This situation impacts the parents’ way of dealing with children still in school.
In yesterday’s Rota Parent Teacher Student Association meeting with education officials, Hattori and close to a hundred of her fellow parents were enlightened about active parental role in classroom learning, and how the Public School System can reinforce this.
“This is very encouraging for us parents. Coming here and to be a part of this event helps us learn to be patient and to better understand our children,” Hattori said.
Held at the Northern Marianas College Rota campus, the event was attended by Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, experts, resource persons and program managers.
The Rota PTSA identified the topics discussed yesterday and PSS provided the resource persons.
PSS resource persons and experts explained that “parental participation is a requirement” to be able to continuously deliver quality education to students.
The day-long discussion was highlighted by an interactive presentation that “affords parents substantial and meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.”
“When we talk about school reform, we not only speak of teachers and students but we have to include the parents,” Education Commissioner Sablan said,
“What we are doing is getting our parents actively involved. With what we saw, there is willingness and commitment on the part of our parents, and in fact they were the ones that identified the topics and resources ‘they need the most’which we provided,” she added.
Board of Education Chairwoman Lucia Blanco-Maratita and Rota BOE member D. Tanya King also attended the event.
Research has shown that parental involvement leads to higher grades, test scores and graduation rates. Students with involved parents have better school participation, higher self-esteem and are more motivated.
Education is not solely a teacher/school responsibility, the PSS experts reminded the parents.
Among those who facilitated the event were Jack Diaz and Dr. Rita Inos Jr. High School principal Maria Quitugua who talked about parental involvement and the federal Title I grants, Oleai Elementary School principal Glenn Muna, Hopwood Jr. High School principal Jonas Barcinas and Sinapalo Elementary School principal Vanessa Hocog on the Virtues Project, Vina Saures on sexuality, teen pregnancy, and Derwin Johnson and Jolene Torres on Scream Free Parenting.
Katrina Lizama coordinated the event.
Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola said the “overwhelming participation attest to [the island’s] increased awareness, commitment and willingness” to support public education.
