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The interrelationship between the goals and the objectives of a school system and Hispanic parents' expectations within a small, urban industrial city in Western Massachusetts
Abstract
This dissertation evolved from a need to investigate whether the goals and objectives of the school system are the same as the expectations of the client Hispanic parents, especially in a school system where over 60 percent of the student population is Hispanic. The purpose of this study is to examine the interrelationship between the goals and objectives of the school system and Hispanic parents' expectations within a small, urban industrial city in Western Massachusetts. In order to implement this study, a questionnaire was devised and administered to randomly selected Hispanic parents. The questionnaire explored the attitude of Hispanic parents through responses to the following: (1) The following statements are my expectations for my son and/or daughter (18 items listed). (2) Yes, I know about or have heard of the following ideas and programs described in the goals and objectives of the school system where I live (21 items listed). (3) Yes, the following ideas and programs described in the goals and objectives of the school system satisfy my expectations as a parent for my son's and/or daughter's education (21 items listed). A Likert rating scale was used to measure parental expectations and the goals and objectives of the school system. The researcher utilized both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The following research questions guided this study: (1) What are the goals and objectives of the school system? (2) What are the characteristics of the parents whose children attend these schools? (3) What do the parents do to enforce achieving these goals? (4) What is the interrelationship between parent expectations and the school system with regard to the achievement of these goals? The researcher's major findings are that: (1) Hispanic parents should have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process in developing the goals and objectives of the school system. Parental expectations can be addressed and taken into account as a result. (2) When families and communities have strong connections with schools, everyone benefits--children, families, teachers, schools, communities, and our democratic society. (3) Reliance on the delegation model in public education has created a fundamental gap between families and schools. There are other conclusions presented in this study concerning parental expectations and the goals and objectives of the school system.
Subject Area
Bilingual education|Educational administration|Ethnic studies
Recommended Citation
Irizarry, Jose Hector, "The interrelationship between the goals and the objectives of a school system and Hispanic parents' expectations within a small, urban industrial city in Western Massachusetts" (1992). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9219448.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9219448