Communications Between Parents and School Personnel in the Newton Elementary Schools

The Problem. The purpose of the study was to determine the quantity, quality and effectiveness of communication that takes place between parents of elementary school children and the teachers and school administration of the Newton, Iowa, Community Schools. Procedures. Two separate surveys were made by mailed opinionnaires. One study group consisted of 12.5 percent of the parents with a child in grades one through six in the eight Newton public elementary schools. The other group was composed of all elementary teachers and principals in the same eight schools. Findings. Eighty-seven percent of the 128 elementary school personnel and seventy-five percent of the 188 parents surveyed mailed back the opinionnaires. Most parents indicated satisfaction with present school-home communication; however, parents felt more conferences were necessary than do teachers. Sixty-four percent of the teachers wanted two conferences and twenty percent wanted one; while forty-nine percent of the parents wanted two, and forty percent wanted three or more conferences. Parents indicated they wanted frequent comprehensive written commmication from the schools as well as one-to-one meetings with school personnel. Teachers placed more stress on parents visiting school, attending scheduled functions and giving their children a positive attitude toward school.

Grantor dc:publisher

Drake University

Year dc:date.issued

1974

Author dc:creator

• Silverberg, Karen L.

• Elementary schools--Iowa--Newton
• Communication in education--Iowa--Newton
• Parent-teacher relationships--Education (Elementary)--Iowa--Newton

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Dc Identifier Other

1974 .Si39

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:escholarshare.drake.edu:2092/1013