If parents fail to show up for school functions, consider taking a cue from students at a Utah middle school: have students personally invite them.
That’s what a group of students under the guidance of Latinos in Action are doing at Snow Canyon Middle School in St. George, Utah, according to KSL.com.
A teacher for the school is quoted as saying that the students’ activism has “doubled or tripled” parent involvement at the school.
Among the ways students are helping:
- Providing translation at conferences for those parents who may not speak English;
- Calling parents to invite them to meetings; and,
- Offering babysitting services at meetings.
According to its website, Latinos in Action’s mission is to empower Latino youth through culture, service, leadership, and excellent education. Their purpose is to enhance students’ chances of graduating from college. Through the organization’s initiatives, junior and senior high school students are taught leadership skills, and learn to tutor elementary school children in math and literature.
The goal is to keep students engaged in their school communities, and help them become high school graduates who will go on to college. The program, which educates 1,800 students from various backgrounds, is currently being implemented in 54 schools in Utah, as well as at schools in Idaho and Washington state.