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New survey highlights parent-teacher problems
Children are much more likely to succeed in school if their parents are actively involved in their education, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The center reports that children in both two-parent and single-parent families are more likely to earn high grades and less likely to repeat a grade or be suspended or expelled if parents take an active role.
A study released in June 2005 by MetLife Inc., however, indicates that new teachers often find the relationship with parents problematic at best.
Teachers vs. parents
The MetLife insurance company has conducted an annual, nationwide poll called the Survey of the American Teacher since 1984. The most recent survey, for the 2004-05 school year, focused on the relationships between new teachers (those with no more than five years experience) and other teachers, administrators, students and parents.
The teachers surveyed by MetLife recognized the importance of their relations with parents. About eight out of 10 strongly agreed that teachers must be able to work well with students' parents to be effective in their jobs.
Yet, to many, this goal seemed out of reach. New teachers identified communicating with and involving parents as the greatest challenge they face, and 20 percent described their relations with parents as somewhat or very unsatisfying. This was the highest degree of dissatisfaction reported for any teacher relationship.
One in five new teachers also reported that relationships with parents are their most significant source of on-the-job stress.
And in today's...