school affairs.
(3) Legislated clear regulations regarding parents’ participation in school affairs.
(4) Reduce teachers’ burdens on administrative duties.
(5) Assist schools to organize parent-growth groups or hold education activities.
2. Suggestions to parents and non-governmental parent groups:
Systematically integrate resources of non-governmental parent groups to extend its influence to education.
Key words: parents’ involvement, school affairs, isolated case study.
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