Demand Based Education
Reform
91% of
children's time from birth
to age 18 is spent outside of school
The
vast
majority of
education reform efforts are focused on the supply side (schools and
educators) of the equation. However, an increasing number of educators
and businesses are concluding that until the needs of parents (the
demand side) are addressed, most reform efforts will have little chance
for success for lack of educated constituency of customers.
How students spend
their time in and out of school receives considerable attention in
discussions about children's school performance. We know that 91% of
children's time from birth to age 18 is spent outside of school
(Usdan,
1991; cited in Ooms & Hara, 1991). Once
students
start
school,
70%
of
their
waking
hours
are
spent
outside
of
school
(Clark,
1990).
Furthermore, the task force from the Carnegie Council on Adolescent
Development (Task Force on Youth Development and Community Programs,
1992) noted that America's youth have a great deal of discretionary
time. They judged that of the adolescent's
waking
hours,
60%
was
committed
to
such
essentials
as
school,
homework,
eating,
chores,
and
employment;
40% of their time was considered to be discretionary. (Research
compiled
by
the
University
of
Minnestota).
Much has been written
about the 91% factor:
However, less has been written about the total lack of adequate
resources to support and educate parents about recognizing and seeking
quality at the local level.
When parents are
involved, their children do better in school, and
they go to better schools. Why is this true? Because when parents are
welcome in the school and are consulted about decisions affecting their
children, an atmosphere of trust and collaboration develops between
school and home. When this happens, our children will perform at a
higherlevel, and the school will become more effective. The school is a
critically important community institution, since thequality of
education shapes not only our children's individual future, but also
the future of your community and society. Your support of public
schools is important; involvement and action by several parents in
a group can influence school policy-makers and result in decisions and
choices than can benefit many children.
Informed parents create
better schools, As the nation continues to look to its education
system to build a globally competitive economy, the vast majority of
education reform efforts are focused on the supply side (schools and
educators) of the equation. However, an increasing number of educators
and businesses are concluding that until the needs of parents (the
demand side) are addressed, most reform efforts will have little chance
for success for lack of educated constituency of 'customers.
