Issue:

6,March1999

Page:

11

Abstract:

Tips to make school more Dad- friendly

Keywords:

Fathers, children, schools.

 Being a stay-at-home dad has afforded me the luxury of playing and active role as parent volunteer at my children's elementary school. In 1994, as my oldest son Grant entered first grade, I co-founded a father's group called Dads in Action (DIA) at El Camino Real Elementary School in Irvine.
 As a result of Dads in Action there have been more fathers spending time in the classroom, attending school functions and participating in projects at the school. Since its inception DIA has completed such projects as painting the bathroom, building bookshelves, installing ceramic tiles, developing a reading programme, organising fundraisers for the purchase of technology and sponsoring a variety of evening parent-education opportunities.
 Life as a father-parent volunteer at the school, however, hasn't been without its challenges. Like the playground, shopping malls and other public places the social climate at the school was not father-friendly. That changed when the novelty of my presence during school hours began to wear off. It didn't take long for people to recognise that I was there for a good reason - because I cared about my children's education and the school.
 As a stay-at-home dad my daily schedule is just as busy as the father who works outside the home, and I have to make time to get involved in my children's education. Fathers, who work outside the home, regardless of their structured work schedule, can also make time to enhance their children's educational experience, but only when they assert themselves with a positive and selfless attitude.
 Here are some suggestions that will help make a father's involvement a pleasurable experience for everyone connected with the school:
- Approach your employer and explain your intentions about getting involved in your child's education. And present him/her with a written itinerary of how you propose to manage this with minimal disruption to your work schedule and performance.
- Introduce yourself to the school principal, your child's teacher and Parent Teachers Association (PTA) Board members.
- Meet privately with your child's teacher and offer to help one hour every other week or once a month in your child's classroom, grading papers or reading to the students.
- Attend PTA meetings whenever possible so you can stay up-to-date on current projects.
- Pick and volunteer to work on a project you feel comfortable with; don't over-extend yourself. Remember, your family's needs should always come first.
- If your work schedule affords you the time, apply for a position as a PTA Board member. (You can also volunteer to co-chair one of the many positions that are available at the school.)
- Have lunch with your child at school.
- Offer to help with school events such as school plays, carnivals, Red Ribbon Week, ice cream socials, in-class birthday parties, field trips or a father-son night.

 According to Gene Bedley, former El Camino Real principal and co-founder of Dads in Action, "there is a definite correlation between dad involvement at school and a kid's success in the classroom". Each father must decide how much he wants to contribute. and when he does, children as well as the school benefit from his active role.

-----------------------
Hogan Hilling co-founded the Father's Network of Orange County, a programme for fathers of children with disabilities. He also co-founded Camino Dads In Action in 1994, a programme that helps fathers become more involved in their children's education during the elementary school years. For this hard work and dedication Governor Pete Wilson honoured Mr Hilling with the 1995 Courage to Care award at the California Focus on Fathers Summit.