“We reach out to those parents who don’t think they have to be involved with their child’s education,” Harrizon says. She says she and 40 volunteers have to tread carefully during home visits to encourage parents to learn more about their child’s college potential because they often find themselves in a situation that involves domestic violence and abuse. “We have to be humble,” she says.
As the parent promoters stress to Hispanic parents the importance of their older children excelling in school, advocates say there should also be a strong emphasis on providing education for children entering pre-school. Only 10 percent of the pre-school programs in Orange County, Calif., for instance, provide accredited teachers, ample playgrounds and field trip opportunities for the children, says Dr. Juan Carlos Araque, vice president of community investments for the Orange County United Way.
“We want to replicate these programs for the future. We have 700 state-licensed child care facilities in the county, but not all of them are accredited,” he says.
To encourage parental involvement, an updated version of the Tool Kit for Hispanic Families was distributed at the conference and is now available from the Education Department. The tool kit, aimed at Hispanic parents and children, illustrates in English and in Spanish how to succeed in school and prepare for higher education.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
