An analysis of the educational role of single parents
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Date
1999
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Abstract
The study on "an analysis of the educational role of single parents" was aimed at:
* investigating the role of single parenthood in education.
* investigating the educational role of single parents in and out of school.
* establishing problems encountered by single parents in performing their educational role.
* establishing the effects of single parenthood on the academic performance of children.
* deterroining the extent to which single parents can be helped to improve their parenting skills.
The above are some of the aims of this study which are stated in Chapter one. The method of investigation was described and major concepts were clarified in Chapter one. Chapter two discussed the family in relation to socialization and education. It also discussed the functions of the family and the family rektionships. Chapter three dealt with the impact that living in a single parent family had on the academic performance of children. Chapter four dealt with single parents' involvement in education. Chapter five dealt with the research technique, analysis, evaluation and interpretation of data gathered by means of questionnaires. Chapter six focused on the further statement of the programme of study, findings and conclusions, suggestions and recommendations.
This study bas revealed that single parents are unable to adequately participate in their children's education mainly due to time and resource constraints. Issues related to child upbringing for lone parenting were a matter of concern. A plethora of pressures and challenges caused conflict and stress for single parents.
Some of the recommendations are that schools should help single parents and their children by:-
* encouraging single parents to organise their own single parents' groups at school through which parents can create their own support network, receive practical single parenting advice and share child care duties.
* educating the public on the importance of accepting single parents.
* organising single parents' family support and children's support groups on school's premises and linking these support groups with comrminity agencies that help single parent families in crises.
* organising parenting education courses through Parent Teacher Association (PTA's) which offer child care, car pools or other transportation assistance, and a sliding fee or scholarship and fund for low-income single parents.
* frequently reviewing children's progress with single parents through the telephone or in-person conferences.
* providing single parents with the school's year plan so that parents can make prior arrangements with employers to attend some of the school's important activities/events.
* opening therapy and counseling centres for single parents.
* updating those single parents who are unable to attend parents meetings by making minutes for meetings available for them.
* educating single parents on strategies of coping with stress and resolving conflict.
The researcher hopes that future research suggested in chapter six will help reveal some of the important issues on single parenthood.
Description
Dissertation submitted to the Faculty Of Education in Fulfilment
Of the Requirements for the Degree Of Master of Education
in the Department of Philosophy of Education
at the
university of zululand, 1999.
Keywords
Single parents--educational role