Immigrant Parental Involvement in Education Research Paper

Immigrant Parental Involvement in Education - Research Paper Example All these among others are evidence of how school systems in Canada devalue immigrant parents. The culture held by Canadians in most cases tend to conflict with the culture of immigrant parents. In most cases, immigrant parents come in with different cultures which in most cases they greatly embrace and appear less reluctant parting with them. According to Brake (1997), acculturation theory supports the idea that immigrants tend to hold tightly unto the values of their cultures. On the other hand, the migrants avoid cross cultural contacts due to their ability to aggravate anxiety and uncertainty. This therefore plays a major role in creation of cultural incompetence which greatly limits parental involvement in contexts that are increasingly important to their children, including school and the expanding extra familial social world (Duncan, 2008). The study also portrayed that there were several barriers which limited immigrant parents from minority groups and those with less education to fully participate in their children's schooling. This is mainly due to the fact that they felt uncomfortable in an institutional setting and also held the notion that they were not very resourceful in their children's education. ... Additionally, immigrant parents with lower educational backgrounds and income were less likely to volunteer in school activities such as parent interviews. This played a role in creating a disconnection between the parents and their school children. Vickshard (1999) indicates that parent's socio economic status has a positive association with their involvement in school. On the other hand, parents with higher educational attainment are more likely to be involved in the school affairs of their children. The teachers were also more likely to stereotype minority immigrant parents based on their schooling experiences, history and culture. George (2000), states that, the teachers should not at any point discriminate any student or parent based on his or her culture, gender, status, religion or race. Therefore, Canadian teachers should change their negative perception towards immigrant parents and instead focus on embracing them despite their shortcomings. The study also indicated that lan guage barrier was also a major disadvantage and inhibitor to the parental involvement of immigrant parents. Most immigrant parents were not well placed in terms of communicating in English and therefore communication barrier grew out of it. As a result, it prompted less parental involvement in their children's schooling. According to Janice (1999), language is an important requirement which normally facilitates communication, as well as increasing one's confidence (Allan, 2005). For instance, if the immigrant parents in Canada were familiar with all the languages used in the country, it would therefore have been easier for them to communicate and thus uplifting their confidence. Consequently, their involvement in their children's schooling affairs would also increase.