Parent-staff communication in early childhood centers

Copeman, Margaret E. (1989) Parent-staff communication in early childhood centers. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (6MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

The study focused on communication between the parents and the staffs of early childhood centers. It examined: directors', teachers', and parents' attitudes towards parent-staff communication; the procedures and practices used by directors and teachers to facilitate communication between parents and staff; and the methods used by parents to communicate with the staff of centers. -- Sixteen centers on the Avalon Peninsula were randomly selected. All the directors were interviewed; all the teachers (52) and one-half of the parents (317) received a questionnaire. The return rates were 96 and 74 percent for teachers and parents, respectively. -- The results suggest that generally, a positive attitude exists towards parent-teacher communication. Most centers employ a variety of communication practices with varying success, despite the lack of formal attention to this area. Only a few centers enforce specific policies that give parent-staff communication the importance that the literature suggests it warrants. The results of this study suggest that in most cases, parents and teachers have not yet attained a 'partnership approach' to the care and education of young children. -- Recommendations are made to licencing bodies and to the instructors of early childhood training programs. Suggestions for further research in the area of parent-staff communications are included.

Actions (login required)

View Item