Home Forums Decaffeinated Coffee Working parent letter: two implementable ideas I posted Reply To: Working parent letter: two implementable ideas I posted

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Partnership between parents and yeshivos is an ideal and often exists in only theory. It is sometimes referenced in the application literature, and it is sometimes mentioned in passing at PTA and at fund raising events. In reality, it is a concept that is problematic for many reasons.

Many parents claim to be too busy to reach out to rebbes and teachers. Many claim their efforts to reach out go unanswered.

Many teachers and rebbes claim they do not have time available to connect with parents. They are often not paid for their class preparation time, and have their own family responsibilities or second jobs. Some claim that parents are not eager to partner with them.

It is also quite common that the connections between faculty and parents are made mostly when there is trouble, and that no one wants to answer the phone when the other is calling. To make a general statement of who is at fault is useless and likely inaccurate.

“Constructive criticism” is a nice term. I would not hold my breath. Parents will rarely offer it, and it will also not be well received. Anyone that I tried to give it to, rejected it out of hand, claiming that I don’t know their field of expertise and that they do. Parents are usually venting their anger, and their criticism is rarely constructive. The problems go in all directions. Creating the interactive partnershp is a major challenge. It is an art, and only training in healthy parenting and good chinuch will make this likely.