Friday
A somewhat subdued group of administrators arrived at 1:45 on Friday afternoon following one more Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) workshop session on the $11.5 billion state budget deficit and proposed mid-year cuts. The EdSuccess breakout session on parent involvement took on more meaning when we talked about focusing on parents means raising test scores and improving behavior without costing a great deal of money, money that right now just doesn’t exist.

Administrators shared ideas about ways to engage parents. One group in particular were asking how to engsge parents who are currently coming to schools to enjoy their second and third cups of coffee with friends in the neighborhood. How could schools get these wonderful folks into classrooms and learning related activities. Everyone could use the extra sets of hands to help the kids learn, and money issues or not the goal is to help children learn.

But money was still on everyone’s mind so the EdSuccess website (www.edsuccess.com) will shortly begin providing grant funding sources for folks who are looking for ways to jumpstart and/or support their parent involvement program. Let us know how we can help you begin to utilize parents to help children be more successful in school.

Saturday
Saturday saw a small but exuberant group of parents and professionals at the California Association for Compensatory Education conference. Although money may have been an issue, the major issue here was, regardless of money, how do we help the kids? Sounds like the same song different day and a different city and a different group, but it’s a very familiar melody.

Folks shared their vision for their children and discussed how learning was the key to bringing about those visions. One mom clearly declared that education was freedom. Education meant that her children could choose what they wanted to do with their lives and how they wanted to live. Another mom whose grown daughter was with her at the conference, stated with tears in her eyes, that education meant that her daughter and grandchildren could have a good life, perhaps a better one than she had had.

So…
Two very different groups with very different daily lives, but both have a major theme in common-helping children learn. I described my two days to someone by saying it was like going to a Methodist prayer session and a Southern Baptist tent revival meeting. Both were looking to the same Source and desiring a similar outcome. They just did it in a different way and I've had the good fortune to participate in both.

I’ve known in for years, since the time when I realized I was both an educator and a parent, educators and parents want the same thing. They both want children to be successful, happy, and have a wonderful life both now and in the future. We really are all for one when that one is the children we care so much about.

(To both groups: My apoligies for not using the pictures. I couldn't get them out of my phone onto the blog so I guess those of you with wanted posters out are safe for now. Whew. Thanks for being the people you are and keep up the great work. Joni)