How parent-teacher relationships affect a student's future

Teachers in China enjoy more respect from parents than teachers anywhere else in the world.

Educators in Malaysia, Taiwan, Russia and Indonesia are also highly valued, according to international research from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research in the UK.

Studies suggest that when it comes to feeling respected, Australian teachers aren’t faring quite as well. Some reports say about 40 per cent of teaching graduates quit the classroom within the first five years of starting work because of frustration, an increasing workload, and often due to the stress of unrealistic parental expectations and even abuse.

But research shows that when parents and teachers work together, children benefit immensely inside and outside the classroom. The University of Missouri investigated the power of parent-teacher relationships and found they have a significant effect on a child’s academic achievements, behaviour and future success.

“If a teacher has a good relationship with a student’s parents, or perceives that those parents are positively engaged in their child’s education, that teacher may be more likely to give extra attention or go the extra mile for that student,” said Keith Herman, a professor in the University of Missouri College of Education.

“If the same teacher perceives another child’s parents to be uninvolved or to have a negative influence on the child’s education, it likely will affect how the teacher interacts with both the child and the parent.” The Department of Education also sees teachers and parents working together as key to children’s academic success and wellbeing.

“Research has shown that when schools and families work together, children do better, stay in school longer, are more engaged with their schoolwork, go to school more regularly, behave better and have better social skills. Parent engagement also results in longer term economic, social and emotional benefits,” says the department’s information for parents.

So, if you are a parent, how do you strike that balance between being engaged but not interfering? And when issues do arise, how can you work with teachers to resolve them?

■ Raisingchildren.net.au recommends parents build a relationship with teachers as early as possible by introducing themselves at the start of a school year.

■ Volunteering when extra hands are needed in the classroom, or on special event days, helps build rapport and shows your commitment to the school.

■ Communicate regularly – don’t only speak to your kid’s teacher when there’s a problem.

■ When a concern arises, get as much detail as you can before you speak to teachers. It’s parental instinct to go into battle to support their child but when emotions run high you might say things you regret.

■ Don’t head straight for the principal’s office to discuss complaints or concerns – speak to the teacher involved first to find out what has happened and to hear their side of the story. Going over their head shows you have little faith in, or regard for, their efforts.

■ Teachers are busy – in the classroom, doing yard duty, doing lesson plans, setting exams, marking and giving extra tuition to children who need it. Book in a time to catch up, rather than expecting them to be able to drop everything to fit you in.

■ Don’t undermine teachers in front of your child.

■ Remember, teachers are trained to be experts in the classroom and at the end of the day you both want the same thing: a happy, healthy child who enjoys learning.

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